Bolder Athletic Wear (formerly known as SparkleSkirts) in Plant City is a local manufacturer committed to helping people be more active through their athletic wear—most notably their skirts. And although their name has changed, the hard work, passion and dedication of their 23-person team remains as strong as ever.

Founded in 2008 by Leah Powell, Bolder was born after Powell made sparkly cover skirts for her running group at the inaugural Princess Half Marathon at Disney World. During that marathon—and every run she’s had since—people haven’t stopped asking about her skirts.

Within their 30,000 square-foot facility, Bolder produces all types of athletic wear including skirts, shorts, capris, and leggings for women as well as mens’ and childrens’ lines. Bolder’s primary business comes from their patented running skirts—designed by Powell—made specifically with shorts underneath that don’t ride up.

However, after races were cancelled and sales were hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bolder quickly shifted gears.

“We mainly provide athletic wear for runners, but when the virus hit we sat down and thought about what else we could do with our supplies to help,” Marketing Director Noha Chalawit said.

Rather than sending employees home, Bolder re-tooled their factory to produce Personal Protective Equipment for hospitals across Central Florida. In their first week, over 10,000 masks were sent out—made out of the same materials previously used for their skirts. As resilient as the athletes they serve, Bolder is prepared to bounce back and continue producing athletic wear for their loyal customers once the market allows for it. They’re also working on launching FaithWear, a new line of clothing for church and other community activities. To keep up with production, Bolder is looking to expand their sewing department with more fabric cutters and seamstresses.

“Bolder is a lot like a family business. Leah and Tom [Powell, the founders] are a wonderful couple and we’re all on the same team here—we care about our customers and want to give them the best,” Chalawit said.

For more information on open positions available at Bolder Athletic Wear, visit bolderathleticwear.com.

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