MELISSA: Where does your passion for fashion stem from? Was being a designer written in the stars for you?
RACHEL: My grandmother was an incredible seamstress and I grew up assisting her with projects. However, it wasn’t until college that I really created something from start to finish.
I worked in the costume shop for the dance department at Berkeley. My minor was in dance. I fell in love with making costumes. In the beginning, I didn’t really know what I was doing but I knew I had to consider movement, body type, and flexibility.
After college, I started to make clothes for my girlfriends and myself and that’s where my love for creating really blossomed.
MELISSA: How would you describe the aesthetic of the clothing you design? Would you say it’s an extension of your personal style or are you designing with another woman in mind?
RACHEL: I would describe the aesthetic as easy, especially now. In the last year, I’ve really been trying to evolve my business for my own demographic, instead of just trying to cater to what was expected from retailers.
There are enough designers that are catering to the 20 something blogger culture, and that’s not really authentic to me. I’d much rather be dressing professional women in their late 20’s and in their 30’s, like mothers for example.  I feel like lately, I’ve been pushing my brand in the direction of how I’m evolving; past the jersey maxi dress that I’m known for. That isn’t all I do.
MELISSA:  If you had to use three words to describe Rachel Pally clothing, what would they be?
RACHEL:  Feminine, easy, flattering.
MELISSA:  The fabrics your clothes are made of are nothing short of luxurious. Where do you source them?
RACHEL:  Our jersey is all manufactured in LA. We have a mill that we’ve been working with forever. For woven fabrics, there are few factories that still exist here. Sometimes we can import and, in that case, we dye it locally.
MELISSA: Supporting charity is also a significant part of what you do. Which charities do you support and why are they important to you?
RACHEL:  I think it’s just part of who I am. It’s not a written part of my business but I do make a lot of donations, and I definitely collaborate when possible.
I host a lot of giveaways and we donate a lot of past season merchandise to charities and women’s shelters. My friends started the Alliance of Moms, so I’m passionate about supporting them.
It’s just my responsibility as a human- when I’m doing well I have a better opportunity to give back.
MELISSA: Rachel Pally isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of brand. You design bridal, maternity, and plus size lines. Why and when did you decide to design for all styles and all body shapes?
RACHEL:  The thing with jersey is it’s the most accommodating and flattering fabric if it’s done the right way.
Moving into maternity was a seamless transition. The fabric and silhouettes are wearable whether you’re pregnant or not. The stretch accommodates you as you grow, so replacing clothing every few months isn’t an issue.
Our unofficial business tagline is: “There’s something for everyone”. However, that wasn’t really true before because I was producing garments up to size 12. That certainly doesn’t include all American women!
I then partnered with Nordstrom to do a plus size line but got a lot of pushback. So, I did it on my own!