the swellter story

Hi, hottie! Welcome to Club SWELLTER.

 

So, there I was, crying in my car before hot yoga. I’d been in LA for six years and somehow had no friends and no real sense of community. How could that be? I thought I was approachable. I complimented every single person I had a kind thought about. And yet, here I was in my mid 20s with no one to hike with, no one to grab dinner with. Please, I thought, just let me make a friend.

As pathetic as I felt, I wiped my tears, looked at myself in the rearview mirror, and told myself to get it together. I had a workout to get through.

I walked into the studio, rolled out my mat, and laid down a towel I had just designed and printed as a little gift to myself, a way to celebrate my hard work in the studio and in my (failed but mighty) attempts at building friendships. I’d been searching for a towel that felt bold and personal, something that actually spoke to who I was, but I couldn’t find one anywhere. So I made my own.

And then the wildest thing happened. People noticed. First a compliment. Then another. Then three people in one class telling me they loved my towel. They asked where I got it. If they could buy one. Someone even asked if they could buy the exact towel I’d just spent all class sweating on.

I couldn’t believe it. Just hours earlier, I was crying about how disconnected I felt, and suddenly this little towel had sparked more conversation, connection, and warmth than I’d felt from strangers in years.

That’s when it clicked. That’s when I realized this was the sign I had been waiting for. This was how I could serve my community and build one at the same time. Maybe this wasn’t just a towel for me. Maybe it could be the bridge between people, a conversation starter, a way to make the studio feel a little more human, a little more alive.

And that’s how SWELLTER was born. A community built in the heat, where every body belongs and there’s always a place for you.

SWELLTER Core Values

Radical Inclusion
Everyone has a seat at this sweaty table. No matter your race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation, you belong here. SWELLTER is for every body.

Growth in the Heat
We believe transformation happens in the uncomfortable. Heat pushes us beyond our limits, and SWELLTER is here to support that journey.

Authentic Expression
Your gear should reflect you. Each design is made to help you show up boldly, express your mood, and bring personality into the studio.

Wellness in the Fire
The extra L in SWELLTER stands for WELL. Even in the hottest, hardest, sweatiest moments, comfort and wellness can be found.

Community & Connection
A towel is just the start. SWELLTER exists to spark conversation, build friendships, and remind us that we’re stronger together.

THANK YOU!

SWELLTER is a true one woman band... just me, designing towels. This project is my way of serving my community in a way that fills both my cup and yours. Thank you for shopping small, for encouraging me, and for allowing me to do something I love so much and make it a bigger part of my life.

If you ever have questions, ideas, or even design requests for the next drop, I’d love to hear from you! You can email me at helloswellter@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram at  @clubswellter I’m so grateful for the outpouring of love, interest, and encouragement, you make this possible!