For any brand hoping to navigate and thrive in the future, innovation and change are inevitable. For Sbahle Sithole, both are now second nature. The award-winning entrepreneur first pivoted from a successful career in construction through her imprint, SMAIS Bricks to pursue her passion for fitness by launching Revenge Fit Apparel, a gym wear brand crafted on the concept of self-improvement.
Perfect for boot camps and spin classes to more boutique fitness courses such as dance and barre, Revenge Fit Apparel is not only reserved for time solely at the gym. The brand effortlessly merges fashion and function, offering longevity and stylish versatility outside of just a sweaty workout.
We chat with the 2022 Consumer Choice Awards recipient about the inception of Revenge Fit, being an entrepreneur, setting fitness goals, and more.
On the Birth of Revenge Fit
Ironically, Revenge was actually my first baby. It’s a project I’ve been working on since 2018 before I ventured into construction by founding SMAIS Bricks. The concept came to me at a time when I was trying to explore the world of fitness. However, I was still in school, studying for my Accounting degree at Wits University. Therefore, Revenge was just an idea and I didn’t have anything written out on paper about how I would go about establishing it. However, I did get my first sample made in 2018.
On Her Construction Business
My construction business, SMAIS Bricks came about because my mom wanted us to have a family business which led us on that path. I had just graduated and wanted to convince my mom that I did not want to go to the charted accountancy route so the only way for me to do that was to prove that I had to spend time running the brick business. I must say that I grew a liking of the industry and being a woman in a male-dominated industry. It also just motivated me to make a difference within that industry because men are very insistent on making it known that it is male-dominated.
On Being a Woman in the Male-Dominated Industry of Construction
The experience became emotionally taxing. After running the business for two years and winning an award in Tanzania I decided to gracefully bow out of the business. I am still in the business but not as much as I was before and I think I prefer this way while I figure out how else I can contribute to it without being fully involved.
My Female Industrialist Seminar (FIS) was founded on the principle of wanting to create a safe space for women within male-dominated industries and it is something that I intend to continue hosting.
On Her Brand’s Name – Revenge Fit
Surprisingly, the name Revenge Fit has nothing to do with the popular trope of a Revenge body. When I conceptualised the name I wanted to give people a different meaning to Revenge. It doesn’t always have to be about someone else you can also have revenge on yourself. Revenge for every time I said I’m going to start tomorrow or next week and did not see that through. Now, you’re looking yourself in the mirror and telling yourself that you’re tired of your excuses.
When you’re in the gym there are mirrors everywhere and I feel like that was meant for you to see the reflection of yourself. This helps you to constantly see how you’re bettering yourself. I believe that the moment you put Revenge on someone else you constantly have to think about that person, and that anger that you may have against them which is toxic. You can’t always use someone else to fuel yourself. The motivation and drive need to come from within.
On Her Favourite Pieces from the Fitness Range
I wouldn’t say I have a personal favourite but I do have an attachment to the ivory set because it was the first one that was made. The prototype was the first step into launching and crafting the whole range. The main reason I don’t particularly have a favourite set is that the range has different colour apparel and they all evoke a different emotion in me. For example, the blue set makes me feel energetic and makes me want to do high cardio or anything intense; the pink one makes me feel girly, it makes me feel like I don’t wanna do anything hectic get the gym I don’t want to carry weights and would rather just do cardio or something that simple. The black one makes me feel like I can do high presses and other intense exercises.
On the Challenges of Entrepreneurship
As simple as it sounds the most challenging thing was honestly just starting. Getting to a point where you are like I’m tired of this just being an idea and I want to bring it to life was very challenging. Whether it’s deciding where you’re going to get the apparel manufactured or how you going to go about distributing it to customers, starting is quite challenging. The moment you actually start doing material things to make the whole business happen, that’s when the snowball effect begins and you can visualise your idea and see it come to life.
My advice to entrepreneurs would be to just start. The worst that could happen is realising that the idea didn’t pan out the way that you thought it would which would give you an opportunity to tweak your ideas. However if you don’t start you will never know.
Sbahle’s Fail-Safe Fitness Plan
Firstly, get yourself a cute set from Revenge Fit for motivation. *Laughs*
The most important thing is not to be too hard on yourself for being inconsistent.
- Don’t focus on the end goal but rather focus on consistency. If your goal is to go to the gym three times a week focus on that. Let your body go accomplishments be the cherry on top. Fitness should be your main priority and sticking to a routine is what will help you get to your body goal. Focus on your discipline and consistency.
- It’s very important to make your lifestyle and not do it just to get a certain end result. Making gym lifestyle will make it easier for you to be consistent and achieve your fitness goals.
- Keep track of your small achievements in the gym every day. Sometimes your achievement is that you actually got yourself to the gym in the first place despite not wanting to or not feeling like it on that particular day.
On Aspirations for the Future
At the top of the list is launching a men’s line for Revenge Fit. I’ve been getting many requests from men who are interested in purchasing the apparel.
I also want to start a boot camp that will run quarterly. I also hope the brand grows beyond my expectations and becomes global.
My goal for SMAIS Bricks is to continue the seminar for women in construction. I also want to do a foundation where we will donate shoes and eventually help with the construction of schools and repair them.
Click here to purchase Revenge Fit Apparel.