What to Wear to Work (and Home): Ali Mejia, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Everjay
In our bi-weekly series, we ask female executives, founders, CEOs - basically boss ladies - about their "power suits" - the clothes they wear every day that make any job easy.
For those who are still WFH because of the pandemic or simply want something cute to lounge around in, the answer is Eberjey. since the 90s, this lifestyle brand has made a name for itself by creating the softest, most comfortable sleepwear and loungewear It has made a name for itself. Case in point: Eberjey's MVP Gisele Pajamas (opens in new tab), beloved by celebrities including Kylie Jenner and Oprah. But founders Ali Mejia and Mariella Lovito launched Eberjey in their 20s with little knowledge of the fashion industry, Mejia recalls. Her dream of launching a sleepwear brand (no pun intended) began after a trip to Florence, Italy, paid for with her severance pay from her Wall Street job.
"I didn't like what I was doing and wanted a more creative life. I had been checking things off my "to accomplish" list for far too long. It was time to follow my heart and my passion," she says. I didn't want to be a fashion designer [in the traditional sense], but I loved sleepwear and lingerie. I was obsessed with what my mother brought back from Europe, and I always loved how Europeans take [what they wear under their clothes] more seriously than Americans do."
Mejia wanted to bring that excitement to the American market. Like many entrepreneurs, she put all her energy into planning and launching her own label. Through a friend of her mother's, Mejia got in touch with a retired pattern maker from Natori (open in new tab), from whom she learned everything she could. She started working with me on samples, and when I showed them to my friends, they loved them," she said. Once I had a shape, I started calling all over Miami to get fabrics. We took risks, buying thousands of yards of fabric to make a few things," she says. [And she says. Today, there is no such garment industry in Miami, Mejia says. Currently, Everjay's sleepwear, loungewear, and daywear are made in Peru and China, while its swimwear is made from European fabrics from the Dominican Republic. What makes Eberjey's items especially soft and comfortable is the use of Lenzing Modal (opens in new tab), a fiber sustainably harvested by an Austrian company in a closed-loop system. This fabric is used in Giselle's pajamas and in Ebay's one-piece sleep rompers (opens in new tab). (9]
The brand now also offers swimwear, accessories like sleep masks, and third-party beauty products, and its position as a provider of room-temperature products in the fashion world has helped it survive and thrive even as the pandemic hits the fashion business hard (opens in new tab). It was scary. In the first month, we had to lay off employees and temporarily lay off others. It was hard for everyone," Mejia says. We regrouped as a team with one dream in mind and did a lot of communicating, brainstorming, and getting the message out. We were fortunate to be in the right category.
Like millions of women who have transitioned their wardrobes from business casual to couch chic, Mejia's telecommuting attire is all about comfort, and of course, she incorporates items from Evergy. Of course, she also incorporates items from Evergy. But her look is also neatly put together for zooming meetings. Let's check it out below. (13] [14] "I get up around 7 a.m., walk the dog, make tea, and then do a little meditation. I try to do it in the morning and at night because I think meditation is important to focus myself. Then I do some exercise. Right now, because of the pandemic, there's a lot of peloton. I used to learn Latin dance and I miss it very much. I tried the virtual Zoom class, but it's really hard to dance like that. I try to have some personal time before 10am. That's when I get all my personal stuff done, like getting the kids (I have two daughters) ready, getting organized, and prepping meals for the day. When I have time for myself, I'm more productive; otherwise, I'm selfless."
"I live in Miami, Florida, so it's hot and humid. I always gravitate towards dresses, skirts, light, breezy type clothes, sandals, and sneakers. I don't wear anything fancy because of the heat. During the pandemic, I have worn much more color. I don't know if it's to lift my spirits or because of the summer weather. I love reds, deep oranges, and greens. I feel my mood lift when I wear nice colors. Even at the Zoom Call, I noticed that wearing more color makes me feel more festive."
"I love to wear a lot of color,"
"I love to wear a lot of color in my pants.
"During the pandemic, I definitely incorporated more loungewear (into my work look). I would wear lounge pants with a t-shirt or top. I love pajamas and wear them when I'm on voice calls where I don't have to show my face. My work attire has changed a bit, but not too drastically.
I am also a separates girl, so I like to mix and match. I have a few dresses and jumpsuits that I wear during quarantine, but I like to mix and match t-shirts with lounge pants and sweatshirt sections with skirts. I like to layer, so I wear a light cotton jacket over the dress. That way I can create more looks with the items I have on hand and am less likely to get bored. [My favorite brand is Phillip Lim and their dresses are great for packing and traveling and are so comfortable and chic. They are brightly colored cotton, happy, fun, and very comfortable.
Everything I wear has one thing in common: it's comfortable and [my clothes are] not complicated or fussy. I like a flowing, breezy vacation vibe and don't like tight trends like bodycon. My jewelry should be effortless and able to transition from one scenario to another. For shoes, I like color, like red sandals or leopard print ballerina shoes. I also love green sneakers. Whatever the reason, I'm drawn to shoes that make an outfit pop. My bags are also colorful or textured."
"Comfortable, colorful, and simple."
"Always tell yourself: go with the flow. flow with it" encourages you to accept "what is" without resistance and helps you feel lighter, let go, and enjoy more. It's a simple mantra, but a very powerful one."
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