Rezort Collection's Co-Founders on Bringing Comfort and Style to Pandemic Wardrobes
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Jennifer DiPasquale interviews Francis Sango and Catherine Liss, co-founders of Rezort Collection, a new women’s clothing brand that focuses on women feeling and looking their best by creating comfortable yet elegant and stylish clothes. Listen in as Sango and Liss discuss their career backgrounds in the fashion industry and how they met (0:53), how the pandemic inspired them to launch Rezort Collection (6:28), and how the apparel brand is bridging the gap between comfort and fashion (10:41). They share what was it like starting a business as female entrepreneurs during the COVID-19 pandemic (13:05), including the challenges as well as silver linings in this experience.
Rezort is launching a “COVID Essentials” bundle to lend a helping hand to struggling restaurants (15:50), and Sango and Liss discusses the products in the bundle and why giving back to other small businesses is important to them (17:04). Sango and Liss explain the meaning behind the Rezort Collection name and peacock in the brand’s logo (18:43), how they each recharge and their favorite self-care rituals (21:23). Lastly, they share what they’re most looking forward to this year, personally and professionally (24:16).
Francis Sango draws inspiration from the attitude women embody when we feel good in what we wear. Her extensive knowledge, experience and admiration for luxury fashion has made her an industry leader, however, after more than 20 years of experience working for other luxury fashion houses, she’s now moving to make her own mark as we enter this new paradigm of endless possibilities. Part of feeling good about what you wear is knowing your purchase will help contribute to a cause much bigger than our desired wardrobe. Sango wants her clothes to help you take on the world and leave it a little bit better than it was.
Since she was a teenager, Catherine Liss has always wanted to start a business. She’s just been waiting for what she thought was the perfect time. But one thing she’s learned is there’s never going to be a perfect time, but you can have a perfect idea. After years of fashion design school, graduating from LIM College in Fashion Management, getting her MBA while focusing on organizational behavior, and four years working as a buyer in the fashion industry, Liss has sharpened skills, gathered resources, and created connections. She lives by the professional mantra “love what you do,” and Rezort Collection is the result of lots of love and lots of hard work. A business in the fashion industry that can offer more than just clothes and accessories, but the feeling of being part of a community that’s giving back and growing together isn’t just a perfect idea, it’s a necessary next step.
Date: March 23, 2021
Credits: Francis Sango, Catherine Liss
Duration: 27:40
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