When you see an amazing idea, it totally sticks with you. That's how I felt when I first discovered the spinning shoes from TIEM Athletic. They look like sneakers, can be worn to and from the studio but are built as an innovative click in cycling shoe (with these SPD cleats) with a rigid sole plate perfect for cycling. Pretty amazing right? It's footwear for the modern athlete and the company is based right here in Massachusetts! I had the opportunity to chat with TIEM founder Tracey Mcleod about her line and the exciting things that they're working on for the future!
As an avid indoor and outdoor cyclist, over the years I have noticed a glaring gap in women’s-focused product in the cycling shoe market. The indoor cycling movement has continued to grow, and the boutique athletic-wear market has evolved so much in recent years. So the need for a new kind of cycling shoe which was both functional and fashionable was greater than ever. With TIEM we’re trying to fill that gap for the consumer who demands both.
When creating your products, where do you take inspiration from?
We’ve always referred to our target customer as the Modern Athlete, and that’s really our biggest source of inspiration-- seeing what she wears to these classes and creating footwear that compliments that style aesthetically, while not sacrificing any performance. There has been such a boom in the athleisure and athletic space in terms of footwear and apparel. Everything is pushing towards versatility. I wanted to bring some of the innovative materials and concepts we see in the running category into the cycling world.
I love the way that you have shaped your business. Plus it's no secret that I love shoes and fitness and I would assume you do too. What's it like to have shoes be your bread and butter? (as you can see, I'm very, very jealous!)
Prior to launching TIEM, I had worked 20+ years in the children’s footwear business. I was fortunate enough to work with brands like Reebok, Ralph Lauren, Roxy/Quiksilver, and Sam Edelman. Touching on brands that were in both the fashion world and the athletic world was always so much fun for me. Today with TIEM, I get to bring all the footwear knowledge (athletic and fashion) to my other passion, fitness! I feel pretty lucky!
What do you love to do in New England, when you aren't busy running your business?
If I am not spending time with my family, I generally can be found riding my bike on a path at the Cape or in Boston. A 7th year Pan Mass Challenge rider means logging lots of miles on my bike. :)
You have certainly found some fantastic early success! Where do you see TIEM Athletic headed in the future?
Of course we started out in the cycling market and have had tons of success here, so we’d like to continue to push that even further. We have some exciting plans for new, even more innovative designs for cyclists. Once established in the boutique cycling world, we plan to expand into all aspects of boutique fitness (e.g., barre and cardio). This idea of boutique fitness goes beyond the indoor cycle experience, so we want to provide footwear that meets the needs of the modern athlete as she shifts from class to class.
The folks at TIEM have some treats in store for us this holiday season headed into New Year so keep your eyes peeled for new products coming down the line (yay exciting!) plus I'm absolutely loving their Slipstream in Light Peony which sales of will be benefiting breast cancer research in the month of October. You know that I love a good cause and the color is so spot on. I'm excited to see what's in store next for TIEM and would love to hear your thoughts on this innovative shoe. Do you own a pair or have you been toying with purchasing a cycling shoe?
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