We had the good fortune of connecting with Carolyn Sewell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carolyn, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

The idea for Ace Athletics came after many years of playing tennis and not being able to find clothing that met my needs of both style and performance. As a mother of three, I had spent most of my time raising my children and decided to start this business to not only challenge myself and create a legacy for my children, but to fill a void I saw in the market. While creating a brand image and ethos, I considered what was important to me as a consumer, so I put sustainability at the forefront of my business and focused on how to be an exemplar of a small local business that can act sustainably. We began by sourcing soft, high-quality fabrics made from recycled materials, and sourced a local manufacturer. Having a local manufacturer allows us to maintain exceptional quality control to ensure our designs and products meet our high standards. We are so proud to be able to deliver a premium product to our clientele that showcases that recyclable materials can be used to create stylish, comfortable and functional active-wear.

What should our readers know about your business?
We care about the environment and value your performance needs, which is why we only source sustainable, high-performance fabrics. We source the highest quality, eco-enriched and recyclable performance fabrics on the market. From design to delivery, we strive to keep our footprint as small as possible and are constantly researching new methods and technologies to help us keep our commitment to bettering the world around us.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Day 1 – Hike Camelback Mountain and go for breakfast at Hash Kitchen
Day 2 – Attend an Arizona Diamondbacks Game followed by dinner at Postinos
Day 3 – Go on a shopping spree at the Biltmore and head to the Phoenician for lunch
Day 4 – Have brunch at The Breakfast Club and hit Page Springs Cellars for an afternoon
Day 5 – Drive to Sedona and hike Cathedral Rock
Day 6 – Play a match of tennis at Phoenix Tennis Center and finish up at Olive & Ivy for dinner

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my success to my husband as he has been a huge support, from the start of my idea to produce a woman’s tennis line, he has continued supporting me through the whole process. I also want to thank my daughters who run the business with me, as I could never be able to do all the work that is involved to design, ordering, manufacturing social media and distribution without them. My success has come from the full support of my family and each one of them have been available and have been incredibly helpful.

Website: www.aceathletics.com

Instagram: aceathleticscompany

Facebook: aceatheltics

Image Credits
Nikelle Benett photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.