TOP GEAR // Interview with Ananda Coutinho
Instagram: @anandanineone | @nineonemoto
Website: NineOne Moto
MEET ANANDA CouTINHO
DESIGNING FOR THE RIDE.
Some of us are simply born to ride. From her childhood in Brazil on a two-stroke to rediscovering the joy of riding years later in Los Angeles, Ananda’s journey has been shaped by curiosity, creativity, and the people she’s met along the way. What began as a lifelong love for two wheels inspired her to design gear that riders could feel confident wearing on and off the bike.
That passion eventually led to the creation of NineOne Moto, a motorcycle gear brand built around the belief that riders shouldn’t have to compromise between protection and personal style. In this interview, Ananda shares how she transformed a personal search for better riding gear into a brand with purpose, the challenges of building something from the ground up, and her hopes for a more inclusive future in motorcycling.
THE GIRL
I've been obsessed with anything on two wheels for as long as I can remember. My mom always laughs when she tells people that I was doing little skids and burnouts with my tricycle when I was two or three years old. Apparently I wasn't interested in riding in a straight line even back then.
I begged for a motorcycle my entire childhood, but my parents only allowed bicycles until I was about ten, when I finally got my first little two stroke. Looking back, that was probably a good decision.
Of course, once I had that bike, I immediately wanted something bigger. My dad had been in a serious motorcycle accident before I was born, and since I wasn't exactly the kind of kid who always made the safest decisions, he never wanted to upgrade me. At the time I thought it was terribly unfair. Now I completely understand why.
Motorcycles quietly disappeared from my life for quite a while.
I moved to Los Angeles in 2016, and for the first couple of years I kept noticing motorcycles everywhere. The weather, the wide roads, people riding to work every day... It just felt like part of life here. Eventually I thought, "Why not?"
So in 2018, I found a used 2017 Honda Rebel 300 for a great price and bought it before I even had my motorcycle license. I later found out it had been in an accident before I owned it, which definitely explained a few things, but it turned out to be the perfect first bike for me.
I spent days riding around my neighborhood, practicing starts, stops, U-turns, and emergency braking until I felt comfortable enough to venture farther. That little practice loop around the block slowly turned into weekend rides, road trips, lifelong friendships, and eventually, NineOne.
Looking back, it's funny how something I loved so much as a kid found its way back into my life years later. Motorcycles gave me a community, a creative outlet, and a path I never could have planned for myself.
“I’m excited that women aren’t just joining motorcycling anymore. We’re helping shape it. ”
THE GEAR
NineOne started with a simple frustration. I loved riding, but I struggled to find gear that felt like me. It often felt like I had to choose between protection and style, and I wasn't willing to compromise on either.
As someone who appreciates good design, I wanted gear that felt timeless, was built to last, and genuinely made me excited to ride. I wasn't trying to reinvent motorcycle gear. I simply wanted to create the products I wished existed.
NineOne has kind of been a one person show, but I've been incredibly lucky to have friends like Mizel, Leticia, and Alena by my side helping at times. They believed in the vision from the beginning, challenged my ideas, filled in the gaps where I wasn't as strong, and continue to help shape the brand today. NineOne wouldn't be what it is without them.
What started as a personal project is slowly growing into a brand with a clear purpose: to make premium riding gear that riders are proud to wear, on and off the bike.
[Building NineOne Moto] happened gradually. Every ride introduced me to new people, every trip gave me new ideas, and every product I couldn't find made me sketch another design. Before I knew it, I was spending every free hour learning about materials, manufacturing, product development, and building a business.
“At some point I realized this wasn’t just something I enjoyed doing. It had become something I couldn’t stop thinking about.”
THE GOAL
My goal is to continue building NineOne thoughtfully.
I don't want to make everything. I want to make products that solve real problems and that people keep using for years.
We're expanding beyond gloves into technical apparel while staying true to our design philosophy: clean, functional, understated, and built for riders who care about quality.
THE CHALLENGES
The biggest challenge has been learning an entirely new industry from scratch.
I didn't come from fashion or product design. Every step has been a learning experience, from sourcing materials to working with manufacturers, understanding production timelines, managing inventory, and building a business.
The greatest success isn't a sales number. It's seeing someone wearing NineOne on a ride and knowing they chose my gear because it made them feel confident, comfortable, and protected. That never gets old.
Motorcycles gave me a community, a creative outlet, and a path I never could have planned for myself.
THE COMMUNITY
The motorcycle community has introduced me to some of the kindest, most inspiring people I know. Riding creates friendships that happen incredibly fast because you immediately share this common passion.
It's also shown me that there isn't one way to be a motorcyclist. Adventure riders, racers, commuters, dirt riders, café racers... everyone brings something different, and that's what makes this community so special.
NineOne exists because of the people I've met through motorcycles.
One of my favorite things about motorcycles is that they have a way of bringing the right people into your life.
I hope NineOne becomes a small part of those stories. Whether it's someone's first ride, a weekend trip with friends, or the gloves they reach for every time they throw a leg over the bike, that's the kind of impact I hope to have.
If our gear helps someone feel a little more confident getting out there and enjoying the ride, then we're doing something right.
THE INSPIRATION
As a brand, Atwyld has been a huge inspiration to me. They showed that women's motorcycle gear could be beautifully designed without sacrificing functionality, and I have so much respect for what they created.
But my biggest inspiration comes from the women I ride with.
Carolina (@carolinacoraaa), Jasmine (@jasminerosetea), Ana (@thatmotogal), and so many others constantly remind me what this community is really about. They're incredibly talented riders, but more importantly, they're kind, adventurous, supportive, and never take themselves too seriously.
They inspire me to be a better entrepreneur, a better rider, and a better person. They remind me to enjoy the ride, laugh often, care about what really matters, and embrace the journey. At the end of the day, motorcycles are just the reason we all met.
THE FUTURE
I'm excited that women aren't just joining motorcycling anymore. We're helping shape it.
More women are building brands, organizing events, racing, teaching, leading rides, creating content, and designing products. The industry is becoming more representative of the people who actually ride.
I hope we continue creating spaces where women of every experience level feel welcome, supported, and encouraged. The more diverse this community becomes, the stronger it gets.
one project I'm especially excited about is a collaboration with The Litas.
WHAT’S NEXT
The product I'm most excited about right now is the Joan Armored Shirt.
It's something I've wanted to make for a long time. I wanted an armored shirt that gives riders more versatility, whether they wear it on its own in warmer weather or layer it under their favorite jacket when temperatures drop. The Joan combines abrasion resistant materials, CE rated armor, and a comfortable fit that doesn't feel bulky, making it an easy piece to wear both on and off the bike.
We're also working on new glove collections, and one project I'm especially excited about is a collaboration with The Litas. We've been bouncing ideas back and forth, and it's looking really cool. We hope to bring it to life soon. It feels like a very natural collaboration because it grew out of a genuine connection and shared values, and I can't wait for everyone to see what we've been working on.
ADVICE FROM ANANDA
Buy the safest gear you can comfortably afford, but also buy gear you'll actually want to wear.
The best jacket sitting in your closet won't protect you. The one you happily put on every single ride will.
Look for proper CE-certified protection, quality construction, and a fit that feels comfortable on your bike. Don't rush the process. Good gear is an investment, and if you take care of it, it'll last for years.
