Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kelly Gulbrandsen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kelly, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
It was the 2019, the opportunity to expand my Pilates Studio had just come about. Through out this process, my eyes were opened to ways I could touch more people than just the clients I get to see on a daily basis. Yes, I wanted to spread my passion of movement and health, But I also wanted to do something a bit different, all while making a difference in my community. After chatting with my husband and two children about our possibilities, my, then 6 year old daughter, came up with the idea of creating a clothing company. This wouldn’t be any ordinary clothing, this would be clothing that empowered, inspired, and motivated you to be exactly who you were born to be. We would call these messages simple reminders. Reminders to love who you are and all you do to become the best version of you. It was in this moment my daughter looks at me and says, “I want to make the children at Children’s Hospital smile with our pieces. I want them to know they are loved no matter what they are going through.” This hospital has personally touched my family and it is a huge dream of ours to support and make a difference for them in any way we can. My heart exploded and the vision of Sweat Love Soul came to life. We applied and became benefiting partners with Children’s Hospital Colorado and donate a portion of all sales to this incredible place. . Both of my children hand drew and created our very first pieces. All of our pieces stem from our personal journey. The simple reminders are ones that helped me and my children through some of the toughest times in our lives. The pieces my children created have their personal mantras on them and are “exactly what they want people to know when life gets tough.” When covid hit, things shifted but our mission kept us going. We are now a 2 1/2 year old company and have donated over $10,000 to the hospital to date. Sweat Love Soul is a clothing brand and lifestyle created through a journey of STRENGTH, PURPOSE, & LOVE. The belief that a simple reminder is all we need to feel confident and powerful just as we are. Let what you wear bring out the humble warrior from within. And let MOVEMENT guide you to the freedom your soul has always desired.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Sweat Love Soul is more than a brand, it is a movement. My vision is to inspire people with the power of movement and with simple reminders each and every day. I have been in the fitness industry for 18+ years. Pilates and personal training was once my career but now I call in a passion. Without my background in the fitness industry, I do not believe the mission with Sweat Love Soul would have been possible. Movement is what saved me and now I want to inspire and empower others through my journey. The clothing line that I created with my children is an added bonus to my brand. It is such an honor to be able to have a creative outlet where I get to design and draw all while making a difference in my community. Running 2 small businesses as well as being mother to 3 kids is hard work! But, other days I feel overwhelmed, I take step back. I look at what has come from starting as an intern at a large club, to drawing ideas of clothing, and dreaming of touching others around the world. To now owning a 3500sq ft Pilates studio, a social media that reaching people everywhere, and a online clothing brand that makes humans smile. Its the little milestones that keep us going. If I can inspire one human to love who they are and make a difference in their day, I know I am doing the right thing. SWEAT to release energy that no longer serves you. LOVE with all your heart. and SOUL because there is nothing more beautiful that a SOUL a heart cannot help but feel.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Why Children’s Hospital? Why are they such a huge part of your life mission? I get asked these questions all the time. They reason is simple, helping them is the only way I know how to thank them. The moment where my entire life shifted was when my little girl, Liv, had a febrile seizure in the back of my car at just 18 months old. She left me for a brief moment, although it felt like an eternity. With her angels looking over her and the help of Children’s Hospital, she is the most magical 9 year old girl today. Although I can honestly say, this was the hardest day of my life, it was also the most impactful. I believe, in that moment, Liv knew what she was doing. She knew that if she didn’t do something drastic, I would never break the terrible cycle I was on and go get help. She is the one who saved me. After many years of counseling and soul searching, I can say I have broken the cycle. Some days are hard, life isn’t supposed to be easy all the time. But I choose to keep LIVeing. I remember one day my counselor looked at me as I bawled my eyes out with fear and anxiety. He said to me, “don’t you find it ironic that your named your daughter Liv? She is the one who inspires you to move forward each day and simply LIVe. It is her story that created our LIVe with Purpose line. Hard moments are the ones that shape us into becoming the best versions of ourselves. There is so much more freedom in growth than in being the victim.

How did you build your audience on social media?
It has been a process!! Unfortunately 4 years ago, my original account of 25K followers was hacked. I almost wanted to quite because all the hard work and personal stories I had shared were gone. But, I decided to start fresh with a new focus. Spreading the purpose of Sweat Love and Soul. There is always ups and downs on social media. The best advice I can give you is to stay true to your mission and what you are about. Try to not compare yourself to others. Create what you are about and share it with the world. The people who follow you will truly support you. Be consistent. Some days a post will take off, another day it will flop. Just don’t give up. Your story is important and it may be the one story that is someone else’s survival guide.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sweatlovesoul.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/sweat.love.soul
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/sweatlovesoul
• Other: www.bpilatesboutique.com www.instagram.com/sweatlovesoulclothing

Image Credits
Jenn Merrick with Thrueessence Photography