Today we’d like to introduce you to Bailey Reber.
Hi Bailey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m an entrepreneur! My two biggest endeavors at the moment are the podcast that I host and the Etsy shop that I launched earlier this year that features a lot of the clothing that I create and design.
My podcast, Distressed to Joyful; Bailey’s Way, launched in May of 2020 and is about my journey with accepting my bipolar disorder and overcoming the challenges that I am often faced with due to the disorder. I just wrapped up Season 2 of the show in December 2021 and will be launching Season 3 on Monday, February 7th. Before the podcast’s debut, very few people knew that I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder or that I struggled with it for years before learning how to successfully manage it. For the longest time, I chose to keep this information private for fear of judgment or mistreatment. Bipolar disorder is classified as one of the most misunderstood mental health disorders and due to this, many people choose to struggle in silence like I did. Once I got the help that I needed and began to see a transformation within myself, I knew that I needed to share what’s helped me in order to encourage others to seek the help that they may need. My hope and the ultimate goal of my show is to provide a safe space for people to hear that they are not alone in their struggles, that seeking help is a sign of strength and to encourage everyone to be kinder to those around them. You never know what’s going on in the mind of the person next to you and choosing kindness above all is always the answer.
As for my Etsy shop, this was a long-time goal of mine that I was finally able to bring to life! I learned how to sew in elementary school and was gifted my first sewing machine when I was 10 years old. By the time high school hit, I began learning how to make clothing for myself. I’ve been designing and creating my own clothes and costumes for over a decade now (many of which are showcased in these featured photos) and thanks to the encouragement of my partner, I am currently enrolled in a Fashion Design program at Houston Community College. My Etsy shop, Bailey’s Way Designs, features baby/kids clothing along with t-shirts and useful accessory items! I’m very proud of myself for finally taking the steps to launch an online shop to sell my creations. All of the funds generated are put towards paying for my college tuition to help me move further into a full-time career in fashion, with the end goal of launching my own fashion line.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m not sure that any entrepreneur can say that they’ve had a smooth road! For me, there have been many struggles along the way. When I came up with the idea to release a podcast, I had zero knowledge of what I needed to do. I began by purchasing an online course to teach me everything from naming my show to launching it and later marketing it. This was a lifesaver! Without this course, my show would still be just an idea. Because I had to teach myself everything, I’ve made many, many mistakes along the way. While some people view mistakes as failures, I choose to view them as “learning curves”. My mistakes have led me to solutions that have aided my future work within this show. Sure, it’s frustrating at times, but every minute of this has been worth it!
The reason behind my Etsy Shop taking much longer than anticipated to launch is that I did not realize how much equipment I needed or what kind of knowledge I should have in order to successfully set up my shop. I thought I could just create some clothing, upload photos, slap on a price and begin making money. To say I was wrong is an understatement! Eventually, I buckled down, took time to do further research and put all of the pieces together to launch my Bailey’s Way Designs Etsy Shop. I’m very proud of this accomplishment and look forward to the good things to come!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
When it comes to my clothing, I specialize in costumes, evening wear and themed outfits. Recently, I challenged myself to make a different romper for each holiday of the year using only 1 pattern. The ultimate goal was not just to create a holiday outfit that I can wear every year, but also to challenge myself creatively. This was such a fun project that my Instagram followers really enjoyed and the ideas from it have already begun being reflected in the baby clothing that is in my Etsy Shop. I also do freelance design work on the side and love when my clients come to me with a custom project that challenges me. Lately, I’ve been receiving a lot more requests for custom design work as my skills are continuing to advance and evolve with each new outfit that I create. Creativity is definitely my strong suit and my eye for designing beautiful, unique clothing sets me apart from others.
As for my podcast, I’m known for being an advocate for those diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder when I was 16 and experienced many hardships and struggles for almost a decade before I was able to get the help that I needed to push myself out of my own darkness. Within the past few years, I’ve learned a LOT and have been able to figure out how to successfully manage my bipolar disorder so I decided that I needed to share what I’ve learned with others to be able to help people who need it. The easiest way to do this is to host a podcast which is how Distressed to Joyful; Bailey’s Way got its start! My podcast is known for being raw, vulnerable, authentic, entertaining, informative and funny – a good mixture to have when speaking on the topic of mental health.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Resilience – all day long. Being able to get back up after being knocked down repeatedly is one of the most important qualities to have when working towards success. I’m very grateful for all of the hard yet important life lessons that have given me the gift of incredible and courageous resilience.
Contact Info:
- Email: whatisheybailsdoing@gmail.com
- Website: https://whatisheybailsdoing.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baileyswaydesigns/ | https://www.instagram.com/distressedtojoyful_baileysway/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baileyswaydesigns/ | https://www.facebook.com/distressedtojoyful.baileysway/
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2KdUCCwOD8iEmzOML4ecTt?si=IHaSitSNQ2a_73mM2em4kw
- Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BaileysWayDesigns
