 |
|
|
 |
|
| THE CREW |
 |
| |
| THE STORY |
OUR MISSION
Our company was founded with the intent to produce and make available long lasting, durable dancewear that was both fashionable and practical. We set about doing this from the conception of our products until they are purchased by our customers, by selectively choosing only top quality fabrics that will endure the stress and abuse dancers place on them, even in the most rigorous conditions. In order to do this successfully we wanted to help promote the unique attributes of every individual who wears our clothing. Therefore, our products are designed with everyone in mind, regardless of body type. With this attention to detail, we have grown with our customers and evolved from solely making dancewear to producing versatile clothing for all active lifestyles.
OUR HISTORY
Katrina Activewear was started in 1997 by President/Designer Tina Cyphert. A dancer for over 20 years, Tina's experiences brought her to realize the need for hard-working dancers to have reliable and durable work clothes that stood up to the test of time, as well as the pressing demands that dancers placed on their gear. "Too many dancewear companies focus on quantity instead of quality; profit instead of the profession. They produce and sell dancewear that falls apart within a few times of wearing it. Our company was founded from a dancer's point of view, and our products are designed straight out of the studio. Our aim is to design and offer quality dancewear that is fully functional and extremely versatile, even for the most aggressive dancer."
Tina has worked in every major facet of the entertainment industry from television to stage, to starring in motion pictures. Her career in show business began at a young age when she appeared as a regular dancer on the Tim Conway Variety Show, and played roles in "Pennies From Heaven," and the original motion picture of "Annie." She has appeared in music videos for Reba McIntyre, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Selena, and danced on the Academy Awards shows for five years from 1990-1995, where she had the pleasure of working with Debbie Allen. Tina displayed her versatility by starring in many motion pictures such as "Can't Buy Me Love," Mac and Me," "My Mom's a Werewolf," and "Teen Witch" to name a few. Her acting talents don't end there as her resume also includes many made for television movies such as "New at Eleven," starring Martin Sheen, "Combat High," in which she played opposite a young George Clooney; and TV sitcoms Silver Spoons, Married with Children, and Growing Pains. Tina has worked in countless national commercials and performed in numerous industrials. In 1996 Tina began travelling with West Coast Dance Explosion, a dance convention that tours the nation teaching dance and performing for children of all ages. She also owned and operated Studio 'C', a dance studio in Downey, California for more than 12 years, where she was able to do what she loves most: work with children. During this time she expanded her talents as a choreographer where she devotes much of her time when not concentrating on her designer clothing line. Tina recently became a mom with the birth of her daughter, Phoenix Sage, and teaches Pilate's on the studio reformer out of her very own Pilate's studio. As you can see Tina has the experience necessary to understand the wants and needs of her customers.
The name for the company, Katrina, was Tina's brief stage name while she doing much of her work in Hollywood. In fact, in the credits of two of her movies she is billed as Katrina Caspary. So when Tina began her clothing business the name Katrina seemed a natural fit. The motivation for Katrinawear came from Tina and her mother, Brenda, who conceived the idea for a high quality, designer brand of dancewear, that was both fashionable and extremely durable. "I use only high end fabrics that increase support without restricting movement. Our designs are all original and are intended to lengthen body lines instead of breaking or covering them. We develop for functionality and fashion, not for fad."
INNOVATION
From the initial conception of each product through fabric testing, patterning, grading and sewing - Katrina Activewear prides itself in being in the forefront of innovation in activewear design. Elegance and refinement mixed with edgy design and attention to detail is what we strive to achieve with each and every product that we market. Our tireless search for top quality fabrics has taken us half way around the world to Italy, where most of Katrina Activewear's Tricot (Nylon Lycra mix) is specially made and dyed to our strict specifications. We use double-stitch construction on every seam, the highest quality multi-stretch Matte Tricot fabric in the world, as well as same fabric backing on all tops, leotards, and unitards(instead of a lighter weight nylon most companies use). It is exactly these details that might make Katrina Activewear products more expensive than many of our competitors. But it is also these same fine points that save our customers money in the long run by only having to purchase an item once instead of constantly having to replace an item because it falls apart after every third time wearing it. Our greatest compliment comes from customers who have had one of our products for many years and have handed them down through multiple siblings. Being able to produce a piece of clothing to endure that kind of abuse for that amount of time -- now that's innovation. |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
