Women's Health spoke to Pip Edwards, one of the two inspiring women behind P.E. Nation, about getting the business off the ground, her best boss lady advice and how she achieves the holy grail of work/life balance.
You have a huge celebrity fan base, who were you most excited to see wearing your brand?
We were very excited when Kylie Jenner and Khloe Kardashian first wore our product! It was definitely a big moment! And then when Hailey Baldwin, Bella Hadid and Olivia Palermo popped up in our stuff that just solidified the excitement even more.
What do you think the next trend in athleisure will be?
The push for us at the moment is making our activewear to look more fashion and street so they are easily interchangeable throughout your day and you get more bang for your buck – wearing them in a performance way to train, but also wearing them in a fashionable way for your day to day activities.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced launching P.E Nation?
Quick growth has been really exciting but has put a lot pressure on the business in terms of staffing and production. It’s been a learning curve and implementing structure has been really important through this time.
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Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for young women looking to launch their own business?
Do what you love, love what you do and you will always do it well. A start up requires 100% focus and time and is non-stop, you have to live and breathe it and believe in what you are doing to push through the obstacles that may present themselves. It’s also important to view these obstacles as learnings rather than road blocks. Always be solution focused. There are no problems, only solutions.
What’s your secret to achieving work/life balance?
Balance is really hard when you own your own business but I try to get away on the weekends, I love a bit of road a trip … I pack up my Jeep Wrangler with paddle boards and surf boards, and Justice’s skateboards, and head up to Palm Beach for the weekend when the weather is good or head to Thredbo for some serious snow time. I am most happy when I get away from the hustle & bustle of Sydney and able to recharge my batteries with friends and family. Living is what it’s all about.
What is your favourite destination that you’ve travelled to this year?
I’m so lucky that I get to travel all over the world for different fashion & trade shows for work. But my favourite trip this year was a little closer to home. As brand partners for Jeep Australia, my business partner Claire and I were lucky enough to head over to idyllic Margaret River in WA for the World Surfing League Pro presented by Jeep. It was three days of glamping, surfing, horse riding, off roading, and some of the best food and wine I’ve ever had.
Second to that was a recent trip to Wanaka in New Zealand for an all time ski trip. Anything to do with skiing makes me tick! Driving to different ski fields, getting some incredible ski runs in, eating fantastic food, and hanging with our Wanaka Family is an annual experience that I have been doing for four years now and counting. It is just such a beautiful part of the world.
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What’s your favourite workout?
Pilates is everything to me. Breathing, having a conscious mind, and focusing on my feminine grace to empower me has really changed my mindset and my body. Pilates gives you a strong core – it builds a strong body from the inside out. It’s a great secret weapon.
What’s your least favourite workout?
I hate BURPEES hahahaha!
What health fads have you tried and hated or loved?
I try them all. You have to try to know what works for you. From being paleo, to the 5:2 diet, to juice cleanses, to attempting to be vegan …. I switch in and out of food fads depending on my life at the time and what I’m working towards. Feeling good is definitely based around what you put into your body. At the end of the day, I also love to eat and drink and have the occasional binge haha!
When do you like to workout?
Mornings are awesome. It’s invigorating! It makes me feel like I’ve had a full and productive day before the day has even started!
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What's the best health or fitness tip anyone has ever given you?
Do what’s right for your body. Everyone is individual. Everyone has different needs and different bodies … so try a number of different approaches to see what works for you. And don’t stress out, you will find one that naturally suits you and you will know when you’ve found it.
What’s on your workout playlist at the moment?
I have only a few songs I play on repeat … generally some Daft Punk, some Hot Chip … but my new track is TSIER by Alyss.
What does your day on a plate look like?
I start the day with two boiled eggs and then pretty much snack all day. Dates, cashews, tzatziki and crackers, almonds. I love cheese – cottage cheese, feta cheese, cream cheese! I have poached chicken and veggies for dinner. I’m currently obsessed with roast pumpkin and cauliflower. I always have a liquorice tea before bed.
Go-to coffee order?
Skim Mocha with extra choc. It’s my guilty pleasure.
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