Irish Design Spotlight: Bound Apparel

Tell us about you and your brand
My name is Abbie Beggs and I am from Skerries, Dublin. Back in 2020 when I was 20 years old and heading into my final year of college, I launched Bound Apparel. Growing up, I was always into sports such as gymnastics, karate, football, and camogie, so naturally, activewear became my everyday go-to.

I realised there was a gap in the market when I found it difficult to find activewear that was good quality, fashionable and affordable. Although our products are designed for exercising we also emphasise that our pieces are for everyday wear and not just for the gym.

Bound Apparel is quickly becoming the It Girl activewear brand with over 20,000 customers in Ireland, the UK and Europe. In the last three years, we’ve launched a collection in collaboration with influencer Lexi Mckeown, have hosted numerous press events and we were stocked in a bricks and mortar shop in Dublin for just over a year!

What is your mission?
My mission is to create a brand that has a community of girls who love leading an active lifestyle while looking and feeling their best. This year, our focus is on being as sustainable as possible. We will be launching a sustainability programme later this year so stay tuned!

Did you always know you wanted to be a designer?
To be honest, no! I initially pursued a teaching career after completing my Leaving Cert. Throughout my teens, I was coaching sports and I quickly fell in love with it, which naturally led me to dive into a teaching degree.

However, Covid led me to rediscover my passion for an active lifestyle and fashion, ultimately inspiring me to start Bound Apparel. Online college became the norm and I was able to complete the final year of my degree during that time, receiving a first in my thesis – all while growing bound!

What kind of items do you stock?
Bound Apparel offers a wide range of activewear essentials, including leggings, shorts, sports bras, tees, t-shirts, flares, and our latest addition, the very sought-after tracksuit collection in collaboration with Lexi McKeown. Lexi is an OG Bound lover and was one of the first-ever influencers I worked with back in 2021. The collaboration with Lexi was very much a full-circle moment for both of us. Our boundless collection is our bestselling collection. Using our four-way stretch material, we have created soft, high-quality sportswear that is perfect for both in and out of the gym.

What new brands or items are on your radar?
Since starting my brand, I have fallen in love with clothes/fashion. I now understand all the work that goes on behind the scenes and appreciate fashion a lot more now! I am very excited for Robyn Trout to launch her new sunglasses brand MAiE.

Was money/funding a concern when starting out?
Yes, definitely. Due to the pandemic, I lost my job as a gymnastics coach. However, with the world on pause, I was able to focus on saving and invested all of my personal savings into the brand. It can be so daunting investing your savings into the unknown but I am very grateful that I took the risk.

Best business advice you’ve gotten
The best advice I ever received was to reinvest. Reinvesting every cent back into the brand means that each launch and restock has gradually produced more products in larger quantities.

Favourite fashion/design accounts you follow
I love following the likes of Sinead Gannon, Lexi McKeown, Holly Roche, Eabha O’Donoghue, Lauren Whelan and lots more. I take all my fashion inspo from these girls and absolutely love their content too! It is amazing to see my favourite fashion influencers, who I have followed for years, wearing and loving my products too. 

Best fashion purchase
My best fashion purchase has to be my Tasman Uggs. Anyone who knows me, knows I live in my Uggs. They are the ultimate cosy shoe and I don’t think they’ll ever go out of fashion for me!

Other Irish brands you love
There are so many amazing Irish brands. It makes me so happy to see the female businesswomen are killing it at the moment.

I am a huge fan of Sculpted by Aimee. I am obsessed with all their products  – from skincare to beauty, Sculpted has quickly taken over my makeup bag! KASH Beauty is another favourite of mine. I love a slick-back hairstyle and always reach for my smooth company products. I am really excited to try their new mane master that they recently launched.

Finally a special mention to Zo&Co who was founded by my best friend Zoe. I wear Zo&Co daily, whether it’s my earrings, necklaces or my engraved signet ring that I haven’t taken off in two years! I am always so proud to wear my best friend’s brand. I am forever grateful to have Zoe in this industry. We constantly bounce ideas off one another and support each other in all the highs and lows of running a business.

Most useful learning since setting up a business
Finding our niche early on. Bound Apparel quickly became the brand that sells activewear not just for the gym and that’s really been our USP since the start.

Proudest moment so far
My proudest moment has to be our collaboration with Lexi McKeown. Everything was absolutely perfect – from the shoot to the launch. The overwhelming response to our tracksuit collection was surreal and I still get messages daily from my friends and family spotting people in our tracksuits. I always feel so proud when I see people wearing my designs.

I want my brand to be remembered for… I aspire for Bound Apparel to be celebrated as a fashion-forward brand redefining activewear and empowering women in every aspect of their lives.

If I could have anyone wear my designs it would be… I would absolutely love to see my designs on my absolute favs, Joanne McNally and Vogue Williams. I adore the pair of them and listen to their podcast daily. Whenever I am having stressful moments at work, I pop my AirPods in and they just brighten my day.

Imagery courtesy of Abbie Beggs