Several people in town were wearing these cool puffer jackets made out of the coolest prints. When I asked who made them I was surprised – Rachel Antonoff (yes the sister of Taylor Swift’s long time collaborator). Rachel says, “We all need clothes but I believe clothes should do more than cover us. They should tell our stories. They should make us laugh. They should fit real bodies living real lives.”
Rachel launched her namesake brand in 2009 with seven bold dresses and a very clear point of view. After co-founding Mooka Kinney in her early twenties, she was ready to create something more personal — saturated colors, narrative-driven prints, and pieces that felt witty, wearable, and just a little rebellious.
And the start? Pure scrappy magic.
“We went to Mood Fabrics, found these prints, and took them to my childhood neighbor in New Jersey — Marlene,” Rachel recalls. Marlene wasn’t a professional seamstress. She had made Rachel’s college curtains. That was qualification enough.
So they headed to Marlene’s basement — which Rachel describes as walking into Willy Wonka’s craft studio — trims, fabric, creative chaos everywhere. They had three ideas. Not polished sketches. Just ideas. They handed over fabric and trims and somehow translated the vision.
Rachel remembers going back to see the first sample hanging there. “That was an idea last week, and this week it’s tangible.” That moment — when something in your head becomes real — is the spark every founder recognizes. It’s never exactly what you imagined. It’s usually better.
They photographed the samples themselves. No models. No production team. Just friends, self-confidence, and a belief that this could work. Rachel laughs now about that boldness. Teen Vogue was the only editor to respond when they sent the photos out. That single yes led to a major early order from Barneys New York.
From there, Rachel built something enduring. A brand known for delightfully offbeat prints (hello, pasta), inclusive sizing, ethical production, and clothes constructed for actual life — sitting, dancing, working, heartbreak, and morning-after coffee.
Rachel Antonoff isn’t about fashion gatekeeping. It’s about reclaiming getting dressed as an act of personality and joy. Three dresses. A basement in New Jersey. One editor who said yes.
VentureMom Tip
Bring your vision to life and put it out in the world.
