Christeson, a M.B.A. who got her start in banking, was working at Cisco leading a team dedicated to the technology giant’s newest cloud initiative, and struggling to find clothes on the day-to-day.
“I'd always been annoyed by shopping for workwear, and [looking] around was a luxury I just didn’t have time for,” she said. “It was 2014 and a lot of studies were coming out that a woman’s appearance can significantly impact her career trajectory.”
From there, Christeson found herself in the midst of opportunity within the roughly $200 billion U.S. apparel market.
“The landscape of the workplace has changed,” Christeson said. “It’s a more casual environment than it once was. And brands haven’t been evolving with the modern working day [or] with what the modern working woman looks like.”
Courtesy of Argent.
The combination of research and a gut feeling led Christeson to realize she was onto something. “That was the catalyst to quit my job,” she said.
Armed with the idea to modernize workwear (goodbye Working Girl power suits, hello professional clothes women might actually get excited to wear), Christeson hooked up with Turner who'd worked for such brands as Tory Burch and J.Crew, and who also saw the unique opportunity before them—especially after doing some fieldwork.
“It was horrifying to see that salespeople weren't asking you what industry you are in, they were just pulling out the same gray suit with a boot-cut they’ve been selling for 30 years,” Turner said.
At the core of the line, which officially launched in 2016, was the clothing item that has come to symbolize women’s ascent in the workforce: the pantsuit. “It felt like a reflection of the world we're living in,” Turner said. “Pantsuit nation, female power, boldness—it’s a strong statement.”
Sali Christeson, left. Eleanor Turner, right. Courtesy of Argent.
