NASHVILLE, Tenn. — What started as a side hobby on a kitchen counter has quickly become one of the most recognizable names in boutique fitness retail. Gabriella Bricker, founder of Gabby & Threads, didn’t set out to create fun, on-trend grip socks that can be worn to barre, Pilates, Lagree. However, just a year and a half later, her embroidered grip socks, sweatshirts, and tote bags are stocked in over 300 studios, shipped to more than a dozen countries, and worn by fitness lovers from Nashville to Dubai.
But before the multi-needle embroidery machines, wholesale accounts, and brand activations, there was a fifth-grade classroom.
Bricker, originally from California, spent the majority of her upbringing on the West Coast.
She studied Political Science and Communications at the University of Arizona, and was set on becoming a lawyer after graduation.
But as she prepared for the LSAT, a different opportunity caught her attention: Teach For America.
“There’s a teacher shortage, so the program recruits recent college graduate students to teach in classrooms across the United States,” Bricker said. “I had literally no education background whatsoever, very little training, and they were like, ‘You’re going to be a 5th grade teacher in Nashville.’” she laughed.
She taught fifth-grade English Language Arts, and specialized in students where English was not his or her first language. “The first two years in the program were really challenging, and honestly, I didn’t feel set up for success. By my third year, though, I started to find my rhythm and truly fell in love with teaching. It was so rewarding to watch my students reach their goals.”
Bricker ultimately spent five years in the classroom before transitioning into a middle management role within education. That shift, however, clarified something important.
“I realized I loved working with kids more than I loved managing adults in that space.”
While planning to transition into tutoring full-time, Bricker picked up two things for her mental health.
“I started doing Pilates for my mental health, and started hand embroidering so that I could have something to do with my husband while he watched sports.
After experimenting with traditional embroidery stitching, she had an idea.
“I was like, ‘What if I embroider on a sock?’”
In 2024, she made a few pairs as gifts and asked for a basic embroidery machine for Christmas.
Then came the moment that changed everything
“One day I had a really tough day at work, and it felt like the breaking point. I told myself, ‘You know what? I’m going to launch my Etsy page and just see what happens.’
I put it up with product photos taken right on my kitchen counter — they definitely weren’t high-quality,” Bricker said with a laugh. And just like that, Gabby & Threads was born.
Her first designs featured Diet Coke, Aperol spritz references, and western-inspired staples like cowboy boots and hats. All things Bricker loves herself, and to her surpise, they started selling fast.
“I was like, ‘This is so crazy!”
She became excited at how many people from all over the world had so much faith in her product.
“I would never buy from anyone with zero reviews or low quality photos, but people kept purchasing—and it just continued to grow from there.” Bricker said. “I would work my 9-5 job all day, tutor after work, and make socks for my Etsy orders until midnight on my single needle machine.”
In March of 2025, she received a message from a local studio asking if she offered wholesale.
“I literally texted my husband and I was like, what does this mean?”
She got on the phone and heard a number that would test her limits and change the course of her business.
“They were like ‘We’d love to order 800 pairs,'” she said. “I just kind of blacked out, and just said ”Yes”
At the time, she only had a single-needle machine that required constant thread changes and supervision. One pair could take up to 20-30 minutes. She didn’t have the capacity or the equipment to fulfill that kind of order.
But she had faith in herself and would do whatever it would take to accomplish this ask. “I just said yes and decided I would figure it out later,” Bricker said.
She quit her job. Purchased a multi-needle embroidery machine. And fulfilled the order.
Midway through completing that massive order, her brand-new machine broke. “I still had so many pairs for them to make,” she said.
She drove to Kentucky to purchase a second machine she found on Facebook Marketplace. She wasn’t entirely sure she could afford it, but she knew she needed a backup.
“I didn’t really know if I could swing it at the time, but I figured if orders kept increasing, I’d need two machines — at least one as a backup,” she said.
Today, Bricker runs her business with four commercial embroidery machines.
One of the most surprising elements of Gabby & Threads’ growth? It happened without paid Marketing.
“One thing that surprises a lot of people is I didn’t do any ads” she said.
She relied on Etsy search visibility, word-of-mouth, and showing up, literally, at pop-ups across Nashville and the Middle Tennessee area.
In 2025, she spent every weekend between May and October at pop-up events. She brought her embroidery machine and stitched live on-site. “I honestly just kind of said yes to anything that came my way,” she said.
That “yes” mentality paid off and today, her products can be found in over 300 studios nationwide.
She also sells through TikTok Shop, Faire, Etsy, and Shopify, shipping to approximately 15 countries including Australia, Dubai, and across Europe.
In November, an influencer posted Bricker’s personalized initial socks on a holiday gift guide, unprompted.
“I can honestly attribute almost a 1000 orders between November and December to that single post.”
That Sunday, Bricker sat on her couch watching the orders pour in, stunned by how many people were choosing to support her business and purchase her apparel for the holidays. The experience reaffirmed her belief that quality truly speaks for itself.
“I once saw a quote that said a really great product will sell itself,” she said — and in that moment, she realized it was true.
As her reputation grew, so did the opportunities. She has stitched live at events for brands including Vuori, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Porsche.
At a Vuori event tied to Kane Brown’s record label, she embroidered items that made their way back to the country star himself. “He has a hat and a bag embroidered by me, which was really exciting. He wasn’t at the event but I’ve been told that he wears his hat all the time,” Bricker exclaimed.
Beyond sales numbers, Bricker speaks most passionately about the community she’s built, including customers she’s never met in person.
From affiliate partnerships to friendships formed through fitness, her brand has become woven into the broader Pilates and boutique fitness culture. And perhaps that makes sense, because at its core,
Gabby & Threads wasn’t born from a business plan. It was born from creativity, resilience, and one brave yes.
You can also get in on the fun and create your own design alongside Bricker. She accepts customizable and personalized designs for you, your loved ones and special occasions.
Looking ahead, Bricker sees embroidery only getting more popular from here. “I feel like embroidery is something people are always going to need.” Bricker said. “Whether it’s grip socks, a baby blanket or a sweatshirt.”
She’s expanded into sweatshirts, hats, tote bags, shirts and has even considered a retail storefront experience in Nashville. For now, the focus remains on steady growth.
“As of right now, the plan is just to keep growing, keep getting more machines and getting more help.”
Just over a year removed from that bad day at work, Bricker reflects on how far she’s come and the support system that helped her get there. She says her husband, Garrett has been her number one supporter from that very first day in the kitchen when she launched her Etsy shop.
“Having him in my corner has made a huge difference. He has experience in business management, which has been a huge asset to me because it helped me grow Gabby & Threads quickly.”
From a fifth-grade classroom to international business, Gabby Bricker’s story is proof that sometimes simply saying yes is the greatest first step. Visit her website and follow her on Instagram to keep up with her latest designs.
Fill out the form and get the latest issue delivered right to your inbox
