Disrupting Fashion with Brie Read’s Body Positivity Revolution – Special Episode
Welcome back to another celebratory episode around the launch of You’ve Got This! Today, I share the chat I had with the incredible Brie Read, the powerhouse founder behind Snag (you might remember them as Snag Tights, but they’ve grown into so much more!).
You’ve Got This, Brie Read!
Snag isn’t just a brand that makes amazing, comfortable clothes (like tights) that really fit, but also bras, pants and shorts, and many more clothing items. What truly sets them apart is their unwavering commitment to body positivity and inclusivity. And proof of this? The community Brie and her team have cultivated that’s truly something special.
The lightbulb moment
Brie shared a very relatable experience of her tights falling down in public. Instead of letting it haunt her, she used it as a sign, started asking questions, and quickly realised it wasn’t just her – everyone had a problem with tights. This led to the powerful realisation: it wasn’t our bodies that were wrong; it was the product.
This was the spark that started Snag. Brie bought every type of tight on the market and discovered a shocking truth: they were all essentially the same width, just varying in length! No real effort had been made to create tights that genuinely fitted different body shapes. It took two years of research and development to get to the Snag Tights we all know and love today… the ones that actually fit!
Challenging the patriarchy
It’s no surprise that Snag has been recognised as one of the fastest-growing companies in the UK, through actively challenging the ‘fashion patriarchy’ and making clothes to help people feel good – whatever their size and shape. Brie champions the use of real customers as models in all sizes, a move that’s inspiring others and slowly shifting industry norms.
However, Brie also highlighted a frustrating reality that despite Snag’s rapid growth and significant presence, the company often gets overlooked by investment and finance circles. She believes this is because they’re addressing ‘women’s issues’ in a ‘women’s space’ and catering to those who are often unseen or alternative.
Inspired by the community
All of Snag’s product ideas come directly from their community. Their release schedule isn’t based on urgency but on how long it takes to perfect a product. Snag’s development process is intensive, starting with prototyping on a size 24 model to ensure it truly works, followed by rigorous testing on fit models of all sizes. It’s a far cry from conventional fast fashion development.
Like running a pirate ship?
Brie says that building a business like Snag feels like running a pirate ship– not part of the establishment, making their own rules and doing things their own way. The company is wired differently to most and their ethos, at the root, is very simple – it’s to have products that fit well and make people happy, so they can have a positive relationship with their bodies.
Brie’s blocks
It’s evident to see that Snag is now a big success, but people didn’t always see it that way. When Brie went for start up support, she was told her turnover expectations were too big. She also found that the male dominated investment space didn’t help as there was a lack of lived experiences. This led to bootstrapping the business for it to grow.
Despite the hardships, Brie’s mission has never wavered, and seeing the impact that Snag has on people keeps pushing her forward. She also has an incredible mindset that is much needed for success, especially when facing negativity and setbacks, and for managing and embracing risk too.
Online community
Snag’s incredible online community is a testament to the company’s values. Brie humbly states that they didn’t create the community; it was already there, and Snag simply gave it a voice. By championing self-expression and the validity of all bodies, they tapped into a massive group of people who felt unseen. It’s not just about the product; it’s about the journey of self-acceptance and the feeling of finally being understood.
Thank you so much, Bree, for sharing your inspiring story and invaluable wisdom!
If you want to experience the Snag yourself and learn more about the products, vibe and company, head over to snagtights.com. You can also follow their journey on Instagram @briefromsnag or @snagtights. And don’t forget to check out You’ve Got This for more stories of resilience and entrepreneurial spirit!
