Cucumber Clothing: Cool Designs for Midlife Women

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/jtf2cx/ccfinal3_-_9_20_21_406_PM8ttvg.mp3

Episode Summary

Thank you for an amazing Season 2! We cannot wait to continue with Season 3!

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As co-founders of Cucumber Clothing, Eileen Willet and Nancy Zeffman have created a sustainable and stylish brand that seamlessly combines athletic clothing with everyday apparel. In today’s episode, we talked with both Eileen and Nancy about Cucumber Clothing, how the company got started, the fabrics they use, and the company’s connection to body positivity.

First, we asked Eileen and Nancy how they came up with the idea for Cucumber Clothing. They told us that the two of them have been friends for over twenty years and would often bond over exercise. One day, they realized that both of them shared a common love of wearing their work-out clothes and everyday wear, and after doing some digging, saw that no companies were really promoting that concept. Through Cucumber Clothing, they’ve created a brand where athletic clothing is translated into casual outfits, leisure clothes, and even pajamas. For their clothings’ fabrics, they spent a long time doing research for the right fit for their needs. They said that while they use about four different kinds of fabrics, one of the best is volcanic mineral. Imbedded in the fabric, volcanic mineral works with the clothing to keep a person’s skin cool and prevent their body temperature from rising too high and causing overheating.

An important issue often addressed with athletic clothing is sweat wicking. When asked about how the problem influences their own clothing, Eileen and Nancy said that many of the fabrics they use target sweat and keep clothes from staining and smelling. For example, one of their fabrics, called “feels like silk”, is a thick texture that wicks away sweat and evaporates it into the air rather than leaving it on the clothes.

We then asked how the brand name, Cucumber Clothing, was decided on. Eileen and Nancy explained that at first, their main priority was choosing a brand name that was attractive and feminine. However, after consulting a friend, they realized that they needed to use a name that would resonate with potential customers right away. The word “cucumber” came to mind, since they knew many people were aware of the phrase “cool as a cucumber”. Since they wanted their brand to be associated with coolness and freshness, they decided that Cucumber Clothing would perfectly encapsulate their purpose and products. We also talked about some of their products, including their more luxurious products made with cashmere. Out of all of their clothing, the cashmere and “feels like silk” pieces are the ones most popular amongst customers.

One of the features on Cucumber Clothing’s website is allowing customers to “dress for purpose”. Eileen and Nancy explained that the purpose of this feature is to allow customers to find and purchase clothing that caters to their individual needs. There is also a feature that helps women find their proper sizing. Since Cucumber Clothing’s items are made with flexible and looser fabric, the return rate for purchases is low. Cucumber Clothing is also collaborating with the Anti-Diet Riot Club, an organization that advocates for focusing on body positivity and self-love rather than diet culture. Though they are still a smaller brand, Cucumber Clothing does have many pieces of clothing that range from a small to a size 20, allowing customers of all body types to feel more welcomed. When asked what clothing products they would recommend to first-time buyers, they said that it would depend on the situation. For women who are struggling with hot flashes and menopause, they would suggest starting their t-shirts. For women who are busy and looking for a more formal look, Cucumber Clothing’s ruffle shirt and a pair of bottoms would be better.

The pandemic has influenced many brands, and when asked how their company has been affected, Eileen and Nancy said that while they have had to cancel speaking events and PR opportunities, they have luckily been doing well with supply chains. However, they are both interested to see how small, predominantly online businesses will be affected now that people are starting to go to stores and shop again. For the best place to find Cucumber Clothing, they said that their online store is the easiest and most convenient place to shop for their products. Cucumber Clothing not only ships worldwide but also does not charge for shipping.

Finally, we spoke to Eileen and Nancy about the circularity of their brand. The two told us that as they continue to grow, they are looking for more ways to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly. They’ve replaced their plastic bags with a more sustainable form, and even allow customers to send unwanted clothing back. When a person returns their customer clothing, they receive 10% their next purchase, and the fabric from the clothing is recycled.

Eileen Willet and Nancy Zeffman

From the Cucumber Clothing Website:

We are friends who met at the school gates almost 20 years ago. Between us, our complementary characters, children, 2 dogs and continuing friendship have helped relate our vision for Cucumber.

We know what busy means and we wanted to create the clothes we could never find to keep going 24/7. We wanted to make luxury for everyday.

Why has luxury always meant skyscraper heels and clothes that dig in, pinch and crumple for so long?

We have created simple, multifunctional designs that slip perfectly into every woman’s wardrobe.

Ultra modern performance fabrics mean our clothes move with you, not against you and always feel beautifully soft against the skin.

Cucumber means clothes that give women confidence. Our clothes breathe, cool and wick, they stretch but don’t crease, they love a cold wash and are dry in a few hours. No ironing.

These are clothes that are made ethically, locally, and sustainably.