We had the good fortune of connecting with Mitchella (Mitch) Gilbert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mitchella (Mitch), can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
No one in my family has been an entrepreneur, and I’ve always loved innovation and technology. Initially, I always thought I would be a partner at my consulting firm, but then I was recruited to the business school and had the good fortune of going to UCLA Anderson. During this program, my teammates and I worked on a school project together for two years and were looking for our moment to shine in this program. They helped you figure out how to start a business, and I knew I wanted to create a business in fashion, and LA made the most sense.

As a collegiate female athlete, I found myself struggling with recurrent feminine health hurdles and wondering why. I then discovered that the leggings I had been wearing were the culprit. Hearing from my OB/GYN that this was a common issue for millions of women who loved working out puzzled me. I took this newfound information back to my teammates because I sensed an unmet market need. After over 200 hours of research, we learned that most performance wear is made with spandex blends, which trap moisture and do not breathe. This is not good for women athletes who need ventilation and moisture control, so I took it upon myself to solve the issue by creating a line of performance wear designed with women’s health in mind. Once we gathered all of our information together, we entered business competitions. Once we had funds, we created prototypes, and Oya was on its way to becoming a femtech apparel brand.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We’re different from our competitors because our design approach focuses entirely on feminine health. We pay attention to details like how we absorb moisture and decrease bacteria for women, which is something that other brands don’t think of. For most brands, feminine health is an afterthought, if it’s considered at all. We were able to create a patent-pending system, so unlike our competitors, our product is 4x more absorbent, 2x more breathable, and antimicrobial. We were also very intentional about design and ensured that our apparel is stylish and comfortable. Our tops also provide ventilation and anti-irritation capabilities. I’m excited about my Co-founders and me changing the game for women’s performance wear. When we first started, we heard that most people didn’t want to examine the correlation between performance wear and reoccurring feminine health issues or that people didn’t think Oya Femtech Apparel was something that could help women. However, we are driven by helping women lead healthier lives, and it’s a mindset that impacts and inspires me. As a black female entrepreneur in the venture capital business, I’ve overcome many challenges, and I will change the world. We are changing the world, and it’s a movement of the people who’ve been taught to be silenced and ashamed. We’re not subscribing to that anymore.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to Istanbul, Turkey because it’s such a great city. It’s just an exciting montage of different cultures because it was a popular trading port that was conquered by everyone from the Greeks to the Ottoman empire. Everything from shopping to hiking is so unique, Turkey’s culture focuses on hospitality, and you’ll get to enjoy the freshest food off the coast of the Mediterranean. It’s such a different pace than what you experience in the rush rush rush of LA. In Turkey, I kind of disappear and take things in. It’s an extraordinary place.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be here without my Co-Founder, Patrick Ayers. Patrick has always been a warm, constant, and supportive presence in my life, and I am so thankful for that. He taught me what loyalty means. He taught me the importance of my mental health.

Website: https://wearoya.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchellagilbert

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wearoya?lang=en

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

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@wearoya

Image Credits
Oya

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