We’re looking forward to introducing you to Raisa Smoot. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Raisa, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
My normal day starts with waking up around 7am making a cup of coffee, sitting in silence for about 5 min, and then waking up my 5 year old for school
Once we get drop off out the way I return to my home/studio and open up my windows to let my plant (Plantis Janis) get some air. Then turn on my Raisa Studio sign, my YouTube playlist and set the mood for my interns to come in. I currently have 4.
interns arrive between 10am and noon, and leave between 3-4pm. The duration is filled with content creation, design work, admin work, and lots of other day to day task.
around 4pm ill go pick up the kid from school and then we come home to do homework and beyblade battle lol.
I cook dinner around 5:30/6pm and then after we eat we’ll take a long walk around the neighborhood (my kid and I)
ill stretch, shower, pour some wine, and watch Sex and the City or a fashion documentary until I fall asleep.
of course this varies sometimes depending on work projects or travel schedule, but this is my day to day
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure, Im Raisa and ive built Raisa Studio — a space built to cultivate and inspire authentic creatives in fashion. My journey started with a fashion design and business degree from FIDM, and since then I’ve done freelance work via pattern making for brands like Madewell, worked at Galore Magazine in the content & writing department, and a production contract for Good American via my manufacturing company, Eyes Like Pearls. I’ve also been honored to be featured in British Vogue.
Anywho, Raisa Studio brings all of that experience together. We’re not just about clothing — we’re about storytelling through fashion, building community, and giving people access to both education and unique design. Right now, I’m further developing Future Threads, a youth sewing summer camp with a student-led fashion show, as well as monthly Sip & Sew experiences and Fashion Film Fridays that invite the community to learn, connect, and be inspired through fashion. I’m also laying the groundwork for Raisa Studio Fashion Institute, a trade high school that will prepare the next generation of designers. It’s ambitious but so am I.
My larger goal is to grow Raisa Studio into a platform that not only educates and inspires but also sustains itself as a business — I’m working toward hitting $1M in revenue in a single fiscal year and expanding into government contracts, creative workshops, and large-scale community projects. What makes Raisa Studio unique is its blend of professional fashion expertise with accessibility and authenticity — creating a world where fashion feels personal, inclusive, and empowering.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The Relationship with myself and The Most High Yah, helped me understand myself in ways that nothing external ever could. Bc TMH and I are one, within, it is easy for me to be super introspective, self aware, and diligent int the way I treat myself.
Ive learned to give myself grace which helps my reflection of self, bc let me tell you, if you are hard on yourself 24/7, you will set yourself up for failure. Meaning the unrealistic expectations you have of self will ruin your perception. It is easy to set yourself up…which leads to speaking down on yourself. Its bad…Ive been there.
Also, being prepared for life has allowed me to see myself as a success.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me to listen to my gut.
Ive suffered plenty of times, most of those times at my own hand.
Every time ive suffered its to the fault of ignoring my stomach telling me what to do and not to do, who and what to avoid, who to partner or work with, etc.
This is why it is important to know yourself. One must truly learn your weaknesses, strengths, self worth, and tolerance. Learn the difference between someone deserving of your grace and sympathy, in opposed to those that aren’t.
Allowing unqualified people access to your softer side that is understanding and resourceful can contribute to your suffering.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
Oh man….I went through a time in my life where I was heavily involved with the Torah only Israelite community (its a cult btw, even tho they think they’re not…totally a cult..a.crazy one). One of the beliefs was polygamy. I was in a poly marriage, as the first wife.
Idk if I actually believed in it or just told myself that. I often think about it bc I truly didn’t mind it….but I also was not madly IN LOVE with my ex husband/childs father, so that helped. I think if I were, that wouldve been an absolute hell no.
It helped that I was able to be a stay at home wife and mom, living on 80 acres of land, growing my own food etc. and he gave me $20k for my previous brand we started together: Land Of Goshen….the one that ended up in British Vogue.
So you know, I was in an ideal situation financially…but that’s about it.
The more downloads I get while reading the Torah, the more I understand that just bc someone did something seen as “righteous” doesn’t make it right.
If you want to be polygamous please never ask me out on a date lol, im gonna run
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing?
Living my life to the fullest and taking risk. Im kind of in this safe space right now bc I am a mom to an amazing 5 year old, and have had to start our lives over from scratch. So putting all my money and resources into my business has been scaring the shit out of me lately, okay….LIKE HELLA SCARING ME lol…
Which isn’t like me. Im a risk taker through and through, but I also know what comes with taking risk…and at the end of the day, I need my kid to be comfortable. he lives a very fortunate life for it to just be us 2. Last I heard, his father lives in Africa or something….who knows..
What I do know is, some days, not taking the risk I know I need to at the moment…eats me up..
Long short, somebody needs to throw me some coins….Investors, how are you doing today????
Contact Info:
- Website: https://raisa-studio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raisa__.s
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaisaStudio
- Other: TIKTOK: Raisa_studio
Image Credits
all images shot by Raisa Studio – campaigns, future threads sewing camp, pattern making and cutting
