We interviewed KO STUDIO.CO a female owned business that design and creates boxing gear created towards woman!
1.what is the most challenging thing about starting a business amidst the pandemic?
I think the most challenging thing has been the delays. Often a lot of projects need to be pushed back because of restrictions. Manufacturing and shipping times are also held up.
2.what is the worst and best thing about the boxing community?
The best thing would be how supportive and uplifting all the girls are!
The worst thing is the lack of female representation
3.would you care to explain your brand and it’s objectives? KO aims to bring better options to women in boxing by designing gear that's not only protective but also stylish. Our gloves cater to the fit of female hands unlike the majority of gear out there. Most boxing equipment is designed for men as boxing is a male dominated industry and there are not many alternatives for women. Some even resort to kids gloves because they can't find equipment that fits.
4.what do you feel is the biggest difference between boxing equipment for women by men and equipment for women by women? Most boxing equipment is designed for men as boxing is a male dominated industry and there are not many alternatives for women. Some even resort to kids gloves because they can't find equipment that fits.
Often male centric companies don't understand the pain points women face and don't meet their needs design wise. It seems as though companies are just slapping black and pink together and calling it a day.
5.what it is about boxing that can be so powerful for women in particular? how a sport that is typically not seen as 'feminine' can be so important for women to take part in I believe boxing is more than just a sport, it's a form of self-expression. Boxing helps women learn how strong and powerful they are, this helps many girls with self-confidence. It's empowering to take up space in a male-dominated sport and this applies to other spheres as well, such as women in male-dominated industry's & careers.
6.specific struggles/ needs of women in boxing vs men in boxing that are perhaps overlooked? In most large cities there are female founded boxing gyms or women only classes but this is not the case for everywhere. Some women find it intimidating to start and attend classes at a male dominated gyms.
7.Are there differences in the way women fight/ train and are they properly understood by professionals in the boxing industry? CANNOT ANSWER BECAUSE I AM NOT WELL VERSED IN THE PROFESSIONAL BOXING SCENE 8.How has boxing for women changed (hopefully improved!) since Yin Qi started. YinQi has helped create a more beginner friendly environment for those who are interested in boxing. Her brand features a less intimidating take on the sport and focuses on creating a positive and uplifting community online for women interested in the sport. She works on equipment that caters to women because they deserve gear that's made for them.
9. What is some advice you would give to beginner boxers who are inspired by your business and ready to box on their own?
I would direct them to our beginners guide to help them get started! https://kostudio.co/blogs/news/beginner-s-guide-how-to-get-into-boxing
10. What does professional boxing look like? (What are the major competitions etc.) CANNOT ANSWER BECAUSE I AM NOT WELL VERSED IN THE PROFESSIONAL BOXING SCENE 11.what challenges come with working in a male-dominated business? Whenever we go viral there is always a lot of negativity and hate from men. We've gotten comments such as "Women can just wear kids gloves", "This brand is so pointless, why make female versions" and "When sexism is the only angle to your company". Although we get a lot of hate sometimes, it never bothers us because we know men are not our target audience and our brand was not made for them.
12. What are some design complications that surfaced while designing your products?
In the beginning I struggled to design gloves with the proper fit and support needed. It took working with 12 manufacturers and over 7 rounds of sampling to get our gloves right!
