About Us

 

Sumner Leigh was founded by two bad-ass ladies with crazy-different backgrounds – and that’s why it’s solid. Their paths crossed by a twist of fate at SoulCycle in 2015 and they’ve never looked back. Elena is the brains with a business savvy background while Sumner is the brawn with her expertise in fashion and fitness. Their strengths combined have created an activewear brand that fits like a glove, and can take a bullet.

We know you’re a boss. A hustler. Hard as hell on your pants. We know you’re funky. We know you like detail. We got you! When you’re done crushing your workout in Sumner Leigh swag, you’ll feel fly enough to go Michelin Star late night. So, what are you waiting for? Go get you some.

ABOUT SUMNER

• She grew up a southern hand-full South Carolinian who bounced to California in 2008
• She has a personality that’s taller than her
• She grew up dancing competitively, traveling the US in numerous dance companies, competing for national titles
• She spent her summers training in LA with well-known choreographers (Wade Robson, Shane Sparks, Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo (NappyTabs), Brooke Lipton, Joe Tremaine, Jackie Sleight, Shonique Sneed and Lisette Bustamante, and Jennifer Hamilton Goldsmith)
• She worked as a seamstress’ sidekick to create dance costumes. From this, her love of fashion was born
• She fell head over heels with LA and the mass opportunities it provided
• She attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise in LA and graduated with a degree in Apparel Manufacturing
• She worked numerous jobs in the fashion world as a production manager and then shifted her focus back to the dance world
• She danced professionally and is still represented by Go2Talent Agency (Credits include: Glee, Dog with a Blog, Austin and Ally, The Helene Fischer Germany Show, Jordin Sparks Fantasyland opening, Nuclear Cowboyz Tour, iL CIRCO Mexico, Guatemala and Venezuela, Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Disney World, Fashion Industry Awards..to name a few)
• She had a light bulb moment - dance and fitness go hand and hand
• She began teaching workouts (Cardio Barre and training high end celebrity clients with JJ Dancer method) while auditioning and grinding the dance industry
• She now teaches at SoulCycle in San Francisco, where Sumner Leigh Athletics is made
• She has sweat in spandex her entire life so take it from this PRO dancer, fitness guru and fashionista when she says SLA is where it's at!

 

ABOUT ELENA

• She was born in SoCal (San Diego) and bounced to central California at a young age with her family
• To pass the time, she began working at a surgery center
• She realized early on that “working for the man” just wasn’t in the cards
• She caught the biz bug early and began opening her own surgery centers – several dozen to be exact
• Her entrepreneurial game went crazy, and she opened multiple businesses from Alaska to Ohio in medical billing, consulting, out-patient surgery centers and medical equipment
• She travels … A LOT … and she likes to work out – so she’s constantly looking for spin or boxing classes in different cities
• She’s not a fan of spandex or sports bras, so she decided to do something about it
• She moved to Manhattan Beach, set up shop, and partnered with Sumner to create Sumner Leigh Athletic
• If you can pry her phone from her ear, she can be found lying on the beach, in a SoulCycle class, punching the crap out of a bag, or the performing the ultimate cardio … shopping
• She enjoys the finer things in life – like workout gear that fits, traveling the world, and philanthropy
• She works hard, travels hard and plays hard