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Return to
the Water
t 4 foot 11, Lynn Le is not your
stereotypical fighter. As the
founder of Society Nine, the first
women- focused boxing sportswear and equipment company, a stereotypical image of what a female athlete should be, is just what Le set out to shatter. She started the company in 2015 after many of her kickboxing students approached her asking where to find quality fitting women’s boxing gloves because they felt their only choices were large, low quality bubblegum pink options. Several years in and not to mention thriving despite a global pandemic, Le and her company continue to lead the way and provide a new vision of strong and powerful women.
Le graciously took some time to talk with me more about Society Nine and how it has weathered the storm and come out on top during coronavirus in 2020. Whether you are looking for tips for your small business survival or curious about the future of the fitness industry and what it has to do with female empowerment, Le offers an energizing and inspiring perspective.
A
SD: First off, how are you personally doing, thriving, learning, surviving and everything while running your own business throughout the many ups, and arguably mostly downs, that the world has experienced in 2020?
LL: I’m doing okay. I’ve had a lot of highs and lows, emotionally and mentally, like any small business owner. All of our journeys as business owners have been different, but for me the hardest feeling has been a sense of survivor’s guilt because we (Society Nine) are still here, and we’re doing pretty well all things considered. We worked hard to be here, so we deserve to be very proud of that, and I am. But it’s hard to see so many business owners I know as friends and peers struggle, or have even had to close up shop.
Overall, we’ve been so fortunate to have such a loyal customer base who simply found new ways to continue to stay active and train at home, or outside. Sales also varied by region, depending on COVID state regulations for gym openings and capacities. But, needless to say, the biggest takeaway and observation I had about the year and our industry was that those who continued to find ways to stay active did so because of mental health. The physical benefits were a plus, but I’ve seen a material change in how people look at exercising and moving. I hope the wellness industry sees this as a market correction and stops marketing diet culture nonsense that profits off of people’s shame.
Finding Your Inner Fight
Society Nine is Unlocking Your Power in Mind, Body and Soul
By Stefanie Doolittle
Photography by Marcela Pulido