Hyla Nayeri and Adrien Bettio, co-founders of 437 stay humble through their immense successes. Founded in 2017, they launched their company as a swimwear brand until the duo noticed a gap in the market for fitness attire that appeased to their needs. After three years, they made a strategic move that honored their interests and lifestyles by pivoting to activewear. Today, they’re a multimillion dollar success story and have a celebrity fan-base that includes the likes of Kendall Jenner, Jennifer Lopez, Emily Ratajkowski, and Alix Earle.
Nayeri and Bettio share their wealth of insights below and how they’ve navigating their business: maintaining momentum and growth, what it’s like to run a clothing/accessories line, and tips to continue to appease to their core Gen Z audience.
Navigating brand evolution while maintaining authenticity
1 Speak your truth and tell your own story…not someone else’s.
“Don’t just chase trends. For us, 437 was born out of a need we personally felt. We weren’t trying to follow a trend, we were trying to create something that felt like it was missing. Our origin story helped us stay grounded as we’ve grown and expanded.”
2 Protect your brand identity.
“In the early days, it’s tempting to chase every opportunity, but knowing who you are, and who you’re not, is key. Whether it’s the way we speak to our community or the silhouettes we design — consistency builds trust.”
3 Team culture is your company’s bedrock.
“Build a strong team culture, it’s your foundation. Building a supportive internal culture is just as important as what you’re putting out into the world. It’s okay to be lean and intentional.”
4 Build a relationship with your customer.
“People don’t want to be marketed to, they want to be part of the process. Our customers have helped shape every collection, every drop, every pivot.”
Standing-out from the digital ‘white noise’ landscape
“The (fashion/fitness) space is saturated, so you have to know what sets you apart. Know your brand, know your story, and trust your customer. We don’t try to be everything to everyone. We’re very intentional with our designs that flatter, a product that fits right, and a tone that feels like your best friend. It’s about building a real relationship with your audience, not just marketing at them.”
Five valuable insights and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in this competitive industry
1 Stay Humble.
“Even when things are going well, it’s so important to be keep this mindset.”
2 Don’t scale (for the sake of) scaling.
“ Growth is only good if it’s meaningful and sustainable. We learned to be thoughtful about when and how we expanded.”
3 Cultivate and nourish your core community.
“Invest in your community and those who support you. Some of our strongest brand moments come from being in-person with our customers, whether at pop-ups or pilates events.”
4 The unglamorous behind-the-scenes ‘grunt-work’ is equally as important as front-facing endeavors.
“Don’t ignore the backend. As much as design and branding matter, operational excellence is what allows you to scale. (This includes, but isn’t limited to) logistics, customer experience, inventory planning — it all has to align.”
5 Fluidity is the key to not only surviving but thriving.
“Learn to pivot. We launched our first swim collection from our university dorms, now we’re scaling our activewear brand. We wouldn’t be where we are if we weren’t willing to evolve and adapt.”