How Life as a Pilates Instructor Inspired Emma Vollrath’s Athleisure Brand, Emma Lou the Label
Emma Vollrath's viral athleisure brand Emma Lou the Label stemmed from wanting to make life better for women everywhere.
Emma grew up in California with an interest in wellness, inspiring her to become a personal trainer and pilates instructor. In this role, she aimed to empower women and change the way they see themselves, inside and out. This was also the motivating factor behind the creation of Emma Lou the Label, featuring pieces that help customers look and feel incredible in the skin they're in. Her new take on athleisure is all about fashion-forward, vintage-inspired pieces for workouts as well as lounging, and it's no surprise that everyone from Alix Earle to Lauryn Bosstick is a fan. We got the chance to go straight to the source and chat with Emma about her story, which she shares with us in the interview below.
Name: Emma Vollrath
IG handles: @emmalouthelabel and @emmamvollrath
Hometown: Morgan Hill, California
Zodiac sign: Libra ♡
1. Emma's fascination with style stems from Pinterest and YouTube.
"I loved to watch fashion show videos from the early 2000s to gather inspiration from the variety of cuts and colors. Pinterest has also been a source of inspiration to me to see what the gals are wearing and how they are styling pieces. Style has always been a fun and creative outlet for me to express myself. Being in the activewear business, it's easy to go with what everyone else is doing, but I love to design fun and flattering pieces for running errands and beyond! And since we spend a lot of our time during the day in between the hustle and bustle, why not look amazing running to grab a matcha after your pilates class?"
-Emma Vollrath
(Image courtesy of Emma Vollrath)
2. She describes her personal style as coquette and romantic, with hints of active and clean elements.
"I'm always in athleisure. A lot of inspiration comes from frilly and ditzy girlcore styles while also embodying the clean and active athleisure style. I definitely look to certain influencers and stylists for style inspiration like Matilda Djerf, Hailey Bieber and Devon Carlson."
-Emma Vollrath
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3. Her athleisure brand, Emma Lou the Label, is based in the heart of Newport Beach, California and made with common issues in mind.
"Before I began Emma Lou, I worked as a pilates instructor and personal trainer. The brand is inspired by the real-life experiences of myself and my clients. I recognized a common concern among many fitness enthusiasts: the struggle with lower stomach water weight and bloating. Determined to find a solution, I embarked on a journey to create activewear that not only enhances performance but also combats these common issues. Emma Lou is proud to offer a range of sweat-enhancing pieces crafted from recycled thermoplastic fabric blends. Our signature Glow Band, made from this innovative material, is designed to help beat bloat and water weight, allowing wearers to feel comfortable and confident during workouts and beyond. Loved by celebs such as Alix Earle, Tinx and Lauryn Bosstick, Emma Lou the Label represents more than just stylish activewear."
-Emma Vollrath
4. The brand isn't exactly based on her name.
"It's funny because people will ask me if my full name is 'Emma Lou,' but 'Lou' and 'Louie' are nicknames I've had since I can remember. When I was younger, my family would always sing 'Skip to My Lou' and I loved the song so much that the name stuck. Little did I know, years later, it would become my brand name!"
-Emma Vollrath
(Photo credit: Sheridan Dyches)
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5. When she's in a rush (which she considers to be most days), her go-to outfit is an Emma Lou jumpsuit.
"It's the easiest decision of my day because the whole outfit is right in front of me. Sometimes, I just love not having to think about matching my top to my bottom. Our jumpsuits are so flattering and comfortable. I wear my jumpsuits with New Balances, scrunchy socks and usually a button-up cardigan to go over. And just like that, I'm ready for the day."
-Emma Vollrath
6. The best piece of advice she ever got was in a book called Atomic Habits by James Clear.
"The quote goes, 'It's remarkable what you can build if you just don't stop.' I read this quote when I was first starting out and it has stuck with me through the good times and the bad."
-Emma Vollrath
7. Her Emma Lou pieces are her favorite items in her closet.
"I love seeing how we've grown with our designs through the years. Besides the Emma Lou pieces in my closet, my favorite thing is the Claudia Schiffer x Réalisation Par The Claudia dress in Super Dot. Anything Réalisation Par does is so beautiful and well thought out. Plus, anything with a red polka dot is an immediate yes from me."
-Emma Vollrath
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8. Her current favorite style trend is the return of all things girly.
"There's a resurgence of prim feminine flair, where bows, rosettes and ruffles reign supreme. It's a nod to our childhoods and I love how creative people are getting with accessories like lace and bows. Tying a baby pink ribbon in my hair, even just for a pilates class or running to the store, ties my Emma Lou outfit together and makes my day that much sweeter."
-Emma Vollrath
(via Emma Lou the Label)
9. Emma wants fans to know that even though Emma Lou the Label is an athleisure brand, she's also passionate about vintage styles, which are infused into her pieces.
"Lots of colors and cuts from the past have influenced what is designed today and what you will see on the website. Also, I try to use beautiful vintage heels instead of sneaks for our campaign shoots to sweeten things up!"
-Emma Vollrath
To learn more about inspirational and creative entrepreneurs, click HERE to read about Launi King and her brand, Creative Play.