Outdoor Voices: How the Message of Movement Changed My Health
Sometimes, there are brands that make more of a mark on us than we’d like to admit. Like many of my peers, I can confidently say that I’ve invested way too much time and money into a select handful of apparel companies throughout college. Unlike any of the other brands that I affiliate with my style identity, Outdoor Voices has turned me fully-fledged convert from any other competitor in the athletic-wear realm. A company that makes its products by all, for all, OV founded itself on the principles of moving for the sake of moving no matter what your body type, athleticism, age or abilities.
I first learned about Outdoor Voices through an article written about founder, Tyler Haney- at which point I immediately fell in love with her mission of providing a more inclusive and realistic solution to activewear by promoting healthy living and positive self-image. Recently, she was featured in an episode of NPR’s podcast series, How I Built This, where she dove into the beginnings of her vision for OV and how her personal story played into building the company/continues to characterize its story. This episode only further reinforced my love for this brand due to the awareness it has brought to health and exercise from a lens of empowerment. Not to mention how cute, comfy, and high quality their products are.
As a student at The University of Texas, I was able to witness first hand how OV began to change the young adult community’s perspective on health and wellness by embracing #doingthings for the better of our bodies in Austin, TX. With passion, positivity, and self-care at the forefront, this brand shifted the idea of moving from a competitive, high intensity chore to a community building activity that doubled as an expression of joy. The clothing motivates people to get outside and do things that make them feel good as well as encourages society to be appreciative of the world’s beauty which is built by each individual that inhabits it. For a girl surrounded by plenty of other college girls who were extremely fit, it was liberating to hear that exercise could be any form of movement that made me happy. Comparison to anyone else’s regiment wasn’t even a consideration.
Conveniently located less than 10 minutes from my apartment last year, I made plenty of trips to the Outdoor Voices storefront to pick up their newest styles to add to my growing wardrobe of pieces to wear for not just my workouts, (which it definitely encouraged me to do more of), but my day to day activities and outdoor excursions. Below are pictures of me wearing some of my favorite pieces. Last year, I couldn’t go three days without wearing my red leggings. I worked out in them at the YMCA, took tests in them, went to the Zilker Botanical Gardens on my birthday in them, wore them for a hike in the dessert, jogged around Town Lake in them, and even went to a country bar in them.
As OV continues to grow in Austin and across the US, I can’t help but become an even bigger fan of the personality, character, and grit of the company as time goes on. #doingthings has become a movement that makes people achieve their goals by pushing themselves to be the best version of who they are; starting with how they treat their bodies. I think this is one of the most empowering things you can do for yourself and it is definitely something I strive to live by every day. The atmosphere that OV creates by supporting its consumers in leading a life characterized by encouragement to experience the world around them in an active, yet realistic way is inspiring.
To hop on the Outdoor Voices train, make sure to join the email list (a blessing and a curse) and get your first order 20% off!! My biggest hope is that you’ll start #doingthings with confidence and joy in every piece you wear! I know it has changed me for the better!
