The truth is, we didn't start Charley Alan because we had a business plan. We started it because we couldn't find what we actually wanted to wear.
When Jess and I lived together in Sydney, we had this habit of running between each other's bedrooms before workouts, trying on each other's pieces, analysing the fit, pulling at the fabric, debating what worked and what didn't.
At the time, we thought we were just being extremely particular... Turns out we were doing market research.
Everything was either too thick or too flimsy. We wanted something that sculpted without suffocating. Lightweight but actually held you in. Something you could wear to a 6am class and not immediately need to change out of.
We now live in different cities, which is genuinely upsetting. Our entire business runs on back-to-back calls, a consistent stream of texts, and Jess's podcast-length voicenotes.
Someone recently asked why we started Charley Alan. Honest answer: because, despite there being so many options out there, we still could never find what we wanted in activewear.
This only made us think there were other people out there with the same need for something different. Our first collection is everything we couldn't find and know you will love.