Stripped Down with STRIPT's Arianna Davis
When stripped down to our truest sense of self, humans are vulnerable creatures. That vulnerability is often conflated with weakness, though in reality, vulnerability and authenticity can also be understood as highly sought-after strengths. This is the ethos that encapsulates STRIPT, an empowering shapewear brand that shows there is resilience in baring it all.
STRIPT is a modern, Black woman owned comfort wear brand that wants to change the industry for the better. The brand’s designer and founder, Arianna Davis, did not set out to create yet another brand that establishes an unattainable standard of perfection, but to inspire her wearers to embrace their imperfections.
STRIPT and Arianna’s intentions would be amazing enough as is, but it also helps that the brand’s irresistible bodysuits are fully size-inclusive, as well as unbelievably comfortable. The versatile nature of the designs allows you to dress it up for a night out or keep it comfy at home. But no matter how you decide to wear your STRIPT suit, we can assure you’ll feel confident as ever.
PhotoBook sat down with Arianna Davis to discuss the brand, her takes on confidence, and more.
Image: Arianna Davis
Image: Arianna Davis
Why do you feel that expanding on inclusivity in the shapewear and athleisure market is important?
Well, what inspired me to make sure my brand was inclusive is that my sister is actually plus-size. I would never create something that my own sister couldn't wear. So that was the microcosm. She always talks about how there's so few options out there for her, so that became really important to me. Way more women are plus-size than the fashion industry acknowledges. Most women are, so it's kinda crazy that they're considered an add-on — like a plus-size range will be called, "Forever 21 Plus," instead of that factor just being incorporated within the brand. I didn't see any reason not to include larger sizes.
I’m interested in discussing the name of the brand, as the word STRIPT can have connotations of vulnerability — while in your case the brand is all about empowerment. How did you come up with the brand name and concept?
I always knew our niche was going to be the bodysuit, so I wanted the name to be something related to the body. We came up with STRIPT and it felt perfect. Essentially wearing a bodysuit is like walking around naked. It's the actual shape of your body. It made sense to us to call it STRIPT, Yeah. And people feel great in that state because our bodysuits make them feel so good.
Along with empowerment, the brand is also about the confidence that can come along with embracing sensuality. Why do you think it is important to display that part of ourselves instead of hiding it, as we are often taught?
Well, I think it's natural. I think sensuality comes naturally, for both women and men. That whole component of the brand was born organically from women actually wearing the product. When we shot our first disposable camera campaign, the girls put on the bodysuits and the pictures they took ended up being sensual. And I guess that's because that's how they felt: they were comfortable. I think a lot of people feel comfortable in that state. We're just not always allowed to express it, but that's something that is super important to us. It's important that when women wear the bodysuit, they feel sexy.
Confidence is definitely something that, once you're in that state of mind, everything else comes on its own. When do you feel your most confident?
I feel most confident when I'm comfortable. I love to be comfortable and I like my clothes to be comfortable. I like to feel like the pieces on me are high quality. Some people like to dress up; I'm more of a staple person. I like bodysuits, jeans, and tank tops. I feel really confident when I'm around my friends, all my best girlfriends, who my bodysuits are named after, are super confident, super smart, super well-spoken women, and being around them makes me feel more confident for sure.
I totally agree that a lot of your outer projections come from who you surround yourself with. And you said each bodysuit is named after your friends? That's so cute.
Our first drop, yes. The Cassie, the Sammy, the Coco, and the Cedes, who are my four best friends. And then Lexi is my sister and Lovey was our first shirt muse and also my friend.
What are your favorite ways to wear your STRIPT bodysuits?
I think my go-to would maybe be booties. If I wear a more flare-legged style, like the Cedes, I would wear booties and a jacket. I don't like heels, so booties are my one way of getting away with dressing up. They're such a savior for me because they feel fancy even though they're not. But then I also really like sneakers. I've always been a sneaker person since I was a kid. I'm a sneakerhead. That's probably the most common way that I wear my bodysuit with sneakers. And if it's cold, I wear a zip-up or a denim jacket with it. But usually sneakers and if not sneakers, either tall boots or I can tuck into them or short boots.
There are just endless possibilities. Aside from versatility, what do you think makes STRIPT different from other athleisure or casual clothing brands on the market?
The fabric we discovered and the way we cut it allows it to function like shapewear that you are wearing as clothing because it's so compressive. So, the number one thing that separates us for sure is that I can guarantee that we have the highest quality bodysuit and there is no bodysuit or cut like ours, period. That definitely makes us stand out. Most girls wear it and say, 'I've never been in a bodysuit that feels like this.' And then also the fact that we're inclusive. I also think a very cool aspect of our brand is that we have a whole community behind the brand. It's a community that people identify with and want to be around like-minded people. We get so much interaction with our customers. We do our photoshoots with them. We do campaigns with them. We have regular interactions on social media with our customers as well. I think that makes us really unique, and that is part of why people buy into the brand so much.
I agree for sure. A particularly important aspect of starting any brand is cultivating this little family around it and just knowing that you're connecting past just the product. Do you have any plans to expand past the one-piece space in the future?
We're definitely going to expand to sets. So, we'll do biker shorts and tops that you can wear with the shorts, but in similar, really soft fabric. We eventually want to become a brand where you can get all types of basics. In the fall, we're going to expand with a 'cozy collection,' which is going to be crewnecks and hoodies — things you can wear with the bodysuit or without. And then the big goal, which I'm really excited about is that I ultimately want to expand into denim. I want it to be a one-stop shop.
Website: https://striptofficial.com
Instagram: @striptofficial
Article by Kayla Curtis-Evans, Contributing Sustainable Editor PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Alexa Dyer, Graphic Design Intern, PhotoBook Magazine
*Images courtesy of Arianna Davis