Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved to move, from playing sports as a kid to doing physical jobs as an adult to being a lover of daily fitness—most mornings, you can find me at the gym lifting weights. I’ve never really followed a path that made much sense to anyone but me: I became a teen mom at 18 (but finished high school early, before my daughter was born), then became a photographer, then a plumber, and now I’m a small business owner. My approach to life has always been “Why not? Let’s figure it out.” I’m incredibly stubborn with an iron will. I’ve never met a problem that deterred or defeated me. I’m an enthusiastic, wild ideas, “let’s run with it” kind of girl.
A problem worth solving
One day in February 2017, I found myself standing in front of a gym’s mirror, annoyed that my leggings kept rolling down. An idea hit me: I could solve this issue. I loved fashion and athletic wear. I wore it every day. I was the perfect test subject to design the best pair of workout leggings ever. My headstrong attitude and passion for fitness came together and gave birth to Arro Athletics.
I threw myself into designing and figuring out how to create a masterpiece that flattered my curves—and stayed in place. My first design ever was the Up-Tight Leggings. I had the idea of a full silicone waistband after listening to a Tony Robbins podcast that challenged listeners to “be a red fish in a sea of blue fish;” that is, do something that makes you stand out. The rest is history.
The process wasn’t without its bumps. It took me two years to create the first pair. The first sample we received literally looked like MC Hammer pants! I found a new manufacturer with less of a language barrier, and our next sample was the perfect shape, but the fabric was too sheer. This led to a deep dive to create a fabric that met our standards and movement requirements. I have now been with the same family-run manufacturer in China for the past five years.
Building a brand for everybody
Since that first pair, my passion has grown into a brand that speaks to women of every shape and size. I want to design not only for myself but for my best friends, my mom, my aunt, and my daughter. Athletic wear doesn’t exist only in the gym; it’s what most women I know feel most confident and comfortable in.
Last year, my goal was to grow my business by 25 per cent. We blew that estimate out of the water, with 90 per cent growth!
To this day, Arro Athletics is best known for our silicone waistbands. We now have nine styles of bottoms with varying degrees of silicone “strength,” from a full silicone waist in the Uptight legging to the very light Bestie legging. We also have bras, sweatshirts, and a few accessories, including socks, hair clips, and scrunchies. Each month, we donate the proceeds from our scrunchie sales to a local charity.
I get so much joy hearing from our customers, especially women who have never found styles and sizes that work for them. I’ve come to realize Arro Athletics’ strength lies in its faithful wearers, who give me the best feedback, ideas, and encouragement. This community is the reason I am still here doing this today.
Growing beyond Campbell River
Last year, my goal was to grow my business by 25 per cent. We blew that estimate out of the water, with 90 per cent growth! This was in part due to my Instagram following, which doubled in 2025, and which drives the majority of my sales. We now have a local 1800-sq-ft warehouse, and I’m in the process of renovating our storefront to focus on in-person shoppers.
I feel truly in awe when I see women all across the world ordering from my little business in Campbell River. The thought that my designs are being worn from British Columbia to Prince Edward Island, and now to Norway, Singapore, and everywhere in between, is humbling.
At the heart of it all, Arro will always remain rooted in community and quality. I’ll keep creating pieces that feel as strong, versatile, and adventurous as the women who wear them.
