From Athlete to Entrepreneur: How Sarah Weihman ’97 Created Paradis Sport
A Dartmouth alumna turns her frustration with athletic underwear into a successful women-owned company.
As a seasoned architectural and landscape designer, Sarah Weihman ’97 is no stranger to design thinking and problem-solving. So, when she couldn’t find athletic underwear that fit well or stayed in place, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
Sarah is a long-time athlete, having competed in collegiate field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse at both Princeton and Dartmouth. She’s still active today, which is why she decided to solve her problem by creating her own performance underwear line for active women. This decision would lead to the founding of Paradis Sport—a women-owned underwear company built on smart design, sustainability, and a strong Dartmouth connection.
Sarah purchased the same brand of underwear for years until they changed. When she set out to find a new brand, the alternatives were lacking.
Relying on her architectural background and experience with making models and drawings, she started sketching and building prototypes for an alternative with breathable fabric and an unrestrictive cut that active women need. Reaching out to fabric mills around the country, she eventually connected with a designer from Vermont, who had worked for NASA, the U.S. Military, and Commando, to help her create her first prototype and several iterations.
Dartmouth Athletes as the First Product Testers
As Sarah worked through each iteration, she began fit-testing the underwear with Dartmouth athletes. Sarah launched her business during the pandemic, when many student-athletes were not competing as usual. These athletes gave crucial feedback on the product, ensuring that its target market would be happy with the design. After fit-testing, some student athletes became interns, helping Sarah build an ambassador program that’s still running today.
Although Sarah’s designs were coming together, she didn’t have the retail or marketing background to take her plan to market alone. She reached out to Abigail Adams ’06, another Dartmouth alum who had worked in operations at top consumer brands Amazon and ClassPass. Abigail was also a former Dartmouth rower and was still very active in the outdoors. When Abigail tried the samples, she was immediately impressed and decided to join Sarah.
Growing the Brand from the Ground Up
The operation started small and lean: Sarah didn’t have a marketing budget, so she and her Dartmouth interns sent direct messages on social media to contact potential ambassadors one by one. They found that early support, especially from Dartmouth women, was strong. The current ambassador program includes an impressive roster of 30 “Paradis Pros” who are elite and pro athletes, 5 of whom are Dartmouth alumnae. These athletes help with fit testing and product development, which is a cornerstone of the brand and an important differentiator in the performance underwear space.
Serving Athletes and Everyday Women
Paradis Sport grew sales by a whopping 260% in 2024. Products are now stocked by 23 retailers across the country, including popular outdoor and running stores. Their bestsellers include a seamless line and a natural fiber line that uses modal, a fabric made from beech trees.
They continue to work with athletes, including Olympians and elite runners. But, Sarah says, the underwear isn’t just for athletes. The product works for anyone who wants comfort and performance, whether they’re on a run, on a flight, or at their desk.
Paradis Pro Julia Kern, 'D19, is training for Milano/Cortina Olympics this February with the U.S. Ski Team, aiming to compete in her second Olympics. Photo by Gretchen Powers Film.
Support from the Dartmouth Network
Both Sarah and Abigail say their Dartmouth ties have been a big part of their journey. Sarah only spent two years at Dartmouth as a transfer student, but says the experience shaped her. “It reminds me how cool it is to graduate and still be there in a way,” she says. Abigail agrees and says the community support has meant a lot to them. They even offer a pair of underwear in a color inspired by Dartmouth Green.
Both women also credit the Dartmouth Entrepreneurs Network and the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship for giving them access to mentors and pitch competitions. They applied and were accepted into the Dartmouth Alumni Consumer Startup Accelerator (DACSA) program. In this national business accelerator, six finalist businesses were chosen to pitch to a panel of judges. After weeks of working directly with alumni entrepreneurs on topics like marketing and product development, the program's leaders chose Paradis Sport as one of the finalist companies. They were excited to be able to participate in the program, pitching remotely, all while participating in trade shows and growing sales.
Paradis Sport and Dartmouth Alumna in London
Dartmouth ties continue to raise awareness of Paradis Sport at Style of Our Own (SOOO) in London—the first-ever concept store dedicated entirely to women’s sports. Maya Herm ’13, director of events at SOOO, has played an instrumental role in its successful launch. Located at 245 Regent Street, the store will remain open through October 31, 2025, and features products from 30 women-led brands.
Paradis Pro Tatiana Saunders ’15 will join a September 17 panel discussion on women in sports at SOOO, moderated by Sarah. A former Wall Street analyst who returned to athletics and went on to play professional soccer in the UK after an outstanding career as a goalkeeper at Dartmouth, Tatiana brings a unique perspective on her career and sport. More details about SOOO can be found on Instagram.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
When asked about her advice for other entrepreneurs, Sarah said the most important thing is to start, even if it feels hard or imperfect. “Just get started,” she says. “Each little step gets you closer.” Abigail adds, “You don’t have to know everything at the beginning. You learn as you go.”
A Name with Meaning
The company name, Paradis, comes from Marie Paradis, the first woman to climb Mont Blanc. Sarah was inspired by her story—and by the strength and grit it takes to keep climbing. “She made the ascent in 1808 in a heavy wool dress and leather boots,” Sarah says. “It made me think about how far we’ve come and how we must keep moving forward.
To learn more about Paradis Sport and its products, visit paradissport.com.