“The Next Chapter for Women’s Sport”

Flyhawk’s founder speaks about “The Next Chapter for Women’s Sport”.

Five years after launching Flyhawk, the UK’s fastest-growing women’s teamwear brand, founder Stephanie Essex is entering one of the most exciting chapters yet. What began as a mission to elevate netball has evolved into a bold, future-facing movement: to transform women’s team sport across the board and lead the way in creating truly inclusive Women and Girls Teamwear, for every player.

We sat down with Stephanie to talk about Flyhawk’s expansion, the future of female sportswear, and why now is the moment to redefine what girls and women wear when they play.

“We’re expanding because female athletes deserve better across every sport.”
Flyhawk has become synonymous with netball. What sparked your decision to expand into other women’s sports?

“Our roots will always be in netball, but five years in, it became clear that the problems we set out to solve weren’t unique to one sport. Across football, hockey, cricket, tennis – you name it – female athletes are still being given unisex kit or resized men’s garments. Schools are still struggling to find good-quality Girls Sports Kit and parents are still searching for Inclusive Sportswear that actually fits their daughters properly.

So expanding Flyhawk wasn’t a shift away from netball – it was a natural progression. We’ve proven what happens when you design specifically for women and girls. Now we’re ready to bring that same purpose, quality and representation across a much wider range of sports.”

“The goal isn’t to be a multisport brand – it’s to be the brand for women’s teamwear.”
What does this expansion actually look like for schools and clubs?

“We’re introducing full ranges of Girls Football Kit, Hockey Kit, Cricket Kit, Lacrosse Kit and more. For schools, we’re expanding our solutions for areas where parents and PE departments have been telling us for years that choice is limited and quality varies massively.

Everything still starts from the same principle: high-performance, technical, long-lasting kit designed for girls’ bodies. Whether it’s a hockey skort, a football short, or a cricket shirt, the process remains the same – consultation with elite athletes, purposeful design, and a focus on ensuring girls feel comfortable and confident.”

“Girls deserve teamwear that fits their bodies, their confidence levels, and their ambitions.”

You’ve spoken before about how important inclusivity is in your design process. How does that shape Flyhawk’s future?

“Inclusivity is the core of our product development. Girls grow at different rates, come from diverse cultural backgrounds, and have different confidence levels. For some, a longer short or a more modest fit makes a world of difference in helping them feel ready to play.

As we expand, this becomes even more crucial. We’re building the leading range of School Sports Kit for Girls in the UK with multiple length options, smart fabric technologies, and designs that reflect the real needs of female athletes.

Confidence drives participation, and participation drives opportunity. That’s the future we’re designing for.”

“Our next five years are about national ambition and deeper impact.”
What are your long-term goals for Flyhawk as it enters this new chapter?

“We want to become the number one women’s teamwear brand in the UK. Not just in netball, but across women’s sport. I want Flyhawk to be part of the defining moments you see on TV or read about years later – historic games, world finals, school tournaments that change a girl’s belief in herself.

We’ll keep supporting elite teams, but we’re equally focused on the grassroots athlete: the girl looking for Sports Kit designed with her in mind, the student pulling on her first PE Kit, the teenager choosing teamwear that finally looks and feels made for her.

That’s where change really happens.”

“I want Flyhawk to be remembered for challenging the status quo.”
Five years into leading Flyhawk, what continues to drive you?

“Purpose. Every time a parent messages us to say their daughter felt confident for the first time in PE – that’s everything. Every time a school switches to Flyhawk because they want better representation for their girls – that’s meaningful.

Female athletes deserve a brand that backs them unapologetically. Not as an afterthought. Not as a ‘women’s version’ of a men’s product.

We’re building a future where girls can choose sportswear designed for them from day one – whether it’s Girls Netball Kit, Girls Football Kit, Girls Hockey Kit, or anything their ambitions lead them to.”

“This is only the beginning.”
As Flyhawk steps confidently into its next phase, the brand remains rooted in its original purpose: designing exceptional, inclusive sportswear for women and girls – now across more sports than ever.

Where the brand is going is bigger, bolder, and more impactful than anything that has come before. And with Steph at the helm, Flyhawk is ready to redefine what women’s team sport looks like for the next generation.