Today we’d like to introduce you to Sabrina Zohar.
Hi Sabrina, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Softwear, like many companies, was started out of a desire for something better and through some hardships.
In May of 2017, my mom went to her doctor with a headache and was diagnosed with six brain aneurysms.
She was given a 3-5% chance of survival. Mom refused to accept defeat and kept a positive mindset throughout. After six months and three failed procedures, the cloudsaligned and the 4th attempt was a success.
Mom was going to be okay, but through the process, she talked about how everything she was wearing was so harsh on her skin and she just wanted something that was soft enough to wear all the time as she continued her treatments. To do everything I could to help mom with her wants, I started Softwear.
I searched. I scoured—for something timeless. Something comfortable. High quality, yet affordable, but not at the expense of the environment or basic human rights.
I found a family-owned mill that responsibly produced specialty fabrics in California, I knew it was game on. Soon after, I discovered our manufacturing facility—a 10 min drive from our fabric manufacturer and dye house right here in Sunny Los Angeles CA.
Using sustainable materials and low-impact dyes, I was able to create something soft, simple, and spectacular in its subtlety. A new fabric that never pills, fades, sheds or shrinks, which truly filled a void in the market.
With our signature fabric perfected, it was time to make sure the cut was flawless.
An unprecedented fabric called for unprecedented design—and dozens of fittings, alterations, and restarts to ensure each piece fit exactly to my specifications.
The result was the softest, most comfortable clothing I’ve ever experienced—cleanly designed, made for living, and sustainably produced from thought to thread in Los Angeles CA.
I call it Softwear. You’ll know why.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Ha! not even close. I started the company with a small loan and a business partner- I.E bootstrapped. 2018 and 2019 we saw some growth but nothing to call home about. 2020 hit and I thought I would have to close the company, little did I know what was in store for me. I bought my business partner out and decided to move 4000 pieces into my Brooklyn apt and hand tie dye custom orders. In three months we sold out of everything, it was a wild ride! I was able to have a proof of concept that tie dye was what people wanted and we were able to create an entirely new collection for holiday 2020. Initially, we made our fabric in LA and brought that to NY to cut and sew, wasn’t sustainable at all. I moved all manufacturing to LA ( dye house, fabric manufacturing and cut and sew are within 5 miles) and made the move out to LA to grow the brand west coast. Things were going well until our new dye house over-dyed 1000 pieces for our fall collection and we had no merchandise to sell for 9 months. So fun! 2022 we are now faced with inflation, a looming recession, and all the other fun things that are thrown my way. I still run the business by myself and we are very much a small business though and through!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Sabrina Zohar started her career in the fashion industry, working sales for large brands and showrooms. In the industry, she particularly noticed how brands were both ripping their consumers off with low-quality materials and offshore and unethical manufacturing plants and damaging the environment with inefficient and wasteful standard manufacturing processes. When her mother went to the doctor with a headache, was diagnosed with six brain aneurysms, and given a three-percent chance of survival, Sabrina realized there was more. She watched as her mother took this time of adversity as a moment to find gratitude. When her mother survived, Sabrina decided to start Softwear the next day. After spending eight months creating the exclusive fabric and deals already in place with dozens of vendors, retailers, and other outlets, including The Iconic, Bloomingdales, Tracy Anderson Method, Rumble, and more, the brand has experienced unexpected success at a very early stage. Softwear is set to potentially make a lasting impact on the sustainable apparel industry while inspiring female founders and empowering US-based businesses and environmentally and ethically-conscious consumers.
Our fabric is what sets us apart and then our fit furthers that. We have a custom fabric that feels like a cloud and a tailored fit that feels like your momma’s hug. I wanted to create something different on the market to differentiate and stand out!
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
wearsoftwear.com to purchase! @Sabrina.zohar on tik Tok or insta and @wearsoftwear on insta!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wearsoftwear.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearsoftwear/?hl=en
Image Credits
M Cooper creative and John Carluccio
