Our Story

About Us

The FiA Gear Shop is proudly powered by Houston Apparel Co., a woman-owned business led by Venessa Homewood, known within FiA as Coco. Through both her business and her personal journey, Venessa brings passion, authenticity, and a deep commitment to supporting women in fitness and beyond.

Houston Apparel Co. was co-founded by Venessa Homewood (Coco) and Jada Powell (Thumper), born out of a shared realization that their individual strengths naturally complemented one another. As they supported each other’s small businesses, their partnership grew into a broader vision, ultimately leading to the creation of Houston Apparel Co. While Jada has since moved on from FiA and Houston Apparel Co., Venessa continues forward as the proud owner, guiding the company into its next chapter with the same dedication to quality and service.

Coco's connection to FiA is deeply personal. She began her FiA journey in September 2023 at a time when her health and energy were at a low point. At 40, she faced a wake-up call after being overweight and diagnosed with high cholesterol and early onset heart disease. 

The true turning point came in 2023 when a friend invited her to attend a FiA workout.

Initially very hesitant, and far from a fitness enthusiast, Coco slowly began showing up, starting with Saturday workouts. What kept her coming back wasn’t just the exercise, but the encouragement, accountability, and genuine connection she found within FiA. Over time, those once-daunting early mornings became a routine she embraced, starting her day before sunrise and returning home before her family even woke up.

As her consistency grew, so did her strength, energy, and confidence. What once seemed impossible became reality...she ran her first mile in nearly 20 years, completed a 5K within her first year of being a part of FiA, and has since gone on to finish multiple half marathons, endurance relay races, Mud Girls events, and countless 5Ks. She has even taken on the challenge of training for her first full marathon (January 2027) and recently achieved her fastest mile yet.

While the physical transformation has been incredible, Coco often shares that the most meaningful impact of FiA has been the relationships. Through FiA, she found a supportive, uplifting community of women who inspire and encourage one another both inside and outside of workouts.

Today, Coco not only leads Houston Apparel Co., but also serves as Co-AOQ of The Hideaway in the Fulshear, TX (FTX) region. She is honored that FiA Nation allows her company to support a mission that has so profoundly changed her life. Through every product and every interaction, she remains committed to empowering the incredible women of FiA Nation and helping share their strength, spirit, and community with others.