Meet Whitney Smith | Creative Director & Founder

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

Hi Whitney, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
I think I’ve made a great impact on my daughter when it comes to hard work and discipline, and teaching her what it means to produce a product in exchange for income. She is seeing first hand the work it takes to make money, the concept of producing a product, getting it ready to ship, and also when the product is on the shelves inside the store, she is learning the process of trade and commerce. She is always watching my every move, especially while she is home from school. She has definitely gained interest in being a creative entrepreneur, she already creates her own “shipments” and “orders to drop off in store”, it’s quite cute!

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.
My entire career has been centered around design, product development and product management. Before ROWSIE VAIN, I worked in the fashion industry and had managed a wide range of product categories from footwear, to apparel, lingerie and swimwear, to hard goods such as handbags, skateboards and sporting goods. My love for creating, design and print still remains in the work I do as a beauty & wellness entrepreneur, developing formulas and creating the imagery and packaging allows me to express an identity and create an experience for the product’s end user. I’ve been able to apply my previous experiences working with buyers, retail partners, and manufacturing processes to excel in production and sales of my own products. Working in a new product category and industry has been challenging and a huge learning experience, but staying true to myself and building off of authenticity has allowed me to create my own path, setting me apart from others. I have a passion for creating and I now have the freedom to create whatever I choose to. I put my heart and soul into these products, to create something truly special and innovative, and it shows. I am most excited to offer people a new experience of indulging into themselves naturally, an experience they will want to consistantly repeat and find refuge in. ROWSIE VAIN embodies an unapologetic self love that radiates through it’s eclectic yet modern minimalist design, proven results and sublime scents. My inspiration grew from the ground with the ambition to translate outdoor experiences and botanical influence into timeless beauty, multi-functional products and euphoric indulgences. It is my absolute pleasure to share Earth’s magical resources and translate them into empowering oneself.

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?
Ojai has so many places to explore – my first stop would most definitely be the mountains! I recommend all visitors to experience one of Ojai’s many hiking trails. Even just a drive around the town, up the mountainous route of highway 33 or 150, is a fun drive and the easiest way to explore Ojai’s wild beauty. Rose Valley is a beautiful place to visit and hang out in nature. After a day of exploring, I would end it with a great meal, at Boccali’s in East End Ojai, where they serve the most delicious pizza, italian food and strawberry shortcake for dessert! A few of my other favorite places to eat and drink include The Nest, Casa De Lagos, Topa Mountain Winery, Ojai Coffee Roasting Co., Summit Drive-In, and Revel kombucha bar. A few places where I love to visit and shop include Dekor & Co., Bart’s Books, Serendipity Toy Store, and Treasures of Ojai.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to two of my best friends, Erika and Chenelle – they are always behind me 100%, supporting me, encouraging me to continue and always there to lend a helping hand. Women supporting women is the most impactful way we can all reach success in anything we choose to do.

Website: www.rowsievain.com
Instagram: @rowsievain
Facebook: @rowsievain