It’s always Suni in St Paul
(Photo NYT)
As they say, “It’s always Suni in St Paul.”
Some of you know me as the product development creator for HBI Textiles. Some of you know me as Gina, a former jock and captain of the gymnastics team. This post is for both and all of you - here's the backstory.
What gets me out of bed in the morning (after I reconvene to the world from a deep dream life) is finding my place again as a maker and developer. I get to help people, I love helping people. I help develop ideas, products, processes and business goals for individuals and entities who are eager to work, learn and grow. I've never found a more supportive network than I have at HBI and I'm still building on that.
I started as a free minded, cart-wheelinging kindergartener in gymnastics class, as seen above… fast forward 15 years, I was elected to be the captain of a long standing state winning team. Lessons: #1 Listen to your teammates. #2 Be there for your people. You don't have to be the best in your field to make an impact. #3 Provide motivation and respite. It doesn't matter where they are in order of team points, they all matter, equally.
(Photo credit Adobe)
15 more years later, I find myself making grips for gymnastics - and since it's now the Paris Olympics, highlighting St Paul’s own, it’s time to share. Gymnastics grips are the athletes’ aid for the uneven parallel bars. Leather, chalk, and a loop around the wrist. Grips are to bars as the chaps and jackets are to motorcycles. The right leather matters.
Grips are not your normal leather or suede for handbags, couches, cars or shoes. It's specialized. So where do you find it? It hasn't been easy… but we’re tenacious. The considerations of using the correct leather is quite literally the difference of life or death, seeing as an elite bars routine is at 2.3 G’s of acceleration (Wired.com Physics of Gymnastics).
Grips protect a gymnasts hands like a pointe shoe for a ballerina. Gymnastics is hard enough, it's not like you need ripped palms to make you feel tough. The leather has to be trustworthy, durable, flexible and stiff.
(Photo from Illinois.edu)
Montana Leather Supply is a four generation-family-owned leather supply. Doug and Patrick go the extra mile with their industry knowledge, and being a family-owned and operated business, they listen to us carefully on a project-by-project basis. They work with various tanneries, selecting only the finest hides to ensure that their products meet the highest standards of durability, aesthetics, and functionality. This allows HBI to extend their level of service and knowledge to our customers.
Challenge accepted, we’re making grips. We can do it!
Need help developing or manufacturing sporting goods or other soft goods? Please CONTACT US today and let’s start the conversation.