Arielle Charnas and looks from SN x Bandier.
Something Navy founder Arielle Charnas’ 1.3 million followers check into her social media channels to get a glimpse of her enviable life with husband Brandon, three adorable daughters, Esme Rae, Ruby Lou and Navy Bea, and beautiful friends who provide constant fodder for the fashion influencer. Along the way, Charnas has built a credible fashion brand and proven herself to be a savvy businesswoman.
Today, Charnas launches a collaboration with Bandier, an athletic label she’s admired for almost a decade.
“It all started when my mom walked into Bandier’s Southampton store and spotted a cute pair of leggings that she thought I would love,” Charnas told me. “She brought them home to me, and of course, I loved them and immediately styled them and posted a mirror selfie on my Instagram account.
“Shortly thereafter, I received an enthusiastic phone call from someone at Bandier,” Charnas continued. “They told me the leggings had completely sold out via phone calls to the store and that they would love to do more together as partners. Since then, Bandier has been my go-to for all things ath-leisure and I’ve had the priviledge of working with them in many ways.”
After Charnas first promoted the brand a decade ago on her Instagram account sales soared to over $200,000. “Like me, my audience loves Bandier,” she said. “I’m always posting and directing them to shop the pieces I love, and it’s incredible to see them respond like they do. I’m grateful to be a source of activewear inspiration to them.”
The Something Navy founder said she’s worked with Bandier “for as long as I can remember. Jen [Bandier] and Neil [Boyarsky] and I always talked about doing more together but it was important to find the right time.”
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In 2021, Something Navy made the business decision to launch product collaborations with select brands that Charnas admired and previously worked with in categories outside her core ready-to-wear. “Once this decision was made, we called Bandier right away,” she said.
This is her first product collaboration with a Bandier private label and Something Navy’s first ath-leisure offering. “My audience knows Bandier is my go-to, so this feels entirely authentic,” Charnas said. “It’s a testament to staying loyal to a brand and team that’s supported me and believes in my business and vise versa.”
Charnas said she enjoys the creative process of partnering with brands and people. “It’s incredibly fun and motivating from start to finish,” she said. “The ultimate joy is seeing the products being worn by my Something Navy community. It’s also a tremendous learning experience.”
The division of labor for the Bandier project was a collaborative process that involved nearly all members of the Something Navy team, including design, product development, partnerships, and marketing functions.
“It was an all hands on deck [experience] and a testament to how much everyone believed in the relationship and power of our combined brands,” Charnas said. “I know the same goes for Bandier’s team.”
Asked about her inspiration for the collection, Charnas said, “I knew I wanted to put a colorful Something Navy twist on my favorite tried-and-true Bandier styles,” adding, “We drew inspiration from the streets of New York of course, traditional ballerina styles, and even workout looks my Mom used to wear when I was growing up. The result is an ultra urban and vibrant feminine collection, with a nod to the 80s.
“We created this collection with my Something Navy community in mind — for the girl who is fearless, fashionable, and always on the go, the girl who works out but wants to look cute at school drop off, who wants to be comfortable, yet elevated, someone who does it all. There’s something for everyone in this collection both style and fit-wise.”
Charnas keeps her lithe body in shape by “mixing it up and not overdoing any one workout. I love dance cardio, pilates, and core strength training. Right now I’m focused on toning my core after having a third child, but doing it at my own pace and giving myself grace if I just can’t get to a workout one day.”
Asked if there will be future partnerships with Bandier, Charnas teased, “This is just the beginning for Something Navy x Bandier collabs. I’ll leave it at that.”
