Today we’d like to introduce you to Reagan Bregman.
Hi Reagan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started working in tech at Google and made the decision to go back to school to work on my Master’s. When the pandemic hit, and everything was fully online, I realized that school wasn’t going to be the path I take. I love to stay busy and work so the day I decided not to go back to school, I had the idea to start an athleisure brand. I created some sketches and reached out to manufacturers to get started. I knew little to nothing about design, manufacturing or even retail. However, I did have some marketing, social media and customer service experience from jobs I had throughout college. I also worked at a few startups and loved the culture and hustle of the startup life. With the pandemic, so many people were now working from home and able to wear more comfortable clothes throughout the day. My idea was to develop clothing that you could lounge in all day long and never want to take off. I started with a few ideas and a TON of google searches. In my research, I saw just how bad the clothing industry could be (underpaid workers, unlivable wages, unjust working conditions.) I decided my brand would be more than just athletic clothes, it would represent the shift I want to see in the garment industry. I care about where my clothes are made, who is making them and if the entire process is fair and ethical. Along with that, I paired up my love for women’s empowerment and now you have my brand, Exiza, as it exists today. I’ve had lots of highs and lows but it’s been the most rewarding thing I have ever done.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was most definitely not a smooth road. Starting a company in an industry I had never worked in was very challenging and there was a steep learning curve at the beginning. The more I researched, learned by trial and error and became familiar with the landscape, the better it got. Since I shared my journey on social media, I was able to connect with a lot of people in the space who had great tips and advice for me. I took bits and pieces from everything and everyone along the way. Looking back, I see that all the mistakes were lessons I needed to learn the hard way at that stage in the process. I try to apply that mindset when I face challenges now. I know each obstacle is always teaching me something.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Exiza?
Exiza was brought into existence in 2021 by women for women. Based out of Houston, TX, our brand of ethical athleisure wear was made to promote that feel-good mentality needed to live a healthy and happy life. From our athletic tops to bottoms, all of our buttery soft garments are made with manufacturers we know and trust. All of our pieces are high quality and made to last. We sell leggings, bras, tanks, hoodies and some fun merchandise with our lightning bolt logo (gym bags, high socks, hats, etc).
Our mission is to empower women by making clothes that they can feel good in throughout every activity in their day. We believe that engaging in any form of activity is considered self-care. By removing the pressure to achieve an aesthetic outcome, we are free to be confident in ourselves and move for the love of our bodies. At Exiza, we create clothes that you will feel great in – inside and out.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I see huge changes for the clothing industry. I believe that people are starting to care more about where their clothes come from and what they’re made of. There are so many new ethical and sustainable brands thriving right now – which makes me very excited for the future! I also see a shift in the industry becoming more size inclusive. I think all bodies deserve to be celebrated and represented. I predict that we will see more and more changes like this from established brands as well as new brands popping up.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@shopexiza.com
- Website: shopexiza.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopexiza/ | https://www.instagram.com/reaganelizabeth/
Image Credits
Will Stout
