We often think if only we had more time then we could do all those things we've always wanted to do.
But could it be that we’re very busy but not very productive?
When I heard how Soraya managed to
start her own swimwear company while working full-time for an investment bank, without
any previous design or retail experience, I was so impressed I wanted to know
how she did it.
Do we have more time than we think? Or does it just take a special sort of drive?
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| Soraya of Soraya Amaia Beachwear |
You describe
your company as a ‘Hobby that got out of Control’ – when did you get the idea
to start a beachwear company?
It was always supposed to be a hobby, a creative outlet
after spending 12hours a day analysing bonds and derivatives. After 5 years in
the job in London, I jumped at the opportunity to work at another investment bank
in Sao Paolo.
It was only a temporary escape to try something new. However it’s where I met so many entrepreneurial people that inspired me. My suitcase was
full of suits and old, low key clothes, nothing expensive that would draw
attention to myself as it wasn’t the safest of places. But I couldn’t have got
it more wrong. I was taken aback by the wealth in Sao Paolo: so many women
dressed in Gucci with perfectly manicured nails and the latest Chanel handbag.
A cocktail in Sao Paolo is just as expensive as in a bar in Knightsbridge! Was
I the only person who didn’t know this?
It was nothing like the other parts of Brazil I had travelled to.
In Sao Paolo I met some of the fortunate people lucky
enough to live this Miami-vice lifestyle and who were so generous and
incredibly kind to me. But looking at their massive houses with pools and huge
gardens, the obvious question in my mind was, ‘What do YOU do for a living?’
And if I was going to work hard to get that sort of lifestyle, did I have to
spend all day looking at numbers? Or were there other routes than my current
career?
Meeting so many women who were entrepreneurs in areas other
than banking got me thinking. I don’t know what sparked my interest in
designing beachwear specifically, but it definitely started in Brazil and the
hours spent on the beach in Guaruja. It wasn’t until I got back to London that
I decided to start my own company and even then it took months and months of
work.
What
were the first steps you made when you decided to take it seriously?
Before I even properly decided to start my own beachwear
label, I enrolled in a course for Swimwear and Lingerie at the London College
of Fashion. I had a degree in Economics but nothing even close to an Arts GCSE!
I had to know what was involved in design and starting up a label. There was a
high probability that I’d be awful at it, but it was all supposed to be fun
anyway! Turns out that vision is a large component of starting up a label, and
I knew exactly what I wanted.
Where
did you get the energy/inspiration from after working a full day?
I got a new job after getting back from Brazil and when I
started the label, I managed to postpone the start date for another month which
certainly helped in getting things organised and the wheels in motion. There’s
no way around the fact that working 12hrs a day and then spending 2hrs in the
evening on Skype with the factory in Brazil on designs, materials and stitching
consumes your whole life, but it’s temporary.
The beginning is very hard, not only do you have the
designs, you have to continuously improve the samples, plan a photo shoot, get
your logo approved, fill out endless forms, set up the website etc - but most importantly, how will you market it?
My friends will admit that there was a period of about 5-6
months were I fell off the radar, particularly since I also had to focus on my
other full-time job - and working on a trading floor can really take it out of
you. Sundays were sacred though: going to the gym and catching up on sleep
saved my sanity. Once the label was set
up and I managed to get a shop in Gloucester Road on board, Exotica Brazil, it was much easier to
get my work/social life balance back on track. It really is possible to do it
all if you want it enough.
You
must have come across problems during the process. Is there any that stick out
that almost stopped you in your tracks?
There are always problems. Mainly though because I was so
inexperienced and learnt as I went along. How much stock do I buy? Where do I
keep it all? Where do I source the fabric? The biggest shock was the VAT and
import tax that you pay and when I got a call from customs telling me how much
it was!! But the quality was worth the extra money of getting the swimwear made
in Brazil. You can really feel the difference.
In
your opinion, what qualities were essential to achieve what you have?
Vision, determination, organisation…oh and patience,
nothing happens overnight. Know what you want and then figure out the steps to
get there.
What’s
the most rewarding thing about having your own company?
It is something tangible that I can say I’ve done. I can’t
do that with my day job, no one outside banking understands what I do!
You
say there is so much you want to do, are you thinking of expanding your
collection beyond beachwear?
You would laugh if I told you all my plans, expanding the
collection internationally would be starters but then why stop there? Creativity isn’t just designing swimwear for
me; I nearly enrolled in an interior design course, but realised I don’t
actually have the time working 12hrs already and that I should concentrate on
one area. I’m not sure what direction my label will take, but I always have big
plans.
Finally,
do you have any advice for someone wanting to start their own
business...
Yes, do your background research: learn about your market
and if there is a niche for you. But be realistic! It takes a lot of time
before you can actually make money, so you will have to be prepared to work two
jobs to support yourself. If you’re looking at starting up your own business in
fashion, do your research on trend spotting and other similar labels. You can
take inspiration from practically anywhere, too. Create a book with all your
ideas, then write up a plan and organise your time. Finally, networking is
incredibly important, if it wasn’t for my course at London School of Fashion,
I’d never have met the owner of the shop that stocks my designs. Nevertheless,
it is so rewarding, having your own label, and if you want it you can have it!
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