Kate Sisk, FOX '12, started Hidden Intimates in 2019, combining her passion for fashion with a commitment to self-love.
When Kate Sisk, FOX '12, launched Hidden Intimates in 2019, it felt like the perfect opportunity to put her business education to work in an industry she was passionate about: fashion. But what emerged was more than a clothing line—it was an opportunity to inspire, empower and applaud women of all shapes and sizes through a brand committed to inclusive sizing and diverse model representation.
Like a growing number of Temple alumni, Sisk has taken the reins of her own operation, transforming what was once just an idea and turning it into a thriving retail operation. We had the chance to sit down with her to learn more about the origins of Hidden Intimates, what it means to be a Temple business owner and her advice for the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs.
What did life look like after graduation?
KS: When I graduated in 2012, I had been interning at Anthropologie for about a year and was able to start a job after graduation. I was there for three years, and in 2014, I switched to the hospitality industry working at AMResorts. During that time I worked in marketing, new hotel development, and eventually, brand management, which is really where I got the idea to start my own brand.
How did you make the jump to start your own business? What inspired you to explore entrepreneurship?
KS: I didn't always know that I wanted to start my own business, but I was always interested in the fashion industry and knew that I wanted to work with fashion in some capacity. My last job gave me a lot of great experience developing brands, so I decided to do some market research and it was then I discovered that the intimate apparel industry had a lot of opportunities. This industry was very disrupted and there was a lot of growth potential. At the same time, the body positivity movement had signaled a big push toward authenticity and empowerment, and on a personal level, those messages really appealed to me.
Can you tell me a little bit more about your Temple story? Why Temple?
KS: I always knew I wanted to go to Temple; it was a larger school, it was diverse, and I knew I wanted to get into a creative business field, and I loved the electives that they had. I actually started at another university, but after a year I realized that Temple was still where I wanted to be. Because of my interest in marketing and the fashion industry, I knew that Philadelphia had so much to offer and that there would be a lot of companies with opportunities in the area.
Since that initial "lightbulb moment" what has changed? How has Hidden Intimates developed?
KS: I started brand development in 2018 and launched in 2019, and to be honest, a lot has changed since then. I've learned a lot about what my customers are looking for, and I've been able to refine my product assortment to be more aligned with what they want. For example, right now everyone seems to be very interested in lingerie, so that's an area I'm directing a lot of my focus now.
Over the years I've built a customer base and acquired new customers, and that's something I'm really proud of. Right now, Hidden Intimates has a 25% return in customer rate—it means a lot that people keep coming back and that they enjoy the product and seem to have formed a relationship with our brand and what we stand for.
"'just start it.' You're going to make mistakes, you're going to learn every single day, but you just have to start. I knew I wanted to do something on my own and I felt I had more to offer than working for someone else. I wanted to try it, so I knew I just had to take the first step."
It sounds like owning your own business was never necessarily the dream you were chasing, and yet, here you are. What has this experience taught you?
KS: There's something special about having the independence and the freedom to be creative, to have a vision and be able to put it out into the world and have people respond to it. I know it's just clothing, but it's a brand that a lot of women have responded positively to. I'm showing diverse models and the feedback I'm getting from that makes me happy. It's inspiring to hear that what I'm doing is making other people comfortable in their bodies. I feel like I'm doing what I want to do and it feels very purposeful because, on top of that, I feel like I'm helping other people love themselves.
That's incredibly powerful. I'm sure owning your own business also comes with its own challenges, right?
KS: Absolutely, there's always challenges, but it comes in waves. As a business owner, everything is my responsibility, so it can get stressful when things don't turn out as expected, which is bound to happen. I've come to realize though, solving problems gives me confidence. There's a solution for everything, and when something unexpected comes up, I just need to remind myself of that because I've already proven my ability to work through these things.
Looking back, what was the best advice you got as you embarked on this journey starting your own business?
KS: There's one thing that I've heard other business owners say that I can relate to and it's "just start it." You're going to make mistakes, you're going to learn every single day, but you just have to start. I knew I wanted to do something on my own and I felt I had more to offer than working for someone else. I wanted to try it, so I knew I just had to take the first step.
What advice would you give to a fellow Owl—or anyone really—thinking of starting their own business?
KS: I was really fortunate because I feel like I had a great foundation to get started. At Temple, I had great professors and the opportunity to practice writing a full business plan and explore topics like marketing and consumer behavior.
Starting a business isn't for everyone, but I would say if it's the route you decide to go, you should be prepared and do your research, but also understand that there's going to be a lot of change. I think if you're open to learning, open to change, and can stay positive and work through those challenges, that's the best mindset to have.
Support the cherry and white. To learn more about Temple alumni-owned businesses like Hidden Intimates, visit the Temple University Alumni Business Directory.