fit to a t

Innovative Houston athleisure brand debuts cool collab with Talbots for a totally fab fit

After a year of planning and behind-the-scenes work, the highly anticipated collaboration between local apparel brand Accel Lifestyle and Talbots has finally come to fruition.

Shoppers can now find Accel Lifestyle apparel — beloved for its eco-friendly, sustainable, antibacterial fabrics sourced made in the USA — on Talbot's website.

This partnership marks the first-ever collaboration for the athleisure brand of Talbots, T by Talbots. By teaming up with Accel Lifestyle, Talbots expands its product offerings and also provides its loyal, forward-thinking, and ethically minded customers with a new clothing option that perfectly fits with their values.

At the helm of Accel Lifestyle is founder Megan Eddings, whose background in chemistry ignited the creation of the brand's groundbreaking Prema fabric after one too many run-ins with foul-smelling gym clothes. Her proprietary fabric boasts a revolutionary antibacterial technology, rendering Accel Lifestyle's apparel supremely comfortable, high-quality, and remarkably odor-resistant. With this cutting-edge fabric, Accel Lifestyle firmly establishes itself as a trailblazer in the industry, setting new standards for functionality and style.

As CultureMap reported in 2019, Eddings's innovative work was rewarded with a partnership with Inc. Magazine, Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta, and others.

"We are beyond elated about the Accel x Talbots launch," Eddings tells CultureMap. "Amanda Cotler, Accel's Director of Operations, and I have been working on this opportunity for a year, and it feels incredible for the collaboration to be live. Our passions are textiles with technology and an ethical made-in-the-USA supply chain. To have a multi-billion dollar company like Talbots care about the same things brings us so much joy."

In addition to their remarkable achievements in fashion, Accel Lifestyle champions the power of women in STEM through their team's leadership and this collaboration. By showcasing the applications of science and technology within the realm of fashion, Accel Lifestyle and Talbots are spotlighting the remarkable potential within these fields.

With the Accel Lifestyle x Talbots collaboration in full swing, customers can expect an extraordinary fusion of sustainable fashion and impeccable style. The Accel Lifestyle collaboration features an Anti-Odor Power Tank and an Anti-Odor Timeless Tee. Both are available in colors black and white.

Photo courtesy of Megan Eddings

Accel Lifestyle founder Megan Eddings can now flex a national partnership.

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POSH PICKS

Irish retailer Primark brings discount clothing to first Houston store

Photo courtesy of Primark

U.K. retailer Primark, brings its low priced, trend heavy fashion to the Houston market for the first time.

European import Primark is finally landing in the Houston area. Shoppers will be able to score budget-friendly finds at Katy Mills Mall when the fast-fashion giant, known for leaning into trend-forward clothing, opens its doors on Thursday, November 20.

The brand started in Dublin in 1969 under the name Penney's before switching to Primark to avoid competition with U.S. heavyweight J.C. Penny's as it expanded outside Ireland. Today, it operates in 11 countries with 470 stores worldwide, including over 175 in the United Kingdom. Its largest outpost in Birmingham is a massive 161,000 square feet covering five floors.

While the store can't compete with the U.K. version's size, coming in at 30,000 square feet, the prices more than make up for it. Shoppers can expect women's denim starting at $12, men's t-shirts at $5, and kids' sweatshirts at $8. For about the price of a family meal at the food court, shoppers can pull together looks for the whole crew. In terms of quality, price, and style, its biggest competitors are H&M and Zara.

primark Shoppers will line up at Katy Mills Mall as Primark opens its first Houston area store on November 20.Photo courtesy of Primark/Instagram

The Katy opening is Primark's third Texas location, following McAllen and El Paso, and is part of the company's expansion across the United States. New stores are rolling out in Illinois and in Grapevine next month. In a statement, Primark U.S. President Kevin Tulip said, "These vibrant retail destinations in Texas reflect the incredible demand we're seeing across the country for affordability without sacrifice. As we continue to grow, we remain laser-focused on delivering unbeatable value and fashion that fits every family's lifestyle."

To celebrate the grand opening, Primark will offer a weekend of fun, family-friendly activities, including live music, giveaways, and delicious treats for early-bird arrivals. Shoppers will find a full mix of women's and men's fashion, kids' clothing, accessories, homeware, and beauty once the doors open at Katy Mills on November 20.

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