Today we’d like to introduce you to Synita Griswell.
Synita, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m Founder and Head of Design at Bedrock Intimates. Bedrock Intimates is a modern-luxury lingerie and loungewear brand. Our designs embody the positive relationship that confident and empowered women have with themselves, serving as a daily reminder for her to know, value and celebrate how beautiful she is.
I remember falling in love with fashion design for the first time around age ten, in Tallahassee, Florida – where my family had moved to from Miami, Florida just a few years before. There I was, dressed in my [at the time] favorite all denim outfit, in the middle of Spring, reluctant to ever take it off because of how good wearing it made me feel. I realize now, what I didn’t think to articulate then, that fashion can be a powerful form of self-expression. Since then, I’ve been on a journey to recreate that feeling and experience for women who wear Bedrock Intimates.
Bedrock Intimates was just an idea, throughout graduate school studying Public Health at Florida International University (FIU). That’s when I really began to teach myself about sketching, fabrics, garment construction and owning a company. In my spare time, I would visit fabric warehouses, attend fashion shows and practice garment construction with thrift pieces. I immersed myself in the industry as much as possible.
During my final year of graduate school, I met a talented graphic designer enrolled at the Miami International School of Art & Design who developed the logo that is Bedrock Intimates’ today. This milestone helped bring the brand identity to life and helped me see what I could make of it. My mom, dad and brother have also been huge influences on my journey and continues to be my strongest support system today. Their unwavering belief is a source of my greatest inspirations.
In 2016, less than a year after moving to Atlanta, Georgia, I softly launched the brand. The decision to design and sell lingerie and loungewear stemmed from me naturally being a bit of a homebody and having a passion for cultivating inner peace that then shows up as confidence and joy in daily interactions. I aim everyday for other women to experience the same level of comfort and confidence when wearing designs from one of my collections.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I love being the Founder and Head of Design for Bedrock Intimates, but the road hasn’t always been easy. Being a self-taught designer does come with its challenges and lessons learned. Many nights of attempting designs and producing samples only to find that the idea didn’t translate like I thought has been a difficult process to work through. It takes being okay with trial and error. But because of those challenges, I learned the importance of surrounding myself with other talented creatives, honing my craft and designing with more patience. I began to cultivate creative partnerships with a valuable group who understood the vision behind each design. I believe there is always something to learn. The industry is fast-paced. There is always something I can become skilled in. I’m thankful to have a passion for continuing to learn the basics of design.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Bedrock Intimates – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Each year Bedrock Intimates releases two collections of lingerie and loungewear – Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter Collections. We carry bodysuits, bras, nightgowns, pajamas, robes, shapewear and underwear. Our designs include a lot of breathable cottons, delicate lace and satin-silks. Confident, empowered and beautiful women, between 20 and 45, who are into cultivating a life that feels and looks good from the inside out wear our pieces. I think what sets us apart and makes the brand unique is being able to create collections from the lenses of our customers – from their experience. Being a WOC, too often I was faced with ill-fitting undergarments, that did not consider fuller body types in their construction, being the only options readily available to me. Bedrock Intimates was created to remedy this problem for myself and other women. Bedrock Intimates was founded on three core values: Best Fit, Quality and Innovative Design. As Founder and CEO, I ensure that the brand is committed to these core values throughout the entire customer experience.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I am looking forward to our plans for a new Fall/Winter 2020 collection. It’s an exciting time because we plan to debut the collection during our first hosted fashion show right here in Atlanta, during Fashion Week in September. We also value serving and giving back to the women empowerment organizations. Our Spring Collection entitled “In Full Bloom” is special in that we have partnered with the talented singer/songwriter Brittany Bloom for the face of the campaign and will be donating a new item to a national empowerment organization with each item sold in the collection.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bedrockintimates.com
- Email: info@bedrockintimates.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bedrockintimates
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bedrockintimates
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/bedrockintimate
Image Credit:
Terrance Coln
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