“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
These are the words written by Irish playwright and novelist Samuel Beckett, and even though the greater context of the text might not exactly have that positive, can-do attitude, the sentiment behind these words in isolation is one of great comfort and reassurance. With failure come second chances, and those second chances make us do better, no matter if we are aware of it or not. That is why having the right mindset is key, even when it feels like the universe is set on making you fail, time and time again. In business, failing can mean progress for the ones with tough skin and a desire to achieve something bigger than themselves. Our latest Cool Face of Bastet Noir has been able to build a successful business from the ground up all by herself, and has managed to gain endless knowledge of all facets of entrepreneurship while doing so.
Taylor Long is an Atlanta-based international plus-size model, designer, entrepreneur, and public speaker. She works abroad in Australia and is a model for well-known companies like Target and Soma. Taylor is the founder and creative director of Nomads Swimwear, a woman-founded business that produces luxurious, size-inclusive swim and resortwear. What started as a college thesis project, is now a go-to swimwear destination for women of all shapes and sizes, and has been praised by the likes of Forbes, Harper’s Bazaar and Marie Claire. If you would like to know more about Taylor’s inspiring journey, keep on reading!
Taylor Long is wearing The C.J. Walker 2 Piece Set, custom-made for her
Who is Taylor Long?
I am a plus-size model and the Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Nomads Swimwear.
What’s your morning routine like?
It depends on my travel schedule but a good morning is one when I get to attend a pilates cardio class at my favorite Atlanta studio, Sculpthouse. I then come home and shower, make breakfast and my morning coffee and try to be at my desk by 9am.
You are the founder and designer of “Nomads”, a woman-built luxury swim and resort wear company that creates destination-inspired, size-inclusive pieces, with an emphasis on inclusivity and sustainability. What are the key aspects of sustainability that are part of the “Nomads” identity?
From the beginning we have always used compostable packaging and shipping labels, but are working to make sure all other aspects of our packaging are sustainable as well. That will include garment bags, hang tags, etc. In terms of fabric and production, we are now producing all of our pieces in small batches in Los Angeles, California and integrating biodegradable swimwear fabric. This fabric will break down in three to five years after being disposed of.
In addition to being an entrepreneur, you are also a plus-size model and a public speaker. Is there a standout project you’ve worked on that pushed you out of your comfort zone?
One standout project that pushed me out of my comfort zone is when I did a lingerie campaign for Soma Intimates. It can be very intimidating to be wearing next to nothing on a set full of people. It also was crazier because those images ended up in store! But once I got over the initial fear I felt incredibly empowered!
Taylor Long is wearing The C.J. Walker 2 Piece Set, custom-made for her
Three things you wish you knew before starting out?
I wish I had known how much capital is truly needed to effectively run a business, the importance of being a forward facing founder (on social media), to not compare myself to other founders.
Biggest setback in life and what you’ve learned from it?
The biggest setback I’ve experience thus far is when I took on a large-scale wholesale partnership that didn’t align with the brand. While it was one of the most challenging and stressful times I’ve experienced yet, I learned so much about facets of the business I had yet to know, like generating SKUs, shipping to warehouses, quality assurance garment and fabric testing, and carton packing, labeling, and more. Had I not done that partnership, I wouldn’t have gotten a crash course in all those areas, which will help me incredibly as we do more wholesale partnerships in the future.
Taylor Long is wearing The C.J. Walker 2 Piece Set, custom-made for her
Books that changed your life
Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult is one of my all time favorite books and was one of the reasons I love reading so much.
Favorite female empowerment speech
One of my favorite quotes I’ve come across during my journey is by Zig Ziglar, and it goes, “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” To be a successful entrepreneur starts with believing in yourself enough to start something. Of course, you’re never going to know how to do everything, and there’s never going to be a perfect time to start. Still, if you’re willing to learn and ready to weather whatever comes your way, that will set you and your business leagues apart from everyone else.
Another quote that I love that encapsulates my mindset is by Jenifer Lewis, she says, “The elevator to success is broken; take the stairs.” I approach my business and duties every day with this in mind. As an entrepreneur, you must be willing to get in the weeds and get your hands dirty (especially in the beginning) because you’ll be doing things you never imagined when you set out to start your business. That could be packing orders, accounting, or whatever the case, but those are valuable times. Not only will you learn so much, but you’ll be familiar with every facet of your business from the inside out, which is the key to being a successful entrepreneur.
What’s in your Bastet Noir cart?
I’m really loving The Tefi Dress and The Neha Dress!
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