Advertisement
Advertisement

Expanding a Brand: Vancouver-Based Entrepreneur Kick-Starts Women’s ‘Wicked Rose’ Martial Arts Activewear Line [Video Interview]

Date:

Share post:

Retail Insider’s Craig Patterson interviews Christina Morrow, Founder at Vancouver-based Wicked Rose, about Morrow’s journey of creating a groundbreaking women’s martial arts activewear brand. Morrow shares her personal motivation, driven by the lack of suitable clothing options for women in martial arts, which led her to develop a brand that combines high quality, performance-oriented apparel with size inclusivity up to 5XL. Morrow’s six-year experience in Muay Thai, and her dissatisfaction with existing offerings, inspired her to research and eventually create a line of activewear that caters specifically to women’s needs in martial arts.

Morrow discusses the unique design challenges and solutions Wicked Rose offers, like the introduction of non-see-through spats with high waistbands to ensure comfort and functionality during intense training sessions. Morrow’s approach involved meticulous product development, including gathering feedback from the martial arts community and incorporating innovative design elements to address common issues faced by women in martial arts. Her collaboration with a tattoo artist friend brings a unique aesthetic to the brand, making it stand out in a market saturated with generic designs.

The conversation concludes with Morrow’s future ambitions for Wicked Rose, including its upcoming Kickstarter campaign aimed at broadening the brand’s reach and introducing sustainable practices in activewear production. They touch upon the potential expansion into retail and the vision of establishing Wicked Rose as a globally recognized activewear brand founded on principles of empowerment, innovation, and inclusivity.

[Kickstarter Campaign Link]

Image: Wicked Rose

Episode Sponsor: 

  • SAJO – Canada’s first specialized retail builder. Visit SAJO to see their holistic approach and transdisciplinary team to explore and understand your needs.

The Interview Series video podcasts by Retail Insider Canada are available through our Retail Insider YouTube Channel where you can subscribe and be notified when new video episodes are available.

If you prefer to listen to the audio version, it is available below:

The Interview Series audio podcasts by Retail Insider Canada are available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Also check out our The Weekly audio podcast where Craig and Lee discuss popular content published on Retail Insider which is part of the The Retail Insider Podcast Network.

Subscribe, Rate, and Review our Retail Insider Podcast!

Follow Craig:

Follow Retail Insider:

Listen & Subscribe:

Share your thoughts!

Drop us a line at Craig@Retail-Insider.com. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Background Music Credit: Hard Boiled Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

More From Retail Insider

RECENT RETAIL INSIDER VIDEOS

Advertisment

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required

RECENT articles

Changes to Temporary Foreign Worker Program applauded by business groups

Helping employers who are facing severe labour shortages.

Canada loses 84,000 jobs in February, unemployment rate increases: Statistics Canada

The largest declines were in wholesale and retail trade (-18,000; -0.6%).

Happy Belly Food Group targets up to 50 new restaurant openings as same-store sales remain strong: Sean Black interview

The company’s “core four” growth brands are Yolks, Rosie’s, Heal and iQ Food. New restaurant openings planned for this year will largely come from those concepts.

Small businesses call for stronger domestic energy supply amid global uncertainty: CFIB

An overwhelming majority (90%) of small businesses say governments should prioritize increasing Canada's energy production and capacity to better support the economy and ensure businesses have reliable access to the energy they need to operate.

The New Luxury Client in a Relationship Era

How The New Luxury Client is reshaping Canadian luxury retail through ritual, clienteling and emotional connection.

Bespoke Made Suits Opens Downtown Vancouver Showroom

Vancouver-based Bespoke Made Suits expands with an appointment-based tailoring showroom near the city’s Financial District.

Daily Synopsis: Mar 12, 2026

Cuba's fuel shortage impacts Canadian cigar stores, Manitoba asks Sobeys to scrap property restrictions, Ontario to allow shopping on 2 public holidays, alcohol in corner stores impact worker safety, redevelopment of former Sherwood Park Safeway, and other news.

73% of Canadians Now Shop Chinese Marketplaces

Survey finds 73% of Canadians shop Chinese marketplaces like Temu and Shein as monthly and weekly usage continues to grow.

Canadian hotel industry sees steady growth as leisure travel drives performance: Cushman & Wakefield

2025 ranked among the stronger years for hotel transactions over the past two decades, highlighted by several notable full-service and luxury hotel trades.

Article Expands Brick-and-Mortar Retail with Toronto Showroom

Vancouver-based furniture brand Article expands brick-and-mortar retail with a 9,600-square-foot Toronto showroom in King West, marking its second physical store.

Empire Company Limited reports Q3 financial results

Sales of $7,890 million, an increase of 2.1%.

Chatime focuses on strengthening brand leadership in Canada as expansion continues cautiously: Trinh Tham interview

Chatime currently operates about 100 locations across Canada, primarily in Ontario and British Columbia, and opened six new stores last year while preparing additional locations that are expected to come online this year.

VIDEO: 87% of Canadians feel financially trapped by rising living costs: Harris & Partners

85% report their overall monthly expenses have increased in the past 12 months

Butterly Trust Index Maps AI-Era Product Reviews

Butterly’s 2026 Trust Index shows how honest, balanced reviews influence AI-led discovery, and what Canadian brands and retailers can do next.

Abercrombie & Fitch Expands Canadian Store Network

Abercrombie & Fitch expands in Canada with new stores planned in Winnipeg, Ottawa, Calgary and London ON, and a reopened location at West Edmonton Mall.

Daily Synopsis: Mar 11, 2026

What might be next for Roots, Pokemon cards hot for theft, downtown Sudbury mall wins legal battle over 2004 Zellers exit, and other news.

Women Entrepreneurs Reshape Canada’s Franchise Industry

Women entrepreneurs are gaining momentum in Canada’s franchise sector, with leaders expanding into construction, automotive, and skilled trades.

Future of Calgary’s Hudson’s Bay Building Discussed

Experts will discuss the history, current status, and potential future of Calgary’s historic Hudson’s Bay building at a public event on March 26.

MUJI opening its newest Canadian store in British Columbia

MUJI has steadily grown as the go-to brand for millions of loyal customers in 30+ countries and 7,000+ products.

Dr. Phone Fix reports over 50% same-store growth and productivity improvements following Geebo acquisition

Dr. Phone Fix said it has begun transitioning the Geebo locations from repair-focused service centres into a broader retail platform.