Title Nine, the women’s activewear chain, announced nine women chosen as finalists in its second annual Movers and Makers Pitchfest.

As finalists, these women will participate in Pitchfest in the hopes of becoming a Title Nine Mover and Maker and have their products sold on the Title Nine website.

Title Nine started Pitchfest in order to provide a platform for majority women-owned and led brands to get a foot-up in the competitive outdoors, athletic and lifestyle space, no matter their funding or background. With Title Nine turning 30 this year, and following recent discussions around gender equality, this year’s Pitchfest is particularly poignant and serves to support women-led brands in taking the next steps in promoting and growing their businesses.

“Our Pitchfest is one way that we help support budding entrepreneurs to get out into the marketplace, by pairing them with a mentor and giving them the tools to risk, to own, and to lead, in a super supportive environment,” said Title Nine founder and CEO Missy Park. “Most importantly, they get support from a whole community of female owned and operated businesses, so we really feel that if we can do this kind of work, we can match the old-boys club with a real new-girls network.”

The nine finalists for the 2019 Title Nine Movers and Makers Pitchfest are as follows:

  • Cassie Abel, Wild Rye – Beautiful and technical mountain apparel for women. “Our mission is to get more women outside, feeling confident. We don’t make our customers choose between being a hard-charger and embracing their femininity.”
  • Chelsea Camarata, Kaden Apparel – High performance mountain bike apparel for women, designed in Vermont and made in the USA. “Our mission is to create the best performing mountain bike apparel for women and our vision is to empower and inspire women through mountain biking.”
  • Suni Gargaro, Sunia Yoga – Leggings designed with fun and bold colors, with some Indian patterns, hand sewn in CA. “My mission is to get kids to start practicing from a young age, to get kids and moms to wear matching leggings and have fun on the mat. The benefits are endless, we love giving back to our community with free yoga classes for elementary kids throughout the San Diego county.”
  • Amelia Leme, Mana Threads – Sustainable activewear designed to flatter and support an everyday active lifestyle. “My mission is to create sustainable activewear that connects what you wear with how you feel. My goal is to deliver unquestionably comfortable clothing that moves with you as you wander, explore, adventure, get lost in life, and then simply rinse and repeat.”
  • Darcy Conover, Corbeaux Clothing – Corbeaux makes high performance baselayers and athletic apparel, designed by athletes and made in the USA from recycled materials. “Corbeaux’s mission is to manufacture domestically and only use recycled post-consumer goods. I want to evolve with the ever-improving textile industry and some day be at the front lines driving change.”
  • Iwona Kapcia, Anowi Surfwear – Fresh, fun, highly functional active swimwear brand. Designed to move with you and stay on. Fabric is made from REPREVE fibers produced from recycled plastic bottles, produced in NC, milled in LA. “What connects us despite the skill level, age, or current life situation is the appreciation of nature and the ability to experience the pure joy of life through being close with the ocean.”
  • Elyse Kaye, Bloom Bras – Adjustable, breathable, comfortable sports bra designed to lift vs. squish for women 28C-56L. “I believe that body inclusivity is not just a trend word.”
  • Emily Trower-Young, Em & El Organics – Handcrafted organic skin care products that heal and protect your skin. “I created Em & El for the women who seek adventure, take risks, and redefine what it is to be beautiful, who are proudly a little wild; women should be celebrated for being beautifully themselves.”
  • Mina Yoo, Heroclip – Heroclip combines a carabiner, a plastic hook, a bungee cord, and a purse hanger that allows consumers to hang anything from anywhere. “Our mission is to simplify people’s daily lives and free them to connect with the people and experiences that matter most to them.”

The nine finalists will have a chance to pitch their brand in person on September 20 at the Title Nine headquarters in Emeryville, CA. The winners will receive mentorship from Title Nine founder Missy Park and other female business leaders as well as a purchase order from Title Nine; their products will be featured and sold on titlenine.com and through Title Nine’s social media outlets. More information is available at titlenine.com/pitchfest.