Rachel Antonoff is no stranger to taking major career risks.
In fact, the designer frequently makes headlines thanks to her politically charged designs. (ICYMI, she’s the mastermind behind that bestselling “I’m With Her” sweatshirt and that now-infamous uterus sweater Lena Dunham auctioned off at a Planned Parenthood fundraiser.) Needless to say, we can’t wait to see what she does in 2020.
Below, the accomplished designer opens up to Create & Cultivate about her career, including what she wishes more people knew about the fashion industry, how she keeps her cortisol levels in check, and why she's proud to be at the helm of a company that’s not afraid to take a strong political stance.
CREATE & CULTIVATE: Your designs are truly one-of-a-kind and have set your brand apart which is no mean feat in a saturated space. What inspires your creativity? What is your secret sauce? What do you think differentiates you from the rest/makes you stand out?
RACHEL ANTONOFF: Very kind of you to say. There are so many incredible brands out there, and in some ways, we are all looking at the same trends. Most of our prints are painted in-house which is really important to me. I take great pride in the fact that as a company, we are not neutral. We have a strong political stance that has at times, cost us business, but it's the only way I can do this and still sleep at night.
You are such a style icon and role model in the fashion space but what do you wish people knew about the industry? Why?
Thank you! I truly wish people knew that the fashion industry is stacked with interesting, funny, cool, hard-working people who like fart jokes as much as the rest of us.
“I take great pride in the fact that as a company, we are not neutral. We have a strong political stance that has at times, cost us business, but it’s the only way I can do this and still sleep at night.”
When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you #FindNewRoads + switch gears to find success?
Well, first I try to look at it from a bird's eye view. I find that zooming out if you will, is helpful in determining how weighty the issue really is. Is this something I really need to be making myself crazy over? Will this or that actually impact the future of the company? If the answer is “yes,” I do my best to remove myself from the equation and ask, What is best for the company?
What is the best advice you’ve been given? Or a favorite piece of #realtalk?
You can think and plan forever, but at some point, you have to just do.
You emphasize the ethical policies behind your brand. Do you feel as though others in the fashion industry generally hold themselves to the same ethical standards when curating their brands? What are your hopes for the industry moving forward?
I really can't speak for the industry at large. I think it's fantastic that so many brands are taking the route of transparency with their ethical practices. It's so easy to throw the terminology around without actually backing it up. So I really appreciate brands like Mara Hoffman who are explaining exactly how they are going about it, who their factories are, etc. At the end of the day, it needs to come from the top.
The fashion industry moves so fast that it can be stressful and take its toll on young designers. How do you keep your cortisol levels in check? What does your self-care look like?
I recharge through time alone. I really need a solid few hours where no one is talking to me and I'm not beholden to anyone or anything. My dream weekend is zero plans and just being at home with my dog. It sounds sort of sad but it's how I keep the balance.
“I get genuinely excited about margins. I’ve come to really embrace the creativity of solving the Rubik’s cube that is business. It’s a different kind of magic.”
How has the way you view fashion changed since you first entered the industry?
It has changed a lot. I see fashion much more pragmatically than I did before. When I started, the business aspect was not my focus. I was 90% creative, 10% business. Now, I get genuinely excited about margins. I've come to really embrace the creativity of solving the Rubik's cube that is business. It's a different kind of magic.
What is one book you always recommend? Why?
I will always recommend Mary Karr's Cherry. It's a perfect book.
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