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

Hi Talia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting my own business was something I never thought I would do, as my education is in medicine. It began as a way to fill a hole that I experienced personally. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 42, and once I completed treatment, I looked everywhere to find products that would allow me to feel like myself again- confident, sexy, feminine. But what I found in the market for breast cancer survivors did not resonate with me. I didn’t want to hide my body; I wanted to embrace it and continue to wear swimwear that I would have worn pre-cancer. Further, I was left with uneven breasts as a result of my surgeries and radiation, which was a huge blow to my confidence. Breast asymmetry was not even a discussion in the swimwear industry. Speaking with many breast cancer survivors, doctors, and learning how many women in general experience breast asymmetry was the ultimate motivating factor behind creating Soleil Rose. I didn’t want breast asymmetry to stop me from feeling my most confident and beautiful in a swimsuit.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
After completing Medical School, I worked in the pharmaceutical industry in Neurology Medical Affairs and Education. I loved the fast pace and intellectual nature of my job and never imagined doing anything else. However, that all changed when I gave birth to my daughter. I was really torn between passion for my job and wanting to devote myself to raising her. After a lot of soul searching and discussions with my husband, I decided to focus on being at home to raise our family (we have 3 kids). If you had asked me when I was a medical student if I could see myself being a stay-at-home mom, I definitely would have said no. But I think that time and experience allow you to be true to yourself. Especially today, 15 years later, I’m very proud of my decision and recognize that it’s not the right decision for everyone. It took me some time to not pay attention to what my former colleagues and medical school friends thought of my decision but ultimately, I felt that I had to do what truly felt the best for me. My evolution into becoming a businesswoman was not a conscious one. I actually thought I would re-enter the pharmaceutical industry once my kids are older. The decision to start Soleil Rose felt like a necessity rather than a career move. I knew what I needed to feel good about myself after breast cancer and once I realized how many women felt this way as well, it was all I needed to move forward with creating solutions.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To narrow a shoutout to one individual would be impossible. It has taken a team providing support, inspiration, and encouragement to bring Soleil Rose to life. The women behind the Soleil Rose brand deserve a special shoutout. From our models to our veteran designer, manufacturer, social outreach specialist- these women have all shaped Soleil Rose from simply a great idea to a reality. Everyone has been touched in some way by breast cancer and share our commitment to providing real solutions for women. Our models are all friends of our team who have experienced either breast asymmetry or are breast cancer survivors or previvors. I am so grateful for this collective of women whose openness and honesty has allowed Soleil Rose to develop so organically and authentically.

Website: www.soleilrose.com

Instagram: @soleilroseswim

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soleilroseswim

Image Credits
Hannah Snyder Mark Squires

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