Beyond Yoga: Michelle Wahler

How I Built This · 10 Feb 2025 · 56m

What this episode covers

Michelle Wahler, co-founder of Beyond Yoga, explains how she bootstrapped an inclusive activewear brand by prioritizing proprietary fabric development and a strategic wholesale model over direct-to-consumer sales. She details the decision to manufacture in Los Angeles to maintain quality and agility, the pivot to e-commerce during the pandemic, and the eventual $400 million acquisition by Levi's. Wahler also discusses the challenges of financial management as a designer-founder and the importance of reinvesting profits to build a sustainable, profitable business without outside venture capital.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies: Beyond Yoga, Levi's, Lululemon, Athleta, Equinox, Wells Fargo, CIT, People magazine, Sports Illustrated, Revolve, Shopbop, QVC, Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, TJ Maxx, Ross, Under Armor, Toms
Products: Unsweetened
Materials: Space Dye
Also: LA Mart

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Beyond Yoga: Michelle Wahler

What this episode covers

Most relevant to

Topics

Mentioned

Related episodes from other shows

006: Customizable swimwear with Kelsey Duffy of Versakini

044: Turning customizable jackets into a multi-million dollar business, Elyse Daniels of Exodus Wear

Founder Feature: Zoe Levin of Bim Bam Boo

339 - Beyond the Dieline ep 1 with Tom Seymour and Jessica Kwon from Moka Energy!

Founder + Funder: Fundraising, Retail Growth, and Building a Modern Hydration Brand with Alex Michaelsen of Leisure Hydration and Ryan Springer of Midnight