We had the good fortune of connecting with Aja Cohen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aja, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

Right after my third baby, I had been let go from my fast fashion job. This was the best possible thing for me, as it let me reevaluate what I wanted to do going forward. I began to speak to a career counselor who told me I should do something for my “community.” As I was hiking through Acadia national park in Maine, I came to a realization that I had two communities. As a certified yoga instructor, I had my yoga community, but I also had my religious Jewish community. Each of those communities had problems that could be fixed through fashion design. I was able to connect with someone to help me refine my mission and create the concept of my brand.

The goal of Transcendent Active is to create chic modest activewear that makes people feel good about themselves, and simultaneously help the environment. The same material that makes up plastic water bottles is used for Transcendent Active, recycled polyester. Existing plastic is melted down and respun into new poly fiber, helping to ensure these water bottles don’t end up in a landfill and give them a new life. All of the products are ethically sourced, and approved by BLUESIGN. BLUESIGN ensures safer and sustainable environments for people to work and live in.

Transcendent Active is not only a clothing brand, but a community of women who desire their higher power and want to see real change in the world. These designs are made to make you feel spectacular about yourself, while still staying true to your higher beliefs. The brand may be labeled as activewear, but truly the clothes are meant for more than just working out. The clothing is designed for the woman on the go, which could be either just be playing with children, dressed up for going out, a meeting, or a marathon. Transcendent Active offers many different articles of clothing, catering to women of all sizes, shapes, colors, and faiths.

What should our readers know about your business?

Transcendent Active is an eco-friendly activewear brand that stands out from others by offering fashionable and sustainable modest activewear. While working for big brands such as Champion and Fila, I became aware of the negative impact of fast fashion on the environment. I received my 200-hour yoga teacher training which further inspired my passion for wellness and mindfulness. That combined with my strong ties to my faith, drove me to create Transcendent Active. It was during the Covid pandemic that forced me to find the opportunity to take a leap of faith and start my own eco-friendly activewear brand. After much hard work and overcoming many obstacles, Transcendent Active launched with the All Day Active skirt as its first product on August 13, 2020. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with the product sold out in just two weeks.

Transcendent Active never compromises on its values and believes that style and quality can and should be part of the new ethical fashion movement. Transcendent Active is not just a clothing brand; it is a community of women striving to access their higher power and make the world a better place. By wearing their eco-conscious athleisure, individuals can both feel good in the clothes they wear and feel good about how those clothes contribute to environmental sustainability.

One of the key aspects that set Transcendent Active apart is its commitment to sustainability. The brand utilizes recycled polyester (rPET),fabric made with recycled plastic, and Deadstock fabric, excess material that fabric mills have in stock, to create its sustainable activewear products. Transcendent Active also ensures ethical manufacturing practices. All of our fabrics are BLUESIGN Approved, which means the production and manufacturing process is verified to be responsible and sustainable. We are a proud member of the NYC Fair Trade Coalition, promoting and advocating for sustainable and fair trade practices in the fashion industry. TA manufactures exclusively in America, working closely with Downtown Los Angeles factories that provide clean, safe, and respectful work environments.

In addition to our sustainable fashion initiatives, Transcendent Active is committed to sustainable packaging. Partnering with EcoEnclose, a Colorado-based eco-friendly shipping supplier, we ensure our packaging aligns with our values. The poly mailer bags are made from 100% recycled material, with 50% post-consumer waste, and feature a dual adhesive strip for reuse. Notecards are constructed entirely from recovered trash and printed with eco-friendly inks. The white tissue paper used to wrap their products is made from post-consumer and post-industrial content, and the stickers are made exclusively from 100% post-consumer paper.

Transcendent Active is a unique activewear brand that combines fashion, sustainability, and mindfulness. We provide fashionable, sustainable, and modest activewear options for women while prioritizing ethical manufacturing practices and reducing waste. Through our products and initiatives, we aim to make a positive impact on the environment and inspire others to join the ethical fashion movement.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Even though I live in New Jersey, I have visited Los Angeles so often that I feel like I could be considered a native! I truly love my visits and if my best friend was visiting LA, I would show them my favorite spots that have come to mean the most to me. First I would love to show off the factory where Transcendent Active manufactures our products. We would see all the rolls of fabric, the products of my design in production, and I would introduce them to the people who work there who have become my friends over the years. Yes, going to visit the factory for me is technically work, but it has become one of my favorite things to do when I’m there because it reminds me that all my hard work is paying off and I am so thankful to be able to produce my products. In terms of food, two of my favorite spots are Jurassic Magic Coffee and Fish Grill in Malibu. Jurassic Magic Coffee is simply just fun to walk inside and look around at the unique decor and the plants. Their specialty drinks are always a hit. Fish Grill is always amazing and hits the spot. The food is always so good and fresh and I can never get enough of that ocean view!

As for sights, I love visiting Mid City to see its vibrant neighborhood with a mix of culture, art, and entertainment. Just the idea of walking around the city gets me excited! And I can’t go to LA without stopping by the Culver City Farmers Market. There you can find fresh produce, local goods, and so much more amazing stuff.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to dedicate my shoutout to my family first and foremost. My husband, Evan Cohen, and our kids, Raina, Shua and Levi. Of course, to my parents, Bill and Edie Calvitti whom non of this would be possible!

I would also like to shoutout my friend, business mentor and coach, Sacsha Flowers. If it wasn’t for setting the flame from right under me, I’d probably still be working in fast fashion. Ugh!

Website: https://transcendentactive.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transcendent_active/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/transcendent-active/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TranscendentAja

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TranscendentActive

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYfwltzxk8tsuVzKI562VuA

Other: TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@transcendentactive?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc pintrest- https://www.pinterest.com/transcendentactive/

Image Credits
All photos from Chris Disla of Truth, Love, and Photography

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