Entrepreneurship
Raerae Swimwear Founder Talks Bikinis, The Brand’s Success And More
Meet the swimwear that’s been covering bottoms all over LA this summer, Raerae. Launched in 2018 by Rae Castagno and Peyton Taft, Raerae was quick to make waves in the bikini market, being spotted on the likes of Sophia Camille. Rae Castagno is an model and a young entrepreneur who is building a swimwear brand centering self-empowerment. As the founder and CEO of Raerae Swimwear, a female swimwear brand, Rae is using the lessons learned on his own personal self-acceptance journey in order to help other women with their confidence.
Related: Vacay in style — how Vacay Swimwear became a killer brand
As a young 24-year-old entrepreneur, He is not only able to directly relate to his target audience on a design level, but he is also keenly aware of the beauty standards immortalized by the fashion industry.
We had a chance to talk with the Founder Designer, and Owner of Raerae Swimwear.
Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Rae – What brought me to my career in fashion in designing swimwear and active wear was the Availability and opportunity to promote body positivity for all genders to show everyone is beautiful inside and out. To build back others self esteem wearing our merch.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?
Rae – My one interesting thing that’s happened to me is I’m getting married in the Maldives this was the start of my brand and I always have been the person to not want a relationship now I’m getting married with a wonderful person which has been my support even before my career even started.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Rae – The funniest mistake I ever made was misspelling swimwear on my biography like or the word “and” I tend to misspell and after I publish and have my website live there’s always me misspelling “and” and swimwear.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
Rae – The most exciting project I’m working on is RaeActive Just Breathe Collection it’s a active gym wear collection supporting those with respiratory health issues to help them over come their asthma and any respiratory issues they have to turn that weakness into a strength with fitness and being healthy. My inspiration on this was my trainer Hanna at AR Fit Bootcamp in North Hollywood CA, when I was suffering asthma attacks being bullied by a ex male trainer Hanna has saved me and pushed me back in fitness she also helped me overcome my asthma and when I was working out with Hanna I didn’t once use or need my inhaler she helped me overcome it not only I overcame my asthma I overcame depression and drinking she is the inspiration of Raeraeswimwear + RaeActive
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
Rae – The most interesting person I’ve interacted with is Cameron Sylvia a famous TikTok influencer who has over 430k followers who is a amazing dancer on TikTok! He and I actually have so much in common same mindset ideas and goals with our lives.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Rae – Stay positive always rest prioritize your time be organized and things will fall in place.
You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
Rae – Don’t give up on something even if it’s difficult keep pushing it’ll pay off in the long run.
8. Can you share with our readers any self care routines, practices or treatments that you do to help your body, mind or heart to thrive? Kindly share a story or an example for each.
Rae – Stay positive he around like minded people who are gunna move you up not bring you down, focus on what your good at.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
Rae – 5 things I wish I started
- invest
- Networking
- Communication
- Entrepreneur mindset
- Think. Do. Succeed. No excuses
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Rae – “how you love yourself is how you teach others to love you”
Rupi Kaur, Milk and Honey
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Rae – I’m very grateful for Sophia Camille Collier whose helped me towards my success and till this very day she still is helping me so I reach and become a successful business person!
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Rae – The good I would bring is supporting everyone showing our brand Raerae swimwear supports all women the movement is to show women are beautiful strong and we are women of empowerment strong beautiful women inspiring other women we can love ourselves inside and out without seeking a approval from our loved ones and or significant other. 🧘🏼♀️
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂
Rae – I would love to have a private breakfast and or lunch with Nikita Dragon because she’s who inspired me all women even trans women are women and she’s the main reason I becoming openly trans transitioning into a women she’s who inspired me to be brave and not care what anyone think of me.
How can our readers follow you online?
Rae – Follow on Instagram @officialraeraeswimwear | @raecastagno
Shop Raerae Swimwear Officialraeraeswimwear.com
