Forget mini skirts and and tight jeans. Every girl knows that rocking a sexy pair of sweat pants that hug your body in the right places is the best way to get the attention of pretty much everyone on the street. Enter Skinny Sweats: our new favourite line of comfy yet oh-so-hot sweats that can transition from running errands to the bar-hopping scene with no need to change in between. Toronto designer Adrienne Butikofer is at the helm of the label, which you can currently shop online at Skinny Sweats. What’s the story behind a girl whose brand’s motto is “Lazy Is As Lazy Doesn’t”? We had to find out. Meet Adrienne Butikofer of Skinny Sweats…
Give us a snippet about you. What should people know?
I grew up in Winnipeg, and I’ve been in Toronto for about 10 years since graduating from fashion school. I am the designer of a pretty new label called Skinny Sweats, which is a line of skinny cut sweatpants and leggings. The label is new, but I’m not. I’ve been hustling my work in Toronto since 2003. I started very indie by making and selling one-offs, and I had a line of winter accessories called Caninja for a few years that sold mostly at Magic Pony. I was a TFI New Labels finalist in 2008 with a contemporary women’s collection called Butikofer, and I did that for a couple seasons until I was just too pregnant to continue. I took some time off after having a baby girl in 2009, and then I had another in 2011. I started the Skinny Sweats label in 2012. With 10 years of entrepreneurial experience behind me, I chose to do something product focused that I could perfect.
Finish this sentence: I love Toronto because…
…it’s such a small town. I don’t know tons of people in this city, but I seem to run into someone whenever I’m out. It’s very friendly.
What are three things you simply cannot live without?
My li’l fam, strong black tea, and my iPhone.
What’s your favourite restaurant and why?
Full disclosure: We’ve been living north of Toronto in Maple for three years, so I kind of have nothing. We’re renovating a house in the Junction right now though and will be back in the city by the fall – so stoked! If anyone has any kid-friendly restaurant suggestions, I’m all ears.
What’s your favourite drink/cocktail and where do you go to get it?
Ha! I don’t get to go out! I’m feeling that this summer is going to be all about wheat beer for me though, with a splash of fruit juice in it. I get both the beer and the juice out of the fridge.
Who’s your favourite designer/brand and why do you sport their fashions?
Well, I mostly wear pieces from the Skinny Sweats line – not just because I’m reppin’, but also because they are awesome. Everything is super versatile – looking good with a biker jacket, a blazer, a lovely kimono; with heels, flats, boots, sneakers… anything. And the fit of the line has always been my primary focus, so they feel really good, too. I’m not one to compromise on style or comfort, so they work for me on many levels. For accessories, I’m really feeling local designers Kristen Laborde and Emily Woudenberg right now. Their work feels right with my current sporty-witch style.
Let’s get social for a mo’. How can people stay up-to-date with all your city-trotting?
Find me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Check out my Tumblr for the inspiration behind Skinny Sweats – present and future. The Tumblr is my favourite, but I neglect them all equally. Lazy. Sexy. Cool.