I like to look back to some classic icons like Audrey Hepburn, Lauren Hutton through the years, Paul Newman and young Marlon Brando. Who dead or alive would you love to outfit? I have a few style muses. What's one trend you wish would go away? Pokemon Go. I'm a sucker for the classics! It doesn't hurt that they pair perfectly with a Rails button down. What trends are you loving right now? Being from LA, I'm excited to see vintage Levi's making a comeback among the fashion crowd. That said, if I had to choose, Gisele Bündchen embodies the ideal brand ambassador-there's an ease and elegant effortlessness to her beauty and style, and Rails fits perfectly into her lifestyle and wardrobe. I do have to say that I get more enjoyment now from seeing anonymous women wearing the brand in their everyday life. What celebs wear your brand best? Honestly, it's too hard to choose! We've had such an amazing group of celebrities and bloggers wearing Rails. She's not only asking for the newest colors/patterns within our shirting category, but she's excited to create an entire outfit from our collection. It's the cashmere-like feel and overall ease/versatility of the collection that's resonated with the Rails customer. Shirts are a timeless staple, and I wanted to build from this traditional concept by using high-quality rayons and Tencel blends in our plaids, prints and denims to give them a more feminine and drapey quality than traditional cottons. What is Rails best known for and why do you think it does so well? Rails is rooted in classic silhouettes reinterpreted in a relaxed, contemporary way. Most importantly, you need to have an incredible sense of internal drive and determination. Don't be discouraged by setbacks-use them as opportunities to become a better designer and business person. There are always unexpected challenges that arise and you need to be thick skinned and resilient. You need to follow your creative instincts, be innovative in a marketable way and try not to be everything to everyone. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received? There is no blueprint for creating a successful fashion brand.
What's the most daring career risk you've ever taken? Leaving a stable 9-5 to launch a clothing line with no experience in the industry was risky, but I have no regrets! There are many moving parts of the business that require attention and coordination, and while at times it's an overwhelming task, this mentality has helped define our direction and foster a grassroots company identity that we still carry today. I love that every day is different, and brings a new set of challenges to be solved. What's the best part about your job? It's incredibly exciting running a growing brand.
It reminds me of how far we've come as a company, and keeps me connected to the roots of our business. What are your favorite items on your desk and why/what do they mean to you? I always keep an original version of the first hat I made. We're comfortable and try to keep our environment unpretentious. Even though we're growing quickly, we still think with a very startup mentality. There are so many creative, colorful concepts we develop for our collections, so it's easier if they sit against a quiet backdrop. We try to keep our offices clean and minimal. Regardless of what's happening, I try to connect with as many of our sales, PR and retail partners as possible, on a daily basis! I'll touch base with the sales/marketing team on our plans for new international markets, and always make time to review our website. I then might have a lunch meeting with an editor, or with a buyer at our showroom. I'll meet with the warehouse team to ensure orders are getting out on time. I work with the design team doing fittings for the current season, while conceptualizing silhouettes and color swatches for the next season. I'm very involved in all functions of the business: design, production, shipping, accounting, sales, marketing. If I'm not traveling, I usually start my day on a call while enroute to the office with one of our European partners-it's the best time to catch them with the time difference. What's a typical day like for you? Anything but typical! There is no normal routine. I wanted to blend the comfort of my Southern California lifestyle with the more refined sensibility I found abroad. But really it was in my young twenties, living in Europe, where I began to concept what would become the Rails collection. I would always think about how I could express myself through a visual medium. I grew up in Los Angeles immersed in the arts: painting, sculpture, photography and had a deep connection to the aesthetics of fashion. How did you get into the industry? I had no previous experience or family ties to the fashion industry.
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