Vivacity Sportswear® is my first foray in the fashion/sportswear world. After years in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry with no prior training in fashion design and garment manufacturing, I have learned “on the job” what needs to happen in order to develop, merchandise and sell a collection in the retail world.
Making the transition from a corporate job to an entrepreneurial venture in a new industry has not been the easiest – or sanest- decision I have made but it has been the most fulfilling. The last few years of my corporate life were especially tough for me: I knew I wanted to do something on my own but hadn’t found an idea that inspired me to take the leap.. Thus I decided to stay in my corporate job until I was inspired to make a change.
Business idea from a round of golf
My business idea stemmed from an innocent round of golf – and my husband’s nudging. A few years back, I started to play golf with my husband John, an avid golfer. He soon grew tired of waiting for me as I went through my closet figuring out what the heck I was going to wear on the course; an outfit that did not make me look like a undersized man (i.e. men’s polo shirt cut short and called a woman’s top) or worse.
Finally one day John called me on it – “I’m tired of waiting for you every time we plan to play golf. I’m also tired of hearing your complaints. Either do something about it or deal with it!”
Hence the idea of creating a women’s fashionable sportswear line began. I started out slowly and with some caution. While I still kept one foot in the biotech world with project work, I started to work part time with a sportswear designer who had many years of experience in the triathlon/cycling industry. We created a general partnership with the understanding that we would eventually launch a golf line under her company brand. So I set about helping her with different aspects of fabric sourcing, cutting samples, visiting production contractors, etc. and soon enough we had put together a small line of golf clothes.
But it didn’t feel right to me – the line “we” had created did not seem any different than what was already offered. After months of dragging my feet, I decided to break out on my own – I divorced my partner and set out to build my own sportswear line.
I have had a steep learning curve in a new industry – heck, I had not used a sewing machine in over 20 years and I definitely cannot draw anything remotely resembling an outfit. But I knew what I liked, what I could not find to wear and I was willing to figure out what I needed to do in order to create something that met my needs …and those of women like me.
Through networking, trade shows, market research and reaching out to any source I could think of, I started to develop a network of amazing contractors, vendors and eventual team members who have helped shape and define what Vivacity is today. Of course I’ve had my share of stumbles along the way and I will continue to do so. However with my amazing team behind me, I know we’ll be able to make things happen.
4 years of Vivacity
It’s been almost 4 years since I launched Vivacity and I have never looked back. I recognized that there was a large gap in women’s golf wear and this gap was felt by many women, not just me. Better yet, I filled that need through my work and vision.
I am living proof that you can change careers at any age and experience level: it will be hard but exceptionally fulfilling. Trust yourself, as I learned to do. If you have an idea picking at you, make this the year to start responding to that fervent desire. Schedule an informational interview with a thought leader in your desired arena. Create an exit strategy from corporate. Write the first paragraph in your book.
As Vivacity Sportswear® celebrates its fourth year in business, we are excited to continue expanding our reach in the US golf/resort market and in overseas markets, starting in Japan and South Korea. We will continue to seek out new partnerships with key strategic e-market places in order to expand our online presence. In late November 2014 we launched a new ecommerce website utilizing the S1NGULARITY® platform from by our vendor partner Whitestone TEC. We felt this was very important for our next stage of growth – we want our growing customer fan base to have an exceptional online experience and the implementation of this new website is a vast step toward getting that accomplished.
Whatever the future holds for my venture, I know that I will not regret the investment in capital, time, sweat and tears to make it happen.
Here’s looking forward to a successful new year for all your projects and ventures!
Bio
Vivian Sayward is founder and president of Vivacity Sportswear® vivacitysportswear.com, a high-end sportswear line designed for and by women, and produced in Southern California. The company was established in 2011 and it is carried in golf pro shops, resorts and boutiques across the US. The collection combines sport with haute couture; head-turning silhouettes with everyday comfort; and refined detailing with wicking, anti-microbial fabrics.