How Designing T-Shirts Led Michelle Wahler to Beyond Yoga

Before channeling her brand of positivity into activewear as the co-founder of Beyond Yoga, Michelle Wahler was putting it on T-shirts. Originally hailing from Maryland, Wahler went to college in Florida for graphic design and marketing. After graduating, she moved to New York to work in publishing, first at People magazine and then Harper's Bazaar. At the same time, the artist and designer at heart also began drawing illustrations of her friends, which she would put on T-shirts to give as birthday presents. "I didn't really make any money [working in publishing], and I couldn't buy them anything nice," she recalled. The hobby turned into a company, Unsweetened, with tees featuring illustrations of women—"kind of an un-sugarcoated version of them." Word-of-mouth led her to start selling wholesale and took Wahler to California with the intention of building the Unsweetened brand. Instead, she met Jodi Guber Brufsky, who would soon become her business partner and co-founder of activewear maker Beyond Yoga in 2006. The brand is known for its values of inclusivity and sustainability, offering a range of clothes in sizes from XXS to 4X, all sourced and made in Los Angeles. Empowering others, particularly women, is one of Wahler's driving principles. The more than 80-strong Beyond Yoga team encompasses all different shapes, sizes, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. "That's what makes us great," she said. "That's why I think we really connect with our customers because we are a unique group of women coming together for a goal that we're all really passionate about." The passion, ethos and design sensibilities that Wahler brings to Beyond Yoga have helped propel its popularity—so much so that Levi's recently acquired the brand, with Wahler staying on as CEO. "After 16 years of being on our own, we now have an amazing partnership with this iconic global brand," she said. "Levi's is very much about authenticity. From a values perspective, we really aligned in the sense that we're about self-love and taking care [of yourself] and inclusivity." Big mistake "I feel like there's a lot of negative energy out in the world," Wahler reflected. "Women speak to themselves with a voice that isn't always the kindest, and I feel like it's just a shame. People spend so much time focused on the negative that they overlook so much of the beauty and positivity." Lesson learned "You really need to make sure that the person you're bringing onto your team is a cultural fit as well as qualified and motivated," she said. "Take the time to really go through the interview process. Waiting for the right person is so critical." How she got the gig Despite her early career in fashion, Wahler originally signed on to help Brufsky with the business end of things at Beyond Yoga. When Wahler offered her take on the sketches of the brand's original designer, "the next morning [Brufsky] called me and said, 'Our relationship is about to change.'" Pro tip Question less, do more. "The more you think about it, the more you can talk yourself out of it. Just act." To conquer your to-do list, "write out the days of the week on a piece of paper and give yourself one thing you need to accomplish every day," Wahler advised. Soon, "you've done everything, and it didn't feel so overwhelming."

Leadership & Talent

How Designing T-Shirts Led Michelle Wahler to Beyond Yoga

The activewear brand's co-founder and CEO has always put empowerment at the heart of her work

Chloé Harper Gold

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Chloé Harper Gold