Mayo shapewear company has proven to be a cut above the rest
By Tom Gillepsie
AFTER being named the overall winner of the Network Ireland Award 2010 and exposure on TV3's Xposé, Rita Mylett’s shapewear business, Atir Shaperz, in Castlebar, took off.
The company, located at Aughaluskey, design and manufacture shapewear from lightweight, breathable, high end fabrics.
Having taken a break following a career in various sectors in the industrial environment, Rita then started up her own personal branding business.
She said: “Then I started doing my own thing, which was personal branding, which was all about preparing for interviews or business meetings.
“I was doing one in Coca Cola in Ballina and told those present when they looked in the mirror they should feel good about themselves though you might not announce it to the world.
“That gives you a confidence whereas you have the wardrobe on the bed and you cannot see the bed and nothing to wear and you don’t feel like going out.
“Control underwear, I said, was really good to smooth out and create nice, clean lines and somebody there said to me that they wore that control underwear and they ended up with two spare tyres instead of one. That started me thinking.
“One night I was lying in bed and I just thought if I did this it might work. At the time there was no such thing as straps or shoulders in shapewear and from that it started.
“My nephew was working with the Enterprise Board in Boston. I was talking to him about it and through him I sourced a place in Brazil that were millers and I worked with them for a long time to get when we wanted. We wanted a material that stayed in place and that was breathable. Two years later it was born.”
Rita continued: “Atir Shaperz is now 16 years in business. It began as a tiny business of two people with shapewear products - the Shaping Slip and the Just 4 Jeans shaping top.”
In the first two years they won best new business at the Network Mayo Awards and went on to be the overall winner of the Network Ireland Award.
This opened the door for Rita to grow the business. Over the next 14 years, Atir Shaperz expanded to a team of 10 people and over 40 shaping products, which are designed and manufactured in Mayo.
Rita explained: “We only use high end fabrics which are milled in France and Brazil and with our team of experienced professional cutters, designers and seamstresses we then create the products from these fabrics.
“Our products are made from lightweight, breathable fabrics that streamline the contour of the body and stay in place.
“We are devoted to designing shapewear that sculpts and smooths your natural curves so you always look and feel your best. Made from premium fabrics and craftsmanship, we guarantee shapewear that makes you feel confident all day.
“I started with two machines in my sister’s house where there were two spare rooms. Five years ago we expanded it into our garage and it just grew from that.
“Now we have our online shop and we trade into boutiques and in more recent time we have set up wedding bespoke pieces for the bride and groom, bridesmaids, mothers of the bride and groom who want particular pieces to suit either an unusual dress or just to fit them, depending if someone is small, very tall or short. We design the piece here for them and that is becoming very successful.”
Two years ago Rita’s daughter, Nicholina Mylett, came back from Australia to join her mother in the business.
She said: “It was a good time for me to step into the business and see if it was for me and two years on I am very happy.
“We have quite a range of shapewear, depending what the occasion is, what the outfit is - if there are cutouts in the dress or low backs, we have the shapewear covered. We have a wide range of leggings now, around 10 styles, and overall 40 products.”
Rita continued: “Back in my parents time it was a pure corset and even in the last 15 years shapewear has evolved very much.
“Now, regardless of your body shape, because there is no perfect body shape, it does not matter what size you are - whether it is size six or 26. It is all about clean lines, streamlining and it is never about bringing you from a size 26 to a size 22. It is when you look in the mirror you can see that you are smoother and that your lines are clear and that you feel good.
“During Covid, with isolation restrictions in place, ATIR Shaperz online shop became very busy with sales of our shaping leggings and shorts. All team members were isolating at home. My husband Padraig stepped in to help me prepare and sort orders. This definitely made a very busy time more manageable.”
In the future Rita hopes the company will continue to grow and they have now moved into shaping outerwear - tank tops, body tops and they are going into the gym/sporting leggings market.
Rita concluded: “We’ll never forget our first sale and the excitement it brought, to now having many fantastic stockists and our own online shop.
“We’ve worked hard to continue to develop and produce more products from our workshop based on our customers’ feedback.”
Atir Shaperz is located at Aughalusky, Moneen, Castlebar (F23 CF58) and can be contacted on (087) 11440457 or info@atir.ie.