We had the good fortune of connecting with Adriana Caras, founder of LeSwim,  and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adriana, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I’ve been in fashion for a long time and built 2 companies during different life stages. When I started my first company, Adriana Caras, I was single and there was nothing limiting the time I devoted to work travel. I would completely submerge myself into development and production in Italy, for 3 weeks at a time, multiple times per year. At the height of that business I was married with a baby on the way. My toddler daughter would come with me to the atelier, and my work trips became shorter. At a very hectic, high stakes point of that business I decided to switch gears and put the company on hiatus, staying creative, but taking a position as an online fashion editor and freelance stylist so I could spend time with my young daughter. I knew it would be impossible to maintain the time commitment to my company and Italian production, without missing once in a lifetime moments with her. After my second child started elementary school, I knew I was at a point where I could balance family and build another company, LeSwim. My previous experience gave me the insight what to expect. And by that time, technology had changed the way things could be done. Skype, WhatsApp, and now Zoom, have made International meetings possible without having to travel 10 hours to be there in person. Of course strong relationships are important for this type of collaboration to be successful! Now I reserve my long trips to Italy for Summertime when I can mix factory work, photo shoots and family time! Otherwise my work trips are compacted into less days, but run very efficiently! There is some blurring of the work / personal hours, especially with different time zones. It’s not unusual that I have a 10:30 pm call with someone at the factory in Italy. I’ve learned that as long as I am giving full attention where needed, it’s ok to change hats as often as needed. The golden rule is always be flexible!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Running your own label is not a 9-5 job and takes serious love and commitment. On top of that, the industry seems to encounter new challenges every year, and it’s important to evolve with those changes. I feel that my years in the business have taught me so many things, one of the most important being to stay true to your vision. I’m proud of LeSwim’s strong brand identity and creating a product that has longevity. I’m not in it to make a killing on trends that will be obsolete next Summer. I believe in quality over quantity, both from a style and sustainability stand point.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
LA is so spread out and has such a wide variety of experiences.  Malibu is a must…  If I had a guest in town, I would take them for brunch at the Little Beach House, a drive down PCH to Zuma, for a day at one of my favorite beaches, followed by afternoon frappes at Tony’s Taverna. Nobu is delicious and great for dinner. DTLA also has a lot to offer! Breakfast at the NoMad followed by the Broad, and lunch at Marugame Monzu with great finds in Little Tokyo! For dinner, just a skip away, is Bestia, a longtime fave… And there is so much in between! I lived for years in the Hollywood Hills and developed some local favorites: hiking in Runyon, dinner at The Tower Bar, inspiration & fashion at Just One Eye & Maxfield.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to send inspiration and motivation to all women, especially those juggling motherhood / career that you should follow your passion! Know that it takes hard work and sacrifice…. And special thanks to my family who have been flexible with me along the way!

Website: https://leswim.it
Instagram: LeswimItaly
Linkedin: Adriana Caras
Facebook: LeSwim
Youtube: LeSwim

Image Credits
Eugenio Qose Olga Shutieva Fernanda Valessa Petra Semes Lili Ismaeli Romina Pashollari