Ep 342: Dry Hands Are Fast Hands — The Wringer Wear Story with Wendi Aspes

That's exactly what happened to Wendy Aspes. And instead of shaking it off and going about her day, she did something most people don't — she listened to that tug. And Wringer Wear was born.

I met Wendy at a pickleball tournament in Atlanta (yes, my husband and I won our 50+ division and I'm still not over it 😂), and from the moment she started telling me her story, I was hooked. Not just because the clothes are adorable — which they absolutely are — but because everything about what she's building made sense. It was smart. It was strategic. And it came from a real place of I've had this problem my whole life, and I'm done waiting for someone else to fix it.

From the Tennis Court to the Boardroom — Well, the Closet

Wendy has been a competitive athlete her whole life. She grew up playing tennis, played through college, and has always had one persistent challenge: sweaty hands. Rackets flying. Lost grips. No good solution on the market — just overgrips, lotions, and towels that don't exactly help you mid-rally when you're down two points and your opponent is serving.

She was living in Atlanta, working as a director of marketing for a pediatric brain tumor research foundation, when COVID hit and her family — like so many of ours — discovered pickleball in the driveway. And that's when the idea that had been quietly living in the back of her mind got a lot louder.

Standing in her closet one morning, getting dressed to go play, she thought: I have an idea that can change the game for women like me. Literally and figuratively.

The Technology That Makes Wringer Wear Different

Here's what sets Wringer Wear apart — and y'all, this is genuinely cool. They have a patented fabric built right into the sides of their skirts and men's shorts that functions like a towel. You wipe your hands, the fabric absorbs the sweat, and it evaporates. Meanwhile, the outer layers are hydrophobic — meaning water literally rolls right off. Wendy actually demonstrated this live during our conversation and I watched water bead up and roll off the fabric like it was nothing.

The philosophy behind it? Dry hands are fast hands. Because if you're focused on your sweaty hands, you're not thinking about the next point. And before you know it, you've lost a game you were capable of winning.

Now whether you think your hands sweat or not — if you're gripping a paddle or a racket tightly, there is moisture there. This product is for you.

A Second Act Worth Watching

What I love most about Wendy's story is that she didn't come from the apparel world. She wasn't a fashion designer or a manufacturer. She was a marketing director with a vision, a brother-in-law who was also obsessed with pickleball, and enough belief in the idea to figure out the rest as she went.

She and her co-founder Jason spent time seeking out mentors, learning how to source fabric, find a factory, get technical designs done — all of it. They eventually connected with a partner out of California who had deep industry experience and helped them get the product right. And Wendy was clear: she wasn't launching anything she couldn't stand behind 100%.

That integrity shows up in every detail — the fabric development, the fit, how it washes, how it performs over time. Because as she put it, I'm too old to wear something that's uncomfortable or doesn't fit right.

The Market Opportunity Is Real

Pickleball grew 311% from 2021 to 2024. Padel — a racket sport exploding in popularity — has a 92% return rate. Tennis is on the rise. And in Wendy's view, no single brand has ever truly owned the racket sports apparel space. Wringer Wear is positioning itself to be that brand — not just because of the technology, but because of the community it's building around a shared love of the sport.

They're selling direct to consumer, but also moving into pickleball facilities, country clubs, wholesale, co-branding, and even uniforms for Major League Pickleball teams and college clubs. The trajectory? It's exciting to watch.

What She Wants You to Know If You're Starting Something

Wendy said it better than I ever could, so I'll leave you with her words:

"There are going to be a million reasons why you shouldn't start a business or why you shouldn't follow that dream. But all of that is just noise. If you block out the noise and focus on one thing and doing one thing really well, you'll be successful. If there's a will, there's a way — and all the pain and all the doubt will completely wash away."

Y'all. That's it. That's the whole thing.

Whether you're in the idea stage, the building stage, or somewhere in the messy middle — Wendy's story is proof that the tug in your soul is worth following. She solved a problem nobody else had solved. She built a brand around it. And now she's showing her kids — and all of us — that it is never too late to start.

Get 20% Off Wringer Wear

Click the link below or use code SJGS at checkout at WringerWear.com to get 20% off your order. Trust me — once you try it, you'll be a believer.