OUR STORY
APTOELLA was founded in 2012 by Barbara Mervin, a three-time Rugby World Cup player who proudly represented Canada’s Senior National Team for 13 years. After years of competing at the highest level, Barbara saw what so many female athletes already knew — women deserved performance gear that actually fit.
Driven by that vision, Barbara created APTOELLA: a women’s rugby apparel line built to empower female athletes to perform their best, achieve their goals, and realize their full potential.
Every design is born from experience — crafted, tested, and refined by athletes who understand what it means to tackle, sprint, and strive. At our APTOELLA Design House in Victoria, BC, each custom order is handmade with the same care and precision that Barbara brought to every game she played.
Barbara’s legacy as a Rugby Canada Hall of Fame inductee and trailblazer for women in sport continues to inspire our mission: to make gear that doesn’t just fit the female body — it celebrates it.
When you choose APTOELLA, you’re not just buying apparel.
You’re joining a movement — one that’s redefining the game for women everywhere.
APTOELLA — Fit for Her Game. Inspired by Her Legacy.
OUR INSPIRATION
From the trailblazing women who fought to get us on the pitch to the fearless young girls lacing up their first pair of cleats — you are our inspiration.
Every tackle, every try, every dream fuels what we do. Because when women play, the world changes.
OUR VISION
To inspire, celebrate, and empower female athletes everywhere — to aim higher, dream bigger, and crush every barrier in their way.
We’re not just here to make apparel. We’re here to make history (and look good doing it).
TRUST APTOELLA
We’re a team of passionate players, designers, and dreamers who live and breathe women’s sport.
We’ve worn the jerseys, felt the scrapes, and chased the wins — so we know what great gear feels like.
From your first order to your next championship, you can trust APTOELLA to deliver quality, comfort, and confidence that moves with you.
OUR MISSION
Our goal is simple: to create beautiful, high-performance apparel that helps female athletes feel unstoppable.
We believe in comfort, confidence, and community — and we believe that when women are supported, they soar.
We also believe in giving back: “To whom much is given, much is expected.” That’s why we invest in the game and the girls who will shape its future.
COMMUNITY
Buying APTOELLA means joining a movement — one that lifts girls, teams, and communities.
Every purchase supports Canadian craftsmanship and fuels programs like our kids’ rugby camps and our senior women’s team, The APTOELLA Angels — a powerhouse of athletes dedicated to growing the game.
When you choose Canadian-made, you’re choosing to strengthen the game for generations to come.
PATRIOTISM
We’re proudly Canadian — and we don’t whisper it, we shout it from the try line! 🇨🇦
Wear it with pride — because when you purchase from APTOELLA, a 100% Canadian, female-owned and operated company, you’re supporting the athletes, makers, and dreamers who make this country so special.