By Katie Scott
Some clothes earn their place in my wardrobe by being useful. Others make me want to get dressed. The brands that interest me most manage to do both.
As a model and entrepreneur with over a decade in pageantry, I care about how clothing presents us. But I am equally interested in what happens beyond the photograph. Can you move comfortably? Is it well made? Do you enjoy wearing it? Does it feel like something you chose, rather than something you settled for?
Those questions matter even more with athletic clothing. I want pieces that suit the activity without making personal style feel like an afterthought. Looking good and getting the job done shouldn’t be competing priorities.
That is what caught my attention about Figures, the athleisure brand founded by my friend and fellow international model Mitchelle Daka. In an interview about the business, she described a frustration I could understand: spending more time in workout clothes without finding much that excited her.
“I just wanted things that felt more exciting,” she says.
Keeping The Wearer In Mind
Daka had not always been enthusiastic about fitness. She remembers being skeptical of people who genuinely looked forward to getting up and moving.
“I used to look at people like that and think they’re pretending,” she says.
Then she became one of them. As exercise became a consistent part of her routine, she found herself looking forward to being active.
Going to the gym three or four days a week also made her shop for gymwear more often. Growing tired of familiar pastels and copy/paste designs, she said she wanted to add details that felt “a bit more high fashion” while keeping the fabric qualities she needed for exercise.
Figures also carried a personal connection. Her late best friend had shared her enthusiasm for fashion and fitness, and Daka saw the business as a way to honor that friendship while exploring two things she loved.
More Than a Good Photograph
Even the name reflects an interest in the wearer. Daka says she started Figures by thinking about women’s shapes. She also liked its double meaning: shapes and numbers.
When she discusses her favorite pieces, she names a blue-and-yellow jumpsuit and a gray two-piece set. She also emphasized the fabric’s softness alongside its moisture-wicking qualities.
That is the kind of detail I want to hear from a founder. An appealing image can introduce a product, but it cannot tell you everything about wearing it. I want to understand what someone paid attention to beyond the styling.
Daka’s intended customer is not restricted to one activity. She describes women who lift weights, play tennis, skateboard, and enjoy movement as part of their lives.
“I kind of call it athleisure more than I call it activewear,” she says.
She wants an outfit that works for a sport and keeps going through the day without feeling like it belongs only in the setting she just left. Instead of leaving the gym and immediately changing, I can go on about my life without worrying about my appearance.
For me, that is a useful way to approach versatility. I want to enjoy wearing a piece beyond the activity I originally bought it for.
What Goes Into the Clothes
The more I learned about Figures, the more interested I became in the decisions behind those materials.
Daka describes fabric development as an early priority. As she has learned about quality sourced material options, her ambitions have evolved. As she explores possibilities for future collections, refining the balance of fashion and function remains a priority that inspires the brand.
“We’re still growing, still experimenting,” she says.
As an entrepreneur, I appreciate that willingness to keep refining an idea beyond its inception. Also, as a customer, I want to hear that the materials deserve as much consideration as the styling.
To me, fashion should be about thoughtful design, attention to quality, and room for personal expression. I want clothes that look good, feel comfortable, and fit the life I actually lead. Getting dressed should feel like choosing something I love, not deciding which compromise I can live with.
Hearing the thinking behind Figures has made me excited to try a set for myself. Now comes the fun part: choosing one.
Curious, too? Check out Figures here.
