 As FlipFlop Leos heads into a new year, I’m excited to introduce something many customers have asked about for a long time: Fabrics by FlipFlop Leos.
FlipFlop Leos has always been about original prints, comfort, and affordability. Over the years, I’ve heard from sewers who loved the prints and wished they could work with them in their own creations. This new fabric category is my answer to that request. Fabrics by FlipFlop Leos features a small, curated selection of my original prints, sold by the full yard. Quantities are limited, and I’ll be adding new options slowly and intentionally.This isn’t a shift away from leotards — it’s simply another way to enjoy the designs that define FlipFlop Leos. Thank you for being part of this journey and for continuing to support a one-woman business built on creativity and community.
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The Story Behind FlipFlop Leos: From Passion to Performance When you slip into a FlipFlop Leo, you’re not just wearing a leotard—you’re wearing years of dedication, creativity, and a love for gymnastics that’s stitched into every seam. The journey of FlipFlop Leos began with a simple mission: to make high-quality, comfortable, and stylish gymnastics apparel accessible to every gymnast, without the steep price tag. Humble Beginnings The origins of FlipFlop Leos go back to a small sewing room, where custom gymnastics leotards were first created for friends, teammates, and local clubs. The founder—working as a one-woman business—noticed a big gap in the market: gymnasts were often forced to choose between comfort and affordability, and too often, style took the backseat. With a background in sewing, design, and a keen understanding of what gymnasts really need, FlipFlop Leos was born. The FlipFlop Philosophy From the start, the brand was built on three core principles:
One of the most popular innovations in FlipFlop Leos history has been the “Blind Bundle” — a surprise pack of unique leotards offered at an unbeatable price. It started as a way to clear seasonal stock but quickly became a fan favorite, with customers eagerly anticipating the surprise styles in each package. Community and Connection Being a one-person business means every aspect of FlipFlop Leos—from design to sewing to customer service—is handled with a personal touch. Over the years, close connections have been built with customers, often through social media and gymnastics events. Feedback from gymnasts and parents has directly shaped new designs, improved fits, and even inspired special edition collections. Today and Beyond From a small sewing project to a recognized name in gymnastics apparel, FlipFlop Leos continues to grow while staying true to its roots. Every piece is still made with care, attention to detail, and the belief that every gymnast deserves to look and feel their best—whether in practice or on the competition floor. And while the operation may be run by one person, it’s powered by a community of gymnasts and families who share the same passion for the sport. At FlipFlop Leos, I provide gymnastics leotards that celebrate strength, grace, and the power of young athletes. But you may have noticed something different about us—I don’t use live models to display our leotards online. That choice is intentional, and I want to share why. I believe that every gymnast deserves to feel confident and celebrated for her athletic achievements—not objectified or exposed to unwanted attention. Sadly, in today’s digital world, even innocent photos of children in athletic wear can attract the wrong kind of attention. As a brand founded on protecting and empowering young athletes, I simply won’t take that risk. Using mannequins or stylized displays allows me to showcase the leotards clearly and professionally, without compromising a child’s privacy or safety. It’s a small decision with a big purpose: putting our athletes first. I actually think that real models help sell more products. I'm sure ambassadors or influencers would give FlipFlop Leos a real boost, but to me, no marketing gain is worth putting kids in the spotlight in a way that could make them vulnerable. Our designs are made to speak for themselves—with style, functionality, and performance in mind. I stand by my choice because I stand with the girls who wear our leotards. At FlipFlop Leos, safety isn’t an afterthought—it’s part of the design. Your Fabric + My Sewing = Happy Gymnast! Have you ever spotted a fabric that would make the ultimate leotard and thought, "If only I could sew"? Well, you can stop wishing—I’m here for you!
I’m thrilled to announce the launch of FlipFlop Leos' exciting new sewing service, designed specifically to bring your fabric visions to life. Picture your gymnast dazzling in a stunning, custom leotard crafted from fabric you personally selected just for them. If you come across a delightful fabric in a store or online that you know they’ll adore, simply purchase a yard and send it my way. With just one yard, 60 or more inches wide, I can create not one, but two extraordinary leotards! Once I’ve finished crafting your unique leotard(s), I’ll send you an invoice for only $20 each—a fantastic value for a one-of-a-kind piece. And as a special bonus, I’ll ship them directly to you at no extra cost! A quick tip: to ensure the best fit and flexibility, you must choose 4-way stretch fabric. If you’re unsure about what to pick or want a second opinion on your options, I’m more than happy to help you make the best choice for leotards. ([email protected]) Let’s bring your gymnast’s dream to life together—send me your fabric today, and let’s create something truly spectacular! *Please note that not all 4-way stretch fabrics are equal; some are more suitable for leotards than others. If I believe that your chosen fabric won't meet your expectations, I will reach out to discuss alternatives. In some cases, there may be a shipping charge to return the fabric or send it back to you.  I know what it's like. You get a notification that you have a new email. Perhaps you're driving. (Young gymnasts don't usually Uber to practice!). Perhaps you're elbow deep in that sour-dough you're still trying to perfect. Anyway, you get to the point you can safely see the email and gosh-darn. It's the second one today from FlipFlop Leos and you've already read it! I know it's annoying to get several identical emails a day. I feel that I should apologize, but I just can't. Maybe I can explain. FlipFlop Leos is my income and it's a business. I buy groceries; I pay the electric bill; I pay for gas! I also buy new fabrics, elastic, and thread, and replace worn out sewing machines. I need to make money from the business just like anyone else needs to be paid for their jobs. Every time I send an email I get more sales immediately. Perhaps that buyer didn't notice my first email and sees the second one for the first time. Perhaps it jogs a memory that Susie needs a present for a team-mate's birthday. Anyway, I need for FlipFlop Leos to sell and reaching buyers through email is a way that keeps my prices low and keeps buyers engaging with my website. Thank you for reading and for understanding. Debbie
I hope everyone is watching the US lady's gymnastics team and are wowed by the awesome ladies led by the super-human Simone Biles. Not only were the skills stellar, I'm sure no one missed how absolutely gorgeous the leotards were. The crystals and intricate inserts and patterns were stunning! I have a confession to make. The very first thing that drew me to put my then preschooler in a gymnastics class was how adorable the little girls looked in leotards, so I'm sure at least a few of the viewers were motivated to enroll their daughters in gymnastics because of the beautiful leotards!
While these competition leotards are to die for I just want to point out that in work outs or classes COMFORT should be the over-riding priority. First, although the metallic fabrics are fabulous the application of foil to a spandex reduces it's elasticity and causes it to fit more snugly. Every jewel can become a point of scratching and itching inside the leotard. Those complex styles require extra seams that can also be a source of irritation and discomfort. Don't get me wrong - they are stunning and certainly make the girls feel and look special. My daughter competed at the highest levels all the way through college and used to say, "Sometimes it hurts to feel beautiful". So, if you are enrolling your gymnast in classes for the first time, before you spring for the high prices and high style of leotards that are comparable to what you see on TV, remember that ultimately you want your gymnast to look and feel special - but you also want her to be comfortable so that she can enjoy her gymnastics class!  I have been sewing and selling FlipFlop Leos online, first on Ebay and now on my own website, since 2004. I have been very fortunate and during the Olympics and holidays I have had some days when I mailed hundreds of packages from my home business. I have had close to 100% total satisfaction with USPS through all these years and hundreds of thousands of shipped packages. If my current emails are any indication, it is clear that there are are significant delivery delays with the new Post Office changes. First I want to apologize. During this pandemic I'm sure we all are counting on the mail more than ever, first for necessities, but then for that special package that makes us feel a little more normal; a little better....like a new FlipFlop Leos leotard! I want to assure you that I still ship within 24 hours of any purchase. I ship every day, including Saturdays. I am truly sorry for delivery delays that are beyond my control.
Additionally, the PO just announced that there will be a surcharge on postage over the holidays starting in mid-October. FlipFlop Leos profit margins are already pretty slim. I hope to continue to offer fantastic prices and great discount events, but I am unsure as to how this new surcharge will affect my packages at this time.  FlipFlop Leos is following all of the safety guidelines issued from the CDC and just wanted to add some information that I hope will make you more comfortable about purchasing from FlipFlop Leos during this time. FlipFlop Leos is a home based business with my shop on my property. I live on 5 wooded acres, which is a nice amount of "social distancing". As a senior citizen I have isolated myself totally for the last 4 weeks. I use Instacart, so the only human-to-human contact I have had is through USPS, UPS, and grocery deliveries, and I do not have any close contact with any of these delivery personnel. I am telling you this to point out that there is no infection in my home, much less anywhere near me. Mail is picked up from my home mailbox so I do not even expose myself to the Post Office. The USPS has issued this statement about the safety of packages that have traveled through the postal system process: "Specifically, according to the World Health Organization, “the likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and been exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low.” And according to the CDC, “in general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures. Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread most often by respiratory droplets." I see numerous Facebook and Instagram posts about gymnasts working out at home and I know all of us are eager to get back to normal. If you think a new leotard from FlipFlop Leos may help motivate those work outs please feel safe with FlipFlop Leos shipments.
When my gymnast daughter was around 9 or 10 years old, her team had a meet in December right before the holidays. Her coach had the idea that it would be fun to let each girl pick out some holiday music for their floor routines. I quickly sewed up some solid white leotards for the girls. At that time decorating shirts with fabric paints was the rage. I provided some glittery fabric paints, holiday templates, a kitchen table and a sleepover. Each team member spent half the night decorating their solid white leotards with holiday graphics. It was so much fun, a nice team-bonding experience, and a huge plus when they arrived at the meet. Today, I get requests for solid color leotards. Sometimes it's just that their dance class requires black, but I know that some others have been purchased to allow the gymnast to "bling" it out with crystals or gems with her own individual creation.
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