ATTORNEY AND FORMER LAW SCHOOL ASSISTANT DEAN LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE ATHLETIC, ATHLEISURE, AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL APPAREL LINE OBSERVAMÉ
After a year of research and development, ObservaMé launched a line of sports, athleisure and healthcare professional apparel that sets the company apart from other brands in the industry. Karen D. Fultz-Robinson, a former attorney now fashion designer, has chosen the United States, specifically Tampa, to be the headquarters for all activities involving the design, manufacturing and distribution of the ObservaMé clothing lines for men and women.
The ObservaMé brand was developed to meet the demands of those living active lifestyles while addressing the need for easy access to personal fitness trackers and watches while training. All active wear shirts include a provisionally patented, one-of-a-kind, design that allows for easy viewing and access to fitness devices directly through the sleeve. Recently, Fultz-Robinson also learned that there was a need for the patent design to allow access to watches in the medical field, which led to the development of the ObservaMé compression sleeves.
As a marathon runner, Fultz-Robinson knows that training happens under many weather conditions and access to fitness tracking devices should not be a distraction. The ObservaMé design concept was born during a 15-mile run. Fultz-Robinson developed sketches and assembled a team to help her put together the mock-ups and final patterns.
“As an athlete, regardless of weather, I wanted to track my progress – pace, heart rate, and distance, and sometimes you just want to know what time it is,” said Fultz-Robinson. “Why should something seemingly so simple be difficult to access? Athletes or anyone living an active lifestyle shouldn’t have to struggle to view their devices.”
Today, the product line has grown to include the signature shirts along with vests and performance pants and a variety of accessories. ObservaMé’s brand name was also chosen by Fultz-Robinson to explain the company’s purpose for its customers. ObservaMé means “watch me” in Spanish.
“We help the consumer watch their performance and provide a stylish look that draws others to watch them as they compete or overcome performance barriers,” said Fultz-Robinson. “It references the clocks (watches) on our wrists but also encourages accountability, which helps us strive to maintain our fitness goals.”
While all long-sleeved ObservaMé apparel has been designed to stop the need for tugging or placing straps over the sleeve, each article of ObservaMé active wear is hand-made with high-quality dry wick material and some provide UV protection for active lifestyles (i.e., running, cycling, hiking, boating, golfing, hunting, and etc.). The streamlined designs contour to all body types for easy flexibility during any activity and all-day comfort, and the fabric is soft to the touch which prevents chaffing. The compression sleeves, which also provides easy access to watches and fitness trackers, can be used by athletes for sun protection or quickly convertible warmth, but have also been tested for use by those in the medical profession to prevent skin contact with inadvertent splashes from contaminants while allowing for monitoring vitals and staying warm.
The ObservaMé apparel line for men includes half-zip and crewneck shirts, hoodies, vests, full-zip jackets with hoods and performance pants. Women’s athletic/athleisure wear includes half-zip and V-neck shirts, full-zip jackets with hoods (with a high/low option), vests, hoodies, and long and capris style performance pants. All apparel is available for purchase at www.observame.net, and during various athletic events nationally. ObservaMé has previously appeared at the Boston and Detroit Marathons.
All products are manufactured at ObservaMé’s headquarters in Tampa, located at 14260 Carlson Circle, under Fultz-Robinson’s supervision to ensure the quality of each product meets the high standard set by the company.
Before founding ObservaMé, Fultz-Robinson practiced state and federal commercial and business litigation with the Tampa office of Sheehe & Associates, P.A., and was an assistant dean and professor at Cooley Law School’s Tampa Bay campus. Before moving to Florida, she was a partner and practiced commercial, business, subrogation and recovery litigation, as well as family law at the law firm of Cozen O’Connor in Atlanta, Georgia, and was an assistant vice president at Bank of America in the Estate Settlement Division. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Fultz-Robinson earned her bachelor’s degree in International Relations at Michigan State University and juris doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s Lansing, Michigan campus.
