Today we’d like to introduce you to Rex Adams.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Rex. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was fresh out of university and my best friend and now, business partner (Ingemae) had approached me with an idea about a sustainable swimwear brand- and we literally began the business out of my bedroom. We were both working 2-3 jobs alongside this at any given time. It was exhausting and at times, super tough but it’s also the best thing I’ve done and it doesn’t feel like ‘work’ because I enjoy it so much.
We are now on the brink of launching our second collection (June 2019) and I cannot believe how far we have come.
I moved to LA in December 2018 to not only continue my career in modeling (which also began as I left university) but to also introduce the brand to the USA.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Absolutely not, but if it was always a ‘smooth road’ everyone would be doing it, and we wouldn’t know how to appreciate hard work and dedication.
My careers interlink and compliment each other yet neither are without their challenges. Modeling can be tough, you have to remember to take care of yourself- inside and out; to not take things personally and be prepared to step out of your comfort zone. On the other hand, I think its also important to remember that you are within your absolute right to NOT do something if you don’t agree with it.
With ‘Away That Day,’ there were plenty of struggles, from finding the right factory to funding an entire business between two, self-sustained young women. The sleepless nights of planning and forecasting, to going from shoots to admin until the early hours of the morning, all this whilst managing marketing, budgets, the website, and social media, alongside keeping up with competitors who have way more of financial backing and are well connected.
It was hard at times, people would look at us as two young women with eyes that said ‘aww that’s cute they want their own label’ without realizing the hard work and dedication that goes into it.
My advice would be:
1) Be prepared to hear the word ‘no’ a lot.
2) Do your research, know your brand inside out, know what your competitors are doing.
3) Network, stay relevant and always be ready, you never know who you’re going to meet.
4) It won’t come immediately, keep putting in the hard work every day.
5) Research brands you look up to… how did they get to where they are.
We’d love to hear more about Ayour work.
As a full- time model, I, myself am my own brand. I take pride in using my social media platform and following to not only share my art but my experience in the industry and mental health battles and set an example for young women looking to pursue modeling. I think as creatives, models are undervalued for our work and there is not enough respect given to the sacrifices we make for our careers, so I talk a lot about how to redirect our energy back into ourselves and our daily routine so that we may excel in not only in our careers but our general well being.
I am also the creative director of a sustainable brand called ‘Away That Day’ (@awaythatday). The product is 100% sustainable and we are expanding into sustainable beachwear and daywear alongside our current swimwear line.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
It’s not easy. Remind yourself every day why you started. You are enough.
Remember that it is good to be self-critical and you will make mistakes along the way but don’t be too hard on yourself, if you are creating something you believe in fully, then you are creating something beautiful. Set yourself targets and plan. A five-year plan, a year plan, a monthly schedule, and a weekly schedule, that way you can tick off accomplishments and set realistic targets to complete alongside goals to work towards.
Utilize the internet and social media. We are fortunate enough to have information at our fingertips so do your research there are plenty of TED talks and interviews with successful business people that can inspire and educate you. Stop aimlessly scrolling through Instagram and set aside time in the day to gather information and to analyze how you’re going to make your business grow instead.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.awaythatday.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaythatday/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awaythatday/
Image Credit:
Chris Parsons, Dylan Perlot, Angela Marklew, Ingemae Kotze, Ahmad Barber, Donte Maurice
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