How Kelly Brabants Created Her Stunning, Feel-Good Athleisure Brand, Booty by Brabants
With their inclusive, one-size leggings designed to fit all women, athleisure brand Booty by Brabants does things differently—and it all starts at the top with founder and CEO Kelly Brabants.
Kelly definitely isn't your typical entrepreneur. She never finished college and started her business when she was 23, with no previous business experience, a couple of hundred followers on Instagram and a dream. From there, the company has absolutely exploded in popularity to their beautiful and stylish, yet super functional, athleisure pieces built around body positivity, reminding women to love their bodies and flaunt them, rather than hide them. Since 2014, the brand has gone viral for its one-of-a-kind leggings, and Kelly has also gone on to launch her own natural energy drink company, Body by Brabants, as well as launch her own fitness app. We truly believe there isn't anything she can't do, and we learned all about her in the interview below.
(Image courtesy of Kelly Brabants)
Name: Kelly Brabants
IG handle: @bootybybrabants
Hometown: Easton, Massachusetts
Zodiac sign: Capricorn
1. Kelly truly became obsessed with style after moving to L.A. at the age of 20 when she took her first dance class and saw the different ways people styled athleisure.
"I was amazed at how correlated movement and style were. I've always been a creative person, so being able to express what's in my head through my clothes is really cool; it's another form of expression and creativity."
-Kelly Brabants
2. Her personal style is inspired by those who express their creativity beyond the current trends and don't just dress like everyone else.
"Brazilian women (my mom is from Brazil) really inspire me because, although we've made huge strides in body positivity here in the U.S., the Brazilian culture exudes body confidence to the next level and is a constant reminder to me that we can use style to highlight our bodies rather than hide them."
-Kelly Brabants
3. When she's in a rush, her go-to outfit consists of black Croco Skin Leggings and a sports bra, an oversized grey hoodie, a comfy pair of Nike sneakers, her Booty by Brabants socks and an oversized bomber.
"I never leave the house without my Ilia serum, my oversized black sunglasses, Tower 28 lipgloss and my hair slicked back in the tightest bun possible."
-Kelly Brabants
4. Her brand, Booty by Brabants, is designed to empower anyone who wears it.
"Booty by Brabants is a reflection of who I am, my story of body insecurity and struggling to fit in, especially during my teenage years and early 20s. It is a body-positive, numberless activewear brand that reminds women of all shapes and sizes that they are so much more than the size of their clothing, and that they are worthy of wearing activewear that fits, flatters and inspires movement through every stage of life. At the end of the day, most people want to buy a product that there's a real human behind; my life and my lifestyle really translate to what other women are going through and that's how I connect to my customers. We are a transparent, down-to-earth apparel line that you can trust, with high-quality products and a story that our customers feel proud to support. Not to be so spiritual, but hey, that's me. I totally believe that clothing should make you feel good, it should be energy that you wear and make you feel some type of way. I truly believe there's a feeling associated with BBB leggings and you have to feel it to understand it. It is that feeling that sets us apart."
-Kelly Brabants
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5. Kelly grew up bilingual and is fluent in Portuguese.
6. Her favorite-ever piece of advice came from her dad.
"'While the highs are great and important to celebrate, you have to make sure to prepare yourself for the lows so they don't hurt as bad.' My dad, who is also an entrepreneur, gave me this advice for business and it has helped me through the ups and downs of being a CEO and leading my team."
-Kelly Brabants
7. Her favorite pieces in her closet are her leather jackets.
"I'm jacket-obsessed so it's hard to pick just one, but pairing an oversized jacket with my BBBs is the perfect way to look put together in an effortless way. Being from New England and always on the go, a stylish jacket is a staple; every woman needs a good leather jacket in their wardrobe. An oversized pair of black sunglasses are a close second, and of course, my leggings."
-Kelly Brabants
8. She has a pet Bernese mountain dog.
9. Her favorite style trend at the moment is the relaxed, but structured, look.
"I love an oversized structured blazer layered over a cute athleisure set and comfortable dad sneakers paired with a statement bag. More important than trends, I am a strong believer in expressing yourself through what makes you feel sexiest; it's all about dressing for your body because when you feel confident, it's classic and effortless. Long are the days I redo my entire closet because it's not 'trendy'—I truly prefer to go for good quality statement pieces that will last me a long time. I'm over fast fashion."
-Kelly Brabants
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10. She's the middle child of seven siblings.
11. She only recently downloaded TikTok, and is still getting the hang of it!
12. She was a dancer for 17 years before starting in the fitness fashion industry.
13. Her favorite piece in the Booty by Brabants lineup is currently their top-selling Croco Skin Leggings in black.
"I know what to expect every time I put them on. They fit no matter the day, are always keeping me supported and they match with everything. No matter how my schedule changes throughout the day, these are the leggings I could live and feel confident in regardless of the occasion."
-Kelly Brabants
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14. She can nap on command.
"I go 100 mph 95% of the time, and the other 5% I am completely off. There's no in-between."
-Kelly Brabants
15. She's getting married this year!
16. Most of all, Kelly is proud of the fact that, after everything she's experienced over the years, she's learned and evolved, yet remained the same person at her core.
"Values, personality, quirkiness. I've never changed and couldn't change if I tried. Anyone who has known me for a long time can testify to this and it's why my business is so authentic. I also care a lot about pleasing others; sometimes I wonder if my Instagram might give off 'bad*** b**** vibes,' but the reality is that I have a sensitive heart and care so much about the little things. This can be a good thing but in business, it's a quality that can get in my way."
-Kelly Brabants
If you love learning the stories behind incredible fashion entrepreneurs, click HERE to read our feature on Soph and Casey Beres of Brushedbysophh.