Soul Seeking

When taking on the new year, it’s important to recharge, connect and start afresh. Designer, mother of two and philanthropist Rachel Roy shares with us the secrets of approaching personal change and what really nourishes her.

In my opinion, fashion is a very strong motivator for personal change. My goal is to help women design the life they wish to live, and fashion was a large part of how I got there myself.

A big part of that is staying true to yourself, your values, what you stand for and why you do what you do. My personal style doesn’t revolve around trends. It revolves around my love for the classics, but done a bit differently. Whether that’s a trench that doubles as a dress or a whimsical print that brings me joy incorporated into a top that I can wear with both trousers and denim. It takes experimentation and an openness, and a knowledge of what makes your heart sing and smile and knowing that it can take a risk or two. Truly everything, not just fashion, starts with an inherent understanding of who you really are.

DIVERSE HERITAGE

At the moment, fashion feels more exclusive. I particularly love the grounds well of change in the acceptance of different cultures, body types and individuality. It feels as though the rule book has been thrown out of the window due to such access of voices.

As a daughter of an Indian immigrant and a Dutch mother, I grew up with different cultural ways of life that shaped me into who I am today. Looking at the world through such a narrow lens—be it in politics, religion, economics or fashion—just doesn’t work.