We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Liz Detrow a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Liz thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I started Ace Grip Socks because of my love for Pilates and the way it makes me feel, both physically and mentally. Since I wear grip socks almost every day, I wanted to find ones that were both cute and high-quality. But I kept noticing that the stylish ones didn’t always perform well, and the high-quality ones weren’t as stylish as I wanted. So, I decided to create my own!
I honestly started it because it seemed like a fun and natural fit. I’ve always loved branding and creative projects, and since grip socks are such a big part of my everyday life, it felt like the perfect opportunity. Plus, I figured if I was looking for fashionable, high-quality grip socks, others probably were too.
Building Ace Grip Socks has been such an exciting journey, and it’s been amazing to see others enjoying the brand as much as I do. I’m so excited to see where the brand goes from here.
Liz, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m Liz, 23, and the founder of Ace Grip Socks in San Diego. I started the brand because I couldn’t find cute, high-quality grip socks for my reformer Pilates practice, so I decided to make my own. Ace Grip Socks are designed to be stylish, comfortable, and durable for workouts like Pilates and yoga. I personally test every design to ensure they’re something I’d actually want to buy.
I run everything for the brand, from design to marketing and customer service. It’s been amazing building it from scratch, and I love seeing people enjoy the socks as much as I do. While balancing multiple jobs and making sacrifices, I know the hard work is worth it to grow Ace Grip Socks into something even bigger.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Building something in your early 20s often feels like navigating without a map. I’ve faced many moments where things didn’t go as planned, and I had to pivot unexpectedly. There were times when it felt like I wasn’t sure if I was on the right path, but I learned to keep going, even when I didn’t have all the answers.
What I’ve learned through this journey is that resilience isn’t about having everything figured out, it’s about trusting yourself and pushing forward despite the uncertainty. The path to success isn’t linear. It’s full of setbacks, mistakes, and moments of doubt. But every challenge has taught me something valuable. I’ve learned to embrace the discomfort, adapt when needed, and keep taking action, even when it’s tough.
The key to resilience is showing up every day, even when things get hard, and trusting that all the effort will eventually pay off.
Have you ever had to pivot?
A key moment of pivoting for me was when I transitioned from my first brand ilysmkinda to Ace Grip Socks. I started ilysmkinda at a young age, and as I grew and changed, I realized my passions were shifting. I wanted to focus more on my love for wellness and Pilates, and creating something that felt more aligned with my current life.
Starting fresh with Ace Grip Socks was a big shift, but it felt like 100% the right move. It taught me the importance of evolving as a person and an entrepreneur. Sometimes, you outgrow what you started with, and it’s okay to pivot toward something that better reflects who you are now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://acegripsocks.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acegripsocks/?hl=en
