Throughout the year, we are highlighting notable women in our community. We want to spotlight those who are shaping where we live and giving back to our neighborhood. Do you know someone you think we should feature? Let us know in the comments!
Do you dread going to the gym? You aren’t alone– been there, done that. That is why we are so excited to introduce our latest Notable Woman, Brit Turner of Fit Atelier. She believes that feeling good and looking good are great forms of self-care and personal wellness so she has built a brand where fitness meets fashion. Add in some music and dance and it becomes very clear that Fit Atelier is a far cry from your average gym experience! We sat down with Brit to learn more about her business, what inspires her, and what she loves to do when she isn’t working out…
Tell us a bit about your background and what inspired you to launch Fit Atelier.
Well, it’s actually a long, full-circle story, but I am originally from Concord, NC and went to Appalachian State University to cheer. When I was cheering, I hurt my back. I was DEVASTATED because my doctor said I shouldn’t be putting the pressure of tumbling on my hurt joints or I would have continued problems that would become very serious, very soon. In that moment, I felt extremely lost because cheering was very much my identity. SO I did what any normal person would do and moved to NYC with no job and no college transfer acceptance. Thank God, I got into NYU quickly after arriving in the city and signing a lease in an apartment that I absolutely could not afford.
After NYU, I stayed in New York City and worked in beauty and skincare public relations. I worked at the Estee Lauder Companies, e.l.f. Cosmetics, and with brands including Oribe Hair Care, Topshop, and Target Beauty.
My now-husband (who I met at Appalachian when he was the hottest bartender at Klondike Cafe!) eventually moved to NYC. He was a big runner. I literally hated running, but I loved how I felt after running with him so I began to research workouts. I started going to Tracy Anderson Method and Body By Simone, both incredible dance-based workouts and I fell in love! For years, I did those workouts and other workouts like them. They became a huge part of my personal wellness routine. When I moved to Charlotte, there was nothing like the dance fitness that I had become so used to doing in NYC so I combined my fashion and marketing background to create Fit Atelier, a place where (mostly dance-based!) fitness meets fashion IRL (in real life!) in our South End flagship studio & store, at our Uptown studio, and on our e-commerce and online workout studio www.fitatelier.com.
What classes do you offer?
We offer some incredible classes that are all beat-based and range from dance cardio to strength to pilates… and even a mini-trampoline workout!
What can someone expect when they come to a Fit Atelier class?
They can expect to find workouts that are equally as entertaining and fun as they are effective. We train our staff to make you feel like this is an experience and not like a gym. If you feel like you’re at a gym, we are absolutely doing it wrong.
Fit Atelier offers more than fitness classes. Tell us a bit about that.
Yes! We are very focused on fashion. Clothes and outfits that keep you active, make you feel hot, and are really comfortable. You can shop everything from bike shorts to extremely high-waisted leggings to sports bras and tees and everything in between on www.fitatelier.com, and in our South End boutique.
If you had to describe Fit Atelier in 3 words, what would they be?
Fitness meets Fashion!
What is the best part of your job?
Wow – so many incredible parts, but two of the parts that I love are mentoring young talent in our super talented trainers and discovering new brands. I love to wear cute clothes and I love to workout so probably selfish motivations 🙂
What is the best advice you have received that has helped you grow your business?
I had some incredible bosses in New York that helped guide me on my career. They helped me clean up the things that I struggled with and they pushed me forward on items where I excelled. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is really important when owning a business. You can try to be good at it all, but it will never work so let someone else (who excels in your weakness) do it!
If you had an extra hour in your day, how would you spend it?
This is really hard, but I would snuggle my 4-year-old while drinking a glass of wine while flipping between a Bravo show and a Broadway show while texting my best friends and winking at my husband. That is my version of self-care.
What are some of your favorite things to do outside of the studio?
I love planning big vacations for my husband and my toddler with very detailed, to-the-minute itineraries.
You and your family live in Plaza Midwood. What are some of your favorite neighborhood spots?
Every morning you will find me at Undercurrent Coffee. I love it so much. I’ve had some incredible bottles of wine from The Bohemian and every weekend I get a charcuterie board from The Culture Shop. I also love the cocktail bar at Supperland! We are currently doing an outdoor workout pop-up at the VanLandingham Estate (it ends at the end of May!). It’s gorgeous and so perfect for weddings and events. The Crunkleton and The Stanley (in Elizabeth) are favorites that we walk to a lot. I just adore living in Plaza Midwood.
What is next for you and Fit Atelier?
Next for me? Well, I’m hoping after a crazy year and a half, I’m due for a vacation. Next for Fit Atelier? I’m hopeful that having made it through this crazy pandemic that we’ll be ready for the growth that we were planning pre-Covid. I haven’t looked back at those plans in a long time, but I’m crossing my fingers very hard that that is the conversation our team has next.
To sign up for a fitness class or browse activewear, visit the Fit Atelier website. Plus, get inspired by Brit and the entire Fit Atelier team on Instagram @fitatelier.
