Today we’d like to introduce you to Anika Rodericks.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Anika. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My journey started in my hometown of Dallas, TX, as a student at Southern Methodist University, majoring in Finance to pursue a career in Corporate Law. Two years into my degree, I realized that I wasn’t satisfied with what I was studying and began considering changing majors to Fashion. Growing up fashion and art were always something I was very passionate about, but I always strayed from the idea of making it my career due to how competitive the industry is. However, I’ve never been afraid of a challenge and after getting my mother’s support, I made the decision to switch my major. I moved to Chicago to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), where I was enrolled in the Fashion Design program. Looking back now, I can say that was the best decision I made.
SAIC is where I discovered my identity and voice as a designer. Different from many fashion design programs, SAIC focused mainly on the art side of fashion, teaching students how to bring meaning to their work and to question it. For example, instead of teaching us how to simply make a pair of pants, they would push that idea and ask us to redefine and recreate a pair of pants by pushing the boundaries and creating something that hasn’t been done or seen before. They really shaped us on how to think about fashion and art from a different perspective. Being able to get my Bachelor’s in Fine Art from SAIC is something I’m truly grateful for because it has influenced and shaped my practice as a designer and how I create art.
Upon graduating, I moved to New York and interned for leading womenswear designer Proenza Schouler. During my internship, I was on the production team and got a first-hand look at what the fast-paced industry is like. This is where I was really able to learn how to communicate with factories both domestic and international, fabric/trim wholesalers, and running a brand. At the end of my internship, I was offered a position with the company which had been my dream all along. However, I was 27 at the time and I realized that I was at a crossroads. I could either take the job and help create and build up another brand, or I could take a leap of faith and start something of my own. I ended up choosing the latter and moved back home to Texas and started AR.
Has it been a smooth road?
My road has thankfully been smooth and steady but has had its difficulties along the way. It was definitely a challenge to be a one-woman team in the beginning. I was doing everything from sketching/sewing the designs to marketing and packaging them. However, that’s sometimes what you have to do to make a dream a reality and along the way, I have learned so much about marketing/branding.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
AR is a luxury brand created for the contemporary woman who revels in expressing her feminine allure. The brand features exclusive fashion-forward styles in bold statement colors, demonstrating an effortlessly sexy look. With an emphasis on craftsmanship, each swimsuit is meticulously designed and crafted to ensure the perfect fit. AR Swimwear has been requested for Kourtney Kardashian, Olivia Culpo, Jen Selter, Durrani Popal, and Amanda Steele. AR currently specializes in swimwear and will be expanding to womenswear this Fall/Winter 2020.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, I think Dallas is a great place to start a business, especially for swimwear. The sense of community in Dallas is strong! When launching AR, this is one of the biggest aspects that helped me. Having a strong circle of friends that helped promote and spread the word about my brand was such an immense help. It really allowed me to launch AR with an audience and build brand awareness.
Pricing:
- Swimwear – $90-$130 (sold as sets)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.anikarodericks.com
- Email: info@anikarodericks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anikarodericks
Image Credit:
theoxproject
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