A behind-the-scenes look—from designer inspirations to a typical day in the life. Our amazing RBX designers put their talents to work in our New York headquarters, and we wanted to share their stories with you.
Rachel, our lead women's apparel designer, has been designing with RBX for 3 years.
As an active woman, she knows from first-hand experience that there are a lot of things women need from their active wear; it needs to be functional, flattering and feminine.
Her goal is to make you feel and look good – and we think she does both equally well.
Read on to learn a little about Rachel and her role with RBX.
What inspires your work and what is your process when creating a new design?
Something that we are very passionate about is ensuring that our apparel designs create an opportunity for our customers to express themselves while supporting their journey to live a healthy life. I try to approach every garment that I design by answering some key questions: “What features are here to support my customer’s active lifestyle?”, “How will this garment empower her commitment to fitness?” When I design with function and fitness in mind, I really have an opportunity to honor my customer’s goals while upholding our core RBX values.
What’s your favorite part about the active apparel industry?
At the beginning of every season, our team grabs a blank piece of paper and we start to develop the new color pallet. It’s a long process and it’s always a little chaotic (in a good way) but it’s the opening act of every single season. We will cut up pieces of fabric, or paint swatches and tear up magazines and spread them all over the conference room (floor) until we’ve come up with every color that we’re going to use to represent RBX.
What does a typical day look like for you?
There’s really no such thing as a typical day in the fashion world. It’s very fast paced and there are so many variables with each and every garment that we work on. Every day, I try to take at least a 30-minute walk. I just get out of the office to clear my head and breath some fresh air. One of the things I love about working in New York City is that I feel like I can walk in any direction and have a different experience from the day before.
What would you say is the best part of your job?
I absolutely adore checking in on the @RBXActive Instagram. It has been so satisfying to see our real customers going out in their RBX gear and rocking it!
What are you most excited about when it comes to the future of RBX Active?
As we continue to grow, I’m pumped that we have our own brick and mortar locations and have started to host community events and classes to invite our customers into our active family. It’s a very satisfying feeling to know that I work for a cool brand, but to know that I work for a brand that is actively seeking to reach out to their customer base and empower them through community programs- it’s amazing.
Who personally inspires you?
Batman.
What’s your ideal workout? Yoga, Running, Cycling or Weightlifting?
I was dragged, kicking and screaming to my first yoga class about 10 years ago. I was meeting a friend to go workout and she just sprung it on me, “Let’s go catch a free yoga class down in the village!” At the time, I was carrying around a lot of preconceived notions about what yoga was and didn’t consider it to be a “real” workout. After that first class, I was totally hooked. I loved the emphasis on breathing and following your body’s natural rhythms. I loved the sense of community and well-being that I was left with at the end of class. And I definitely loved that every class, every situation, and every instructor presents a new opportunity to explore the edges of my comfort zones and to grow and expand beyond those boundaries.
I came into cycling after I started my love affair with yoga. And here again, I sort of accidentally happened upon what’s become a major influence in my life. I had volunteered to help a friend drive the support vehicle for her cycling team on a long distance event, and by the end of the day I found myself signed up with a borrowed bicycle to begin training for a Gran Fondo in Las Vegas (144 miles? What was I thinking?) I credit being able to tap into that same mindfulness that I try to cultivate on the yoga mat, bringing that awareness right into the saddle was a real plus for my transition from an active person into an endurance athlete. That and my cushy-tushy cycling shorts. I wouldn’t get very far without those!
Just for fun: Would you rather have an endless supply of tacos or pizza?
I can’t answer that question without first knowing what kind of beer you have on tap :)
