Latest news with #CropShopBoutique
Forbes
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
When Crop Tops Go Viral: The Story Behind CSB
Rachel Dillon, founder of CSB, Photo Credit: Courtesy of CSB When Rachel Dillon launched CSB in 2019, it started with just three crop tops. What she didn't anticipate was how two of them — the now-iconic Lexi and Sierra — would go viral and kickstart a global obsession. Five years later, the brand that began as a side project born out of the gym has grown into a fashion-forward athleisure empire, including matching sets for the gym and for lounging. In the past twelve months alone, CSB has seen over 113% growth, with a community spanning Australia, the U.S., and beyond. Now, Dillon is taking the momentum offline, bringing her digitally native brand into physical spaces with localized activations. This July, CSB opened its first-ever U.S. pop-up on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles (running through July 27). The 10-day activation features unreleased collections, exclusive merch, and custom styling appointments, all designed to bring the CSB universe to life. In a full-circle moment, the brand is also gifting 500 Lexi and Sierra crops to community members: a tribute to the two viral pieces that helped put CSB on the map. 'Those crops were a turning point,' Dillon shares. 'They were fashion-first in a category that had long prioritized function. We knew we were on to something when customers started asking for them in every color.' The "Lexi" crop by CSB, Photo Credit: Courtesy of CSB Before CSB, Dillon's life revolved around fitness, first as a passionate gym-goer, then as a trainer introducing women to weightlifting during a time when few were lifting heavy. 'I was that girl in the early 2010s showing up to the gym in a crop top I bought from a fashion store, because I couldn't find anything that felt flattering or stylish,' she recalls. What began as a frustration and a void in the market, turned into a vision. 'I wanted to create pieces that made women feel good, like they could walk into the gym and then to brunch, without needing to change. There was this huge gap between style and performance, and CSB was my way of filling it.' Dillon launched CSB (short for Crop Shop Boutique) with a tight edit of cropped silhouettes. Leggings and sets came later, as the community and category evolved. Today, the brand is known for its sculpting fits, capsule color palettes, and fashion-forward yet functional approach to activewear. One of its most buzzed-about innovations? The Invisible Scrunch Legging: a sculpting design that enhances shape without any visible scrunch. 'We wanted to offer that flattering lift, but in a more elevated, subtle way. It's been one of our fastest-selling pieces,' Dillon says. 'It's about giving women the best of both worlds. Style that works hard in and out of the gym.' CSB's "Scrunchie" leggings, Photo Credit: Courtesy of CSB CSB's tagline, 'Wear With Confidence,' isn't just marketing lingo: it's a reflection of Dillon's philosophy. 'To me, confidence means showing up for yourself regardless of external noise. It's about doing what you say you're going to do, and being proud of how you move through the world,' she shares. That mindset is embedded into every piece CSB creates, from how it fits and flatters to how it transitions between workouts and real life. 'I always say CSB is more than just a product. It's a feeling. Our community isn't just wearing leggings, they're wearing a lifestyle that supports who they are and where they're going.' While product innovation drives virality, it's community that fuels CSB's staying power. From early days spent in group chats with customers to modern-day partnerships with fitness personalities and stylists alike, Dillon has prioritized authenticity at every turn. The brand's Creative Partner, model and content creator Isabelle Mathers, has become a core collaborator, co-designing capsules, campaigns, and even a minimalist swim drop that quickly sold out. Another standout partnership is with Karin Gonzalez, the LA-based makeup artist whose signature glam-meets-fitness aesthetic mirrors CSB's runway-meets-recovery style. Looking ahead, CSB will be heading to New York Fashion Week this September, with a series of events for its East Coast community and the launch of a new capsule with Mathers. Described as 'designed for movement and momentum,' the collection leans into city-ready staples, further blurring the lines between performance and lifestyle. Building a fashion brand in today's market isn't easy. But Dillon credits CSB's sustained growth to focusing on the long game, tight creative control, and knowing when to say no. 'We've always prioritized quality over speed. If something isn't right, it doesn't go out,' she explains. 'I'd rather take an extra few months and deliver something our customers will live in than chase a quick trend.' She's also unapologetically hands-on. 'I test everything in the gym myself. I need to know: can I actually lift in this? Run in it? Does it move with me and make me feel confident?' Her advice to emerging founders? 'Don't underestimate the power of partnerships and product. The right collab, the right crop — those are what spark connection. But what keeps people coming back is how you make them feel. That's what we focus on at CSB: wear with confidence, and build from there.'
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tammy Hembrow accused of copying a very famous activewear brand from another well-known Gold Coast influencer
Tammy Hembrow has been accused of copying a rival activewear brand owned by a fellow Gold Coast influencer. The 30-year-old was on Instagram this week, modelling the latest range from her 'luxury athleisure brand' Saski. However, some fans claimed that she had copied designs from Australian fitness label Crop Shop Boutique (CSB), founded and owned by influencer Rachel Dillon. Tammy has denied these claims. A series of videos, Shared to Tammy's Instagram story, showed the fitness influencer modelling an array of clothing from the new range. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. One clip showed Tammy, who founded Saski in 2017, flaunting her trim form in a pair of figure-hugging baby pink V-waist shorts as well as a matching pink sports bra with a plunging V neckline. But some eagle-eyed fashionistas took to social media this week to accuse Tammy of copying a very similar style previously released by Rachel's label. One took to Instagram to share a side-by-side shot of Tammy's outfit, next to a very similar look modelled on the CSB website. 'CSB 2023, Saski 2025,' they wrote over the juxtaposed images. Another echoed the sentiment commenting: 'This is just a @csb rip off.' Tammy was quick to hit back at the accusations, claiming that the samples for the clothes had been in her possession for more than a year. 'We've had all these samples for over a year haha sorry to say,' she responded in a since-deleted comment. However, the persistent follower appeared to come with receipts, sharing screenshots of models wearing very similar V-waist shorts as far back as June 2022. Another echoed the sentiment commenting: 'This is just a @csb rip off.' Tammy took issue with the accusation, replying to the follower with: ' We've had all these samples for over a year haha sorry to say.' 'And @csb have had them out longer than a year Tammy!' the garment sleuth replied. The same user then claimed that Tammy had deleted the original 'rip off' comment and her response. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that Tammy Hembrow copied the design from CSB and has contacted Tammy Hembrow for comment. Aside from Saski, the entrepreneur is also the founder of fitness platform TammyFit. Tammy also recently launched a new sports nutrition brand, Selfish, with sisters Aimee and Emily. The accusations come after Tammy's ex Matt Poole welcomed his first child with girlfriend Annelyse Oatway. Following the news, Tammy took to Instagram to hint that she and husband Matt Zukowski could also be looking to add to her brood. The influencer shared a clip from a film to Instagram and wrote: 'Me [and] baby fever. Guys should I have another one lol'. Aside from Saski, the entrepreneur is also the founder of fitness platform TammyFit. Tammy also recently launched a new sports nutrition brand, Selfish, with sisters Aimee and Emily She then shared a photo of her son Wolf embracing their pet cat and said: 'Kidding but not kidding'. Tammy's former Love Island star husband previously opened up about his infertility. Matt revealed on the Back to Reality podcast in 2023 that he 'wasn't embarrassed' by the reproductive issue, but that it affects his approach to dating. 'If I was to start seeing a one of the first things I tell them. My ex before I told her on, like, the second date, I said, "Hey, like, just so you know, I can't have kids".' 'I'm not embarrassed by it. I'm not ashamed of obviously gonna be public knowledge now that, like, you know, I'm shooting blanks, all that sort of stuff,' he added. The hosts then asked Matti how he found out about the fertility issue, and he claimed that an ex spurred him to get checked because they 'weren't getting pregnant'. Tammy shares one child, Posey, two, with ex-fiancé Matt Poole and two Wolf, 10, and Saskia, eight, with ex Reece Hawkins.
