Meet Sabrina Zohar | Founder, Softwear

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sabrina Zohar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sabrina, is there something you believe many others might not?
That you need to be healed fully in order to find love/happiness, I find that total BS to be honest. I have been on a personal journey of growth and self discovery, making new revelations everyday, but I dont think because I am not ‘fully healed’ that I cant attract a partner or feel fulfilled and happy as a person. Mental health, especially as a solo business owner, is incredibly important and difficult to navigate on a daily basis. I meditate, journal, walk 30,000 steps a day, drink lots of water yada yada all of that, and still struggle everyday to combat severe anxiety and an internal monologue that often isn’t very nice. Were human and I think its ok to normalize that you won’t always feel great, be whole, healed and amazing day after day, what’s important is the awareness and compassion with yourself to keep exploring and show up authentically to continue the growth. Only then will you see success in every area of your life.

What should our readers know about your business?
Story time! I moved to NY when I was 19 to pursue a career in acting, that was short lived. I went to school for fashion and had been working in the industry since I was 14, I have always loved it I just never entertained a long term career doing it. In 2014 I dropped out of college ( WOO) and started working in wholesale for a contemporary brand, I never felt I belonged. Every job I had would result in me arguing with my boss, offering opinions that went unheard and ultimately me leaving and floating through miserably. In 2016 I changed my life and quit smoking, meds, went paleo and started working out, I lost 40LB and found a passion in the fitness industry and knew I had to blend my love of fitness and fashion. I was working at a showroom I HATED but couldn’t get a job anywhere else, the universe had another plan. My mom went to the doctor with a headache in May 2017 and my entire world crashed down, they found 6 brain aneurisms and two disections/clots in her neck. I lost my job due to ‘job abandonment’ ( their response was ‘ what are you running down for? she doesn’t need surgery YET) so I walked out. I stayed with my mom for 3 months while the doctors tried to solve the case, they gave her a 3-5% chance of any normal life and anticipated death or paralysis to be her best bet. Mom never allowed that to affect her and always remained positive ‘ Im going to be ok, I dont know how but the universe does, and im not ready to go.’ While she was in and out of the hospital I started working for an athleisure brand that was very expensive and had a fabric that was soft but shed like crazy. I signed a new lease in Brooklyn, went out and opened a bunch of new accounts, and a month later she closed the company, emptied the bank account, and I was on my ass, my mom still not ok, and to put it frankly, I was fucked. The investor called me in to ‘save the brand’ so my sister and I came up with softwear and pitched it. He decided he didn’t want to do it so I put the project to bed and kept job hunting. 3 weeks later my mom went for her final surgery, as I FaceTimed with her I wasn’t sure if that would be the last time I saw her, but sure enough a few hours later I got a photo with her in the hospital bed with two thumbs up smiling and I started softwear the next day. I knew I found a hole in the market making high quality, sustainable, and locally produced basics that feel like your mamas hug. I spent 9 months creating the fabric to not pill, fade, or shed and launched in Nov 2018 with no investor, just a dream and two fingers crossed.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
NYC baby! Alrightttt lets see! I would start with a walk across the Williamsburg Bridge to Supermoon bakery, the best spot in town for croissants and pastries. After that id head to soho to shop and Lower East side to check out some local designers and hit Kikis for lunch- hands down the best greek! Id head back to Williamsburg to explore the neighborhood and waterfront more ( domino park, Mccaren park, the waterfront in Greenpoint.) Its my favorite neighborhood in NY! For dinner there is Ivan Ramen- a MUST HAVE if you love Ramen, The top of the William Vale if you want a great view of the city, or treat yourself to Bathhouse in Williamsburg for baths and dinner- super romantic and relaxing! Ramona in Greenpoint has my favorite cocktail ( The Hotel Danger, its INSANE) or Hounds Tree Wine- amazing local winery that goes down reallll smooth. For great pizza you have to check out Joes Pizza or Robertas, both incredible in their own way! For the best matcha head to Cha Cha Matcha in Soho or Chelsea, the beautiful latte is addicting!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to give the shoutout to my mama Helen, she’s the reason softwear started and my rock. Without her I dont know where id be!

Website: wearsoftwear.com

Instagram: @wearsoftwear

Other: my personal is @Sabrina.zohar

Image Credits
M. Cooper creative