Meet Samantha Elsenpeter | twinflames.

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

Hi Samantha, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
In the age of entrepreneurialism, why not us?

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
twinflames. was born out of a vision shared between Keaton Milburn & Natalie (Nat) Braun. Keaton, an online personality & lifestyle influencer for over 10 years, met Nat in college at Arizona State University. From the minute the two sorority sisters were introduced, they cliqued & an unparalleled bond was formed. Feeling as if they were the same person in separate bodies, the concept of twinflames. was born. A friendship, a dream & business diplomas in hand, Keaton & Nat launched their very own unisex clothing line.

twinflames., has been largely inspired by both Keaton & Nat’s personal styles. The two have always been drawn to the “effortlessly cool & oversized” look, often wearing more masculine-inspired comfortable pieces. So, when it came to sizing & fit, they wanted to create pieces that both men and women could feel confident in. In terms of fabrics, it was important for the brand to find ways to be both comfortable and sustainable. Thus, many twinflames. pieces are made from ECOCYCLE fabric, which is 50% organic cotton & 50% recycled cotton.

Since Keaton & Nat had existing social media followings prior to the launch of twinflames., they were blessed with an opportunity to get eyes on their pieces more quickly than most new businesses could. However, they wanted to make it clear that twinflames. pieces are not just influencer merch. They wanted their audience to see them as they were, a legitimate streetwear fashion brand dedicated to quality & comfort. To demonstrate they meant business, Keaton & Nat spent countless hours brainstorming, touring manufacturers, interviewing screen printers, scouting models & selecting materials. Over the years, they’ve also created a small team to help move the brand forward.

In terms of inspiration for collections, ideas are generally spawned from conversations in our team meetings. What are we interested in? What are we drawn to? What do we want to wear? What message do we want to spread? How do we want to feel when we wear these pieces? These are all questions we ask ourselves. After brainstorming, we all have a seat at the table & share our ideas.

Another important facet of this brand revolves around mental health. The twinflames. team wanted to adopt a cause & find a way to shed light on topics that sometimes get overlooked. For the past few years, we’ve really leaned into the month of May (aka Mental Health Awareness Month). To do so, we’ve dedicated collections to spreading the message of self-love & seeking help when one needs it. The response we’ve gotten from our mental health campaigns has been so positive that we’ve created a blog to list support groups as well as write meaningful posts that we hope resonates with our audience.

In regard to challenges, twinflames. welcomes them. Over the course of four years, the brand has faced many trials; however, each triumph lights the fire to keep the team going. From manufacturing mishaps, misprints, the typical ebbs & flows of a business as well as supply chain issues due to a global pandemic, twinflames. has been tested. Despite the challenges, the team has always found ways to pivot & make things right.

Having developed an established audience, the brand is now focused on exposure & reaching new markets. Since we are a unisex brand, we’ve tapped into the athletics industry, specifically NBA & NFL. Over the years, sports and fashion have been woven together since the genesis of “walk-in” photos. Today, we’re seeing twinflames. pieces on sports stars as they arrive for work. Athletes such as Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets), Cam Johnson (Brooklyn Nets) & Obi Toppin (Indiana Pacers) have been spotted in twinflames. In addition, actors and influencers to the likes of Charli & Dixi D’Amelio, Chase Stokes & Hillary Duff have also been seen repping our brand.

I think the story Keaton & Nat want to convey is one of courage. If you’re scared to start something, do it anyway! If you’re facing obstacles that seem impossible to overcome, find a way! If you care about a cause, lean into it! Most people never come close to achieving their dreams because they’re too afraid to take a step forward. What started as an idea scribbled down on paper has turned into something really special; we think the reward was worth the risk.

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?
Best restaurants: The Henry, Blanco Cocina & Cantina, Steak 44, Buck & Rider Coffee & Bagels: The Henry, Bagelfeld, Provision, Serafina, Luci’s at the Orchard
Events: Footprint Center (Suns & Mercury games), Encanto Sports Complex, Stand Up Live

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Sending a special shoutout to our friends & family for believing in us & supporting our dream! Also, thank you to our twinflames. team for all the hard work that goes into running a small business.

Keaton Milburn (Co-founder)
Natalie Braun (Co-founder) – originally from Phoenix, Arizona
Samantha Elsenpeter (Operations Manager & Customer Service)
Hailey West (Graphic Designer)
Grace Caspino (Social Media Coordinator)

Website: https://www.twinflames.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twinflames/

Image Credits
twinflames