Four-year detour leads to Evolving Prowess, new inclusive activewear brand

For Victoria Tsang, a challenging four-year period became the catalyst for creating her activewear brand, Evolving Prowess.

Launching on Dec. 1, Evolving Prowess was built to reset industry standards. 

“I found that there was limited marketing for those who were new to the gym, unless marketing was targeted at plus-size people. It felt so exclusionary,” Tsang says. 

With an innovative business model, Evolving Prowess is a brand that keeps buyers at the heart of its mission. 

“I wanted to create more options for people. More flexibility,” Tsang says. “Even in my marketing, I feature real people, not just models. I wanted to create a brand that reflects anyone who goes to the gym, no matter your age, story, or circumstances.”

A four-year detour leads to entrepreneurship 

Growing up, Tsang always had a plan. 

“I knew how I wanted my life to look. I was going to be a vet,” she says. 

Those plans began to slowly unravel when she turned 16. 

“I got hit with severe depression,” Tsang says. “Suddenly, everything was off the table. I didn't know if I was ever going to get better.”

Life, as she knew it, began to shift. “I couldn’t finish school. I felt like life was passing me by,” Tsang says. “It’s like being in a box that is one side mirror, the other side glass. I can see out, and everyone else can’t see in, and I’m just watching everyone pass me.”

Her depression persisted for four years, despite medical intervention. 

“I went to so many doctors, over 30,” she says. “Even they started to lose hope.”

But then, things got better. “I don’t know how; I didn’t think it would ever get better,” Tsang says.

As the fog cleared, a 20-year-old Tsang found herself starting from scratch. “I had to learn how to be an adult at 20. I felt so behind.”

Her recovery gave her newfound motivation for life. “I wanted to go, go, go and never stop. Because I hadn’t been able to go for four years. I came out stronger and with new determination.”

This mindset would ultimately pave the way for Evolving Prowess.  

Evolving Prowess is born 

For Tsang, one of her first goals following recovery was to become active again. However, working out felt undeniably different. “I lost that athleticism. During those four years, I was sick, I gained weight.”

She didn’t want to invest in a new activewear wardrobe knowing her body would change again as she worked out. So, she wore what she had — even if it didn’t fit.

“Everything was ill-fitting and uncomfortable and made me feel so much worse. I was already insecure, and I felt like everyone was judging me even though they absolutely were not,” Tsang says. 

This experience sparked the idea behind Evolving Prowess. 

From hormonal changes, to medication, to pregnancy, Tsang realized that countless life factors influence size and weight. That insight led to a key question: “What do you do with your activewear after you change sizes?” Tsang says.

A unique business model

Evolving Prowess embraces a new kind of business model — one that offers a little more flexibility than traditional brands. 

“You purchase from us at full price,” Tsang says. “But, if you fluctuate in size, up or down, you can purchase those same pieces, in the same colour, at a discounted price.”

Customers can keep both sizes if they expect to move between them, or they can return any size they no longer need. Returned pieces will be professionally laundered and listed in a pre-loved section of the website, offered at a discounted price. 

This model cuts down on textile waste while improving accessibility.

“The clothes are sustainably made, so that’s a factor in our upfront pricing. But I still want our clothes to be accessible, which is why we put the resale system in place,” Tsang says.

Driving inclusivity and fostering confidence

“Clothing matters — clothing is your armour. It changes the way you move through the world,” Tsang says. 

Early responses to her concept have been overwhelmingly supportive. 

“So many people have been so excited to hear about this idea, which has been so rewarding. People feel so seen,” she says.

Evolving Prowess launches with sizes XS to XL, with plans to expand as the brand grows. Tsang hopes to eventually include men’s and maternity activewear as well.

At its heart, the brand is about confidence, self-direction, and personal evolution.

“You have the power to change your life, whatever that looks like for you. If that means you go down a size, you have the power to do that. If that means you go up a size, you have the power to do that," says Tsang. "I’m not going to tell you what it means to improve your life; you get to decide that.” 

Her brand’s name and tagline grew from this belief: “My tagline is ‘know your power.’ It’s about knowing the power that you already have inside you.”

Today, Tsang realizes that there is power in her journey, difficult as it was at the time. “Ultimately, struggling with depression created the experiences I had to go through in order to realize this gap and understand this need. I wouldn’t have come up with this idea otherwise,” she says. 

Networking and getting involved with the Hunter Hub 

Back in April, Tsang attended an orientation at the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking — an interaction that came at just the right moment.

“Once I knew I wanted to start this brand, I immediately began networking and using the resources available to me,” she says.

“For me, this meant becoming involved with the Hunter Hub. That’s how I met Paula Berton (academic programs specialist at the Hunter Hub) who later introduced me to my designer, who is based in Toronto.”

Tsang soon started attending Hunter Hub events, like Skills Clinics, and joined the Innovation Sandbox community. 

As her vision started to take shape, Tsang decided to pause her degree — she was pursuing her Bachelor of Science in cellular, molecular and microbial biology at UCalgary — to fully focus on Evolving Prowess. 

“If I ever want to go back, I can do that. But right now, I need to prioritize my business,” she says. 

Joining the Hunter Hub and building a strong network has been transformative for Tsang.  

“In addition to the Hunter Hub, I went to all these different networking events; I joined a networking group and met a ton of amazing people who are helping me forward this brand," she says.

“Now I have this huge community in this city who want to help me succeed.”

Evolving Prowess is available now

Evolving Prowess is now available to shop online, with a pre-loved section coming soon.

Stay up to date with the brand on Instagram.