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

Olivia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I graduated from Indiana University in May 2025 with a degree in Entrepreneurship. On paper, everything looked perfect. I moved home to Chicago, started a fashion internship, and began applying for full-time jobs. But something felt off. There is intense pressure after graduation to land a “real job,” and while everyone around me was locking in offers, I kept wondering if that path was really mine. I didn’t just want to work in fashion. I wanted to build something of my own.
During that time, I started teaching myself embroidery and hosting small pop-ups. I loved being hands-on and watching people light up over something I made. It felt more aligned than any job application. At first, Oliv was actually a custom sweater brand concept. I planned to create embroidered pieces with fun fold-over details. But when I really analyzed it, there was no clear gap in the market. It felt forced.
In October 2025, the idea for Oliv clicked in a different direction. I was sitting in a yoga class and looked around. Black, beige, muted neutrals. Not a pattern in sight. Activewear had become minimal and serious. After class, I searched for patterned activewear that felt modern and flattering, but what existed felt outdated and disconnected from Gen Z. In a massive industry built around movement and self-expression, everything felt emotionally flat.
That is when I realized it was not just a preference. It was a real gap.
I posted a video to my 300 followers asking if other girls felt the same way. It reached 180,000 views, and the comments poured in asking for color, personality, and joy back in their workout clothes. That was my validation.
The logic was simple. The activewear market is growing, Gen Z craves individuality, and minimalism had created visual sameness. No brand was centered around intentional joy. This was not about polka dots. It was about bringing emotion back into movement.
Working out should be the part of your day where you unplug, reset, and feel good about yourself. Your clothes should reflect that energy.
Beyond the product, the most meaningful part has been the community. I have built Oliv publicly from day one, and nearly 15,000 people now follow along in real time. They have watched the wins, the setbacks, and the pivots. Their kindness, feedback, and honest input have shaped this brand just as much as I have. It does not feel like I am building it alone; it feels like we are building Oliv together.

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?

I’m Olivia Shorter, founder of Oliv, an activewear brand in development for those who believe life is too short to live muted. I’ve always loved creating and building. In high school, I started designing and selling handmade tailgate apparel, and that’s when I realized I didn’t just love fashion. I loved building something from nothing.
I grew up with four brothers who are all incredibly athletic and competitive, so movement was constant in my life. Sports shaped how I see activewear. It’s not just clothing. It’s what you wear when you’re fully showing up for yourself.
Today, I’m building Oliv to bring personality and intentional joy back into movement. We haven’t launched our first drop yet because I’m focused on getting it right. I’m developing expressive, pattern-forward pieces that feel playful but elevated, and I care just as much about how they make you feel as I do about how they look.
Six months after my TikTok went viral, I’m already seeing the industry shift toward more color and personality. That tells me I was early, but it also pushes me to go deeper. Oliv isn’t just about patterns. It’s about the experience.
I designed a yoga towel with a small mantra at the top that says “I have to do this,” crossed out, and underneath it reads, “I get to do this.” It’s subtle and personal. I’ve been bringing the sample to workout classes, and it’s honestly changed how I frame my mindset. Some days it’s hard to get out the door, but reminding yourself that you get to move changes everything. That kind of quiet mindset shift isn’t something I see much in activewear, and it matters to me.
I’m also developing a complimentary neoprene pouch to go with every set, designed for after heated classes or sweaty gym sessions. It’s for the girl moving from yoga sculpt to work to errands who doesn’t want damp clothes sitting in a plastic grocery bag next to her laptop. Those small details are intentional. They’re part of making the whole experience feel thoughtful.
The journey to build Oliv hasn’t been easy. I’ve worked with multiple manufacturers because I refuse to compromise on fabric, fit, or performance. The first drop is taking longer because I care more about quality than rushing something out. I won’t put my name on anything I don’t fully believe in.
What I’m most proud of is the intention behind it all. Oliv isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about creating pieces that make movement feel playful again and remind you that you get to show up for yourself.
The brand is still in its building phase, but the foundation is clear: high standards, thoughtful design, and joy at the center of it all.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I didn’t build my audience by trying to build an audience. I built it by documenting what I was already doing.
When I first posted about Oliv, I had around 300 followers. I didn’t have product photos, inventory, or a launch date. All I had was an idea and a question: does anyone else feel like activewear has gotten boring? That video reached 180,000 views, not because it was perfectly produced, but because it was honest.
From that point on, I decided to build in public.
Instead of waiting until everything looked polished, I shared the sampling process, manufacturer challenges, fabric mistakes, wins, and setbacks. I think people connect to progress more than perfection. When you show the middle instead of just the highlight reel, people feel invested.
Another big shift for me was asking instead of announcing. I ask my audience to vote on almost everything, from patterns to sizing to design details. I ask what they struggle with in their current activewear. That turns followers into collaborators. When people feel like they helped shape something, they care more about its success.
One of the most impactful things I did was put out a Google Form to gather deeper feedback on sizing, pattern interest, and frustrations with existing activewear so I could shape our first drop around real input. I received over 2,000 responses. It gave me invaluable insight and shifted the brand from being my idea to something we are building together.
I also try to respond to anyone who reaches out about starting a business and set up calls when I can, because just a few months ago, I was the one asking for advice. I do not have all the answers, but helping others sharpens your thinking and clarifies your vision. Being a solo founder can get lonely, and the relationships you form along the way often become the same people who support you or open doors later. Community is not just about followers. It is about real connections.
If I could give advice to someone just starting, it would be this:
Do not wait until it is perfect. Start documenting now.
Talk about the problem you are solving, not just the product.
Be specific. Be honest. Be consistent.
You do not need thousands of followers to validate your idea. You need the right people paying attention, and that comes from clarity and authenticity, not trends.
Social media has not just helped me build an audience. It has helped me build a community. Our community is following Oliv’s journey in real time, and that transparency has built trust before we have even launched.

Have you ever had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots I’ve had to make while building Oliv was around manufacturing.
When I first started, I was determined to produce in Los Angeles. I liked the idea of keeping things local and being hands-on throughout the process. I went through two different manufacturers in LA, hoping the second would solve the issues I experienced with the first. But after multiple rounds of sampling, it became clear the printing and fabric quality still were not meeting the standard I had in mind. The sublimation lacked the vibrancy and precision I was looking for, and the fabric options did not have the performance feel I wanted.
By that point, I had invested time, money, and emotional energy. Walking away after trying twice felt frustrating. But I had to decide what mattered more: launching quickly or protecting the vision.
Instead of trying to navigate it alone, I started reaching out to other business owners for advice. I asked about their manufacturing experiences and those conversations were invaluable. Learning from people who had already gone through the process helped me avoid bigger mistakes and gave me the confidence to pivot properly.
I also attended MAGIC Sourcing in Las Vegas to meet manufacturers face-to-face and better understand the global production landscape. Being in those rooms, asking questions, and seeing fabrics and printing capabilities in person gave me a completely different perspective.
I ultimately shifted to exploring overseas manufacturers who specialize in high-level sublimation printing and performance fabrics. It meant re-sourcing materials, rebuilding relationships, and extending the timeline, but it brought me closer to the product I truly believe in.
That experience taught me that protecting your standards is more important than protecting your pride. It also reinforced how powerful relationships are. You do not have to build alone. Sometimes the smartest move you can make is asking for help and putting yourself in the right rooms.
The pivot delayed the launch, but it strengthened the foundation. And that is a trade-off I will make every time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shopoliv.com
• Instagram: shopoliv_
• Linkedin: oliviaashorter
• Other: TikTok: oliviaashorter
  TikTok: shopoliv_