Nowadays, there are many brands for women to turn to for basics and undergarments. From Kim Kardashian’s Skims to Lizzo’s Yitty and, of course, the legacy brand Spanx. With so many types on the market, you’d think there’d be a perfect bodysuit for every body type, but through then 25-year-old Ari Davis’ story, there was still a void. While finishing her last year at Howard University’s School of Law, the soon-to-be entrepreneur decided to take matters into her own hands to create the body suit of every woman’s dreams through her bubbling brand, Stript.
“I was really into Lululemon at the time, and I actually pitched it to them,” Davis told GU. “I tweeted, ‘Can you guys please make a full-length bodysuit?’ and nothing ever came from it, but I realized if I’m going to try to find something of equal quality or better, I have to do it myself.”
Due to the pandemic, her externship was canceled, granting her ample time to develop the concept of Stript. After months of dedication, sampling, and reverting to the drawing board, Stript was prepared to launch. Davis traveled to Los Angeles to amplify the launch with a commercial featuring models strutting in Stript roller skating down the Santa Monica Pier. Her marketing garnered 10,000 views on Instagram and 15,000 on TikTok, of which she owes much of her success.
“I got on Tiktok late to the game,” Davis tells GU. “My following ended up growing because their algorithm is good and is actually my biggest platform as far as my personal page. It’s definitely growing the business, but the goal is for my brand to be way bigger than me.”
Stript’s debut collection went live on Black Friday of 2020, which included a variety of full-length bodysuits in various styles like sleeveless options, long-sleeved designs, and rompers. Since the brand’s culmination, they have expanded from loungewear to activewear with leggings, tennis skirts, sets, and more. They’ve also introduced vibrant colorways from pink and green to blue, and gray. Priced between $55 and $155, nearly every collection has sold out since the brand’s inception, mainly when new styles or colorways are introduced.
After graduating in 2021, Davis worked as a lawyer while balancing Stript. Davis began utilizing TikTok to share trendy content like vlogs, daily outfits of the day, and intimate moments of her life and posting on Tiktok more regularly sharing vlogs, daily outfit of the days, including the realities of working in corporate law and mommy and me content with being a mom to her daughter, Chrome. This allowed Davis to grow an organic community and introduce new followers to the Stript brand. Though her online community quickly grew, it was difficult to engage due to the restrictions of her full-time job.
Eventually, Davis left the realm of law to put the brand first, which ultimately worked in Stript’s favor. Now, at 29, Stript has achieved much success being featured in Essence and The Washington Post, and spotted on rapper Lady London and influencer Blake Lawren. Davis’ has also curated numerous events surrounding the label from a pop-up shop in her hometown D.C., to a partnership with Goodwill to support sustainability, and a tennis club to promote its activewear. What’s next? Expanding the events to the Atlanta market.
“I really love those in-life moments, especially because we’re an e-commerce based business. People really connect with us, and we feel connected to them,” says Davis.
Davis’ infectious personality mixed with her cool girl aesthetic, are what draws customers to both her brand and lifestyle. Her overall goal of uniting, uplifting and supporting women worldwide has been achieved, all because she took matters into her own hands by filling a simplistic void, a quality bodysuit.
“We grew a really strong community,” says Davis. “When I was working in law, I wasn’t able to interact too much with my followers because I was always multitasking. Clothing brands come and go, so it is really important to me that we are building something impactful.”