We recently connected with Mansi Vohra and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mansi, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
Back in the summer of 2020, when the world felt upside down from the pandemic, I hit a turning point. With everything familiar suddenly out of reach, I decided to focus on myself and dive headfirst into a health and fitness journey. I was all in—watching endless skincare hacks on YouTube, reading up on mindset shifts, trying out different diets, and sticking to workouts to hit my fitness goals. It was a time of major growth, figuring things out, and living with purpose. That experience lit a spark in me to share this feeling of empowerment with others.
While learning about how various external factors impact us internally (e.g., air quality, skincare ingredients, sunlight, etc.), something struck me: the activewear I relied on to support my wellness journey might not actually be good for my body in the long run. Much of it was made from materials treated with harsh chemicals that could harm our skin—our largest organ—especially when exposed to sweat or improper care. Around the same time, I began reconnecting with my cultural roots, particularly Ayurveda, the ancient Indian approach to wellness centered on balance, simplicity, and natural living. Growing up, I had dismissed these traditions as outdated, but now they were guiding me back to timeless principles for caring for both body and mind. This realization became a foundational part of the vision behind Crave Active.
Fueled by a personal need to find a better solution, I founded Crave Active with a mission: to help ambitious women create wardrobes that support their wellness goals, simplify their routines, and make them feel at home. Crave Active is more than just clothing. It’s a blend of traditional wellness wisdom and modern design, inspired by my own cultural roots and a belief in the power of simplicity. The name “Crave” embodies the journey of craving positive change, a concept I connected deeply with after reading <u>Atomic Habits</u> by James Clear. For me, wellness isn’t just something you do—it’s something you wear, live, and feel. Every piece created and worn at Crave Active is here to remind you of exactly that.
Mansi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Mansi Vohra, the founder of Crave Active—a wellness-wear brand born out of my passion for health, fitness, and conscious living. My journey into this space wasn’t linear. With a background in business and no prior experience in fashion, I found myself learning everything from scratch. But what I lacked in industry experience, I made up for with curiosity and a strong vision. Crave Active was inspired by my own health journey during the pandemic, where I discovered how external factors, like the materials in our clothing, can impact our internal well-being.
At Crave Active, we create sustainable activewear that’s designed to support your wellness goals, simplify your routines, and make you feel at home—wherever life takes you. It’s no secret that athleisure is a competitive market, but what sets us apart is our commitment to reimagining activewear as wellness wear. From focusing on non-toxic materials to crafting designs that are functional, stylish, and undoubtedly comfortable, we aim to empower ambitious women to feel confident and connected in everything they do.
I’m most proud of creating something that stands for more than just clothing—it’s a lifestyle rooted in wellness, tradition, and authenticity. For anyone following Crave Active, I want them to know that this brand is built with them in mind: their journey to becoming their best selves and everything involved in that process.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Being based in New York City has been the greatest blessing for growing Crave Active. The city is home to a vibrant and ever-growing wellness community, and tapping into that energy has been invaluable. Whether it’s pop-ups at various athletic studios, collaborations with fitness instructors, or events that connect our community with up-and-coming wellness brands, NYC has allowed me to connect with people face-to-face and share the story behind Crave Active in a way that feels personal and meaningful. As someone who also works a full-time 9-to-5 job remotely, I deeply value in-person connection. Working from home can feel isolating at times, and building Crave has allowed me to break out of that bubble and engage directly with the passionate community around me. There’s something so rewarding about meeting people, hearing their stories, and seeing them connect with the brand on a personal level. It’s these moments of connection—both big and small—that have been instrumental in growing Crave Active’s reach and impact.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
Right now, Crave Active is a one-woman show, which means every message, event, and communication comes directly from me—the face and heart behind the brand. I want our customers to feel heard, so I offer multiple ways to share feedback— reviews, emails, social media— to make sure our products truly meet their needs. By sharing wellness content and offering exclusive promotions or early access to new collections, I’ve built a community that deeply resonates with our mission and is excited to be part of the Crave Circle. To me, the best businesses are those that are honest, transparent, and focused on inspiring and growing together—and that’s exactly what I’m committed to doing at Crave.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://craveactivewear.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craveactive
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craveactive
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/craveactive/
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@craveactive
Image Credits
Sam Popp Hannah Frankel