As much as I love being a social butterfly out and about, I love being home lounging around with a top knot, no makeup and my cozy clothes on (aka my Smash + Tess Romper).
Smash + Tess, a new premium dreamwear brand that recently launched in Vancouver, has brought a whole new level of cozy with their modern and classy pajama line. Relax, Indulge and Imagine is their tagline and that is exactly what you want to do when you slip on one of their dreamwear pieces. They have become widely known for the romper sleepwear, lounge wear, and dress it up wear (because you can really wear it for anything).
I have recently swapped out my baggy t-shirt for the “Sunday Romper” and could seriously live in it day in and day out. You might also catch me outside of the house in it because it’s just that good! What makes these pieces even more enjoyable is that their products are designed and ethically produced in North America. Knowing where and how my clothes are made always makes for a more enjoyable purchasing experience.
If, you often find yourself in your oversized sports t-shirts (that’s me) or your husbands t-shirts (that’s me too) for at home lounging you might want to take a peak at the shop and update for some ethically made pieces from the Smash + Tess fall collection.
“We believe that women should feel confident and beautiful every minute of the day, no matter whether it is spent in the boardroom, on a school run, or between the sheets after a day spent conquering the world.”
I’ve had the opportunity to ask the ladies of Smash + Tess some questions about their recent launch and would love for you to get to know them better as well.
Shop Spotlight Interview: Smash + Tess
1. Tell me a little bit about yourselves.
We are a mother/daughter/bestie team that are family in both business and life and equally committed to bringing the world fabulously cozy loungewear without sacrificing style for one moment. Fun facts?
A: I love all things girly like fashion, accessories, and PJ parties… but also love to get muddy on my dirtbike.
M: I’m a mother of 3 boys, so I take every opportunity to express my feminine side… this includes PJs, hanging with my besties, and spontaneous dance parties (even in my car).
T: As a woman in the Finance sector, I’m passionate about advocating for professional women to realize their dreams. Fun facts? I have an almost embarrassingly large collection of hand bags and the golf course is my happy place!
Photo: Smash + Tess
2. What changing points in your life brought Smash + Tess to be?
M: Although we all love our day jobs, whether its in Finance (for Ashley and Teresa) or being a full time mom, it was time to take the leap and follow our collective dream! And here we are… living it! There is never a perfect time to do anything. We just had to take the leap!
3. In the beginning what were you most excited about with owning your own business?
We believe in what we do and we couldn’t help but notice a big hole in the market. We wanted to bring something different to the lounge wear market- an alternative to yoga wear, our husband’s ratty sweatpants, and the male-inspired PJ set. We wanted to do something decidedly feminine and we were tired of not finding what we wanted and so we began Smash + Tess. We were excited about encouraging women to treat themselves, to relax, indulge, and imagine. And we were and are beyond excited to work at something as the tightly knit team that we are!
4. Starting out what was your biggest challenge?
Definitely production. It’s not easy to produce clothing locally. Believe it or not, it is much easier to go halfway around the world to manufacture and much cheaper too! But we really wanted to produce Smash + Tess locally, where it was imagined and designed. We’ve been lucky to fall into a great apparel network that offers us a ton of support and most importantly, extremely well sewn clothing.
Photo: Smash + Tess
5. What gave you the idea to have PJ parties?
To us it was a no brainer! Let’s face it, we never grow out of hanging with our besties in PJs! And besides, it’s a great excuse to get the girls together, to unwind, and do a little shopping while you are at it.
6. Explain what sets you apart from competitors.
We are about women helping women. Smash + Tess is a lifestyle, not just a clothing brand. We are timeless, cozy, and feminine and we aren’t trying to compete with the traditional male-inspired PJs. We are locally made and proud of it! I could keep going…
7. Which is your most popular item? and which is a personal favorite?
Currently our most popular is definitely the Sunday Romper. With its plunging neckline and flirty sleeves, it hugs in just the right places and relaxes in the others! The sense of fun is contagious!
Personal favorites?
A: I’m a huge Hip Hop fan… so definitely the “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” nightie
T: I can’t get enough robes, but the Starry Night robe is by far my favourite. The right amount of dreaminess and edginess.
M: The Waterlily nightie is my fav. I love sleeping in nighties and this one is particularly feminine and drapes beautifully.
8. As a mother-daugther-bestie team do you all have significantly different roles or is it shared?
A: It’s pretty much shared. Mother Teresa is fabulous at making tough decisions (could be the CEO in her). She brings a nice perspective and wisdom to our creations, and is likely the most feminine of the bunch! Ashley takes care of the finances and coordinates marketing efforts and reporting. Mercedes holds down our studio and makes sure that our stock, orders, and day-to-day activities are handled with care. All three are instrumental in the designing and production of Smash + Tess, it’s definitely a group effort!
Photo: Smash + Tess
9. Are there stockist locations where Smash + Tess can be purchased? If not, what are some goals for stockists?
We currently have some Smash + Tess at the Ritz Carlton boutique in Palm Springs. We love the freedom and interaction of serving our Smash + Tess girls (traditionally known as customers) online, but we are starting to consider going the wholesale route. You’ll have to stay tuned to see how this evolves!
10. What are you most proud of since starting Smash + Tess?
We are all extremely proud to see our dreams come to life. On every order we send out, we include a sticker that says “Sweet Dreams”… sure we are wishing our Smash + Tess girls a great sleep, but they also serve as a daily reminder that we are truly living the sweetest dream.
11. If you could give advice to a new business operator what would it be?
Just take the leap and grind it out! A certain amount of patience and perseverance is needed. Running a small business is certainly not for the faint of heart… but absolutely worth every minute.
Thank you so much to Smash + Tess for letting us highlight them in our Shop Shoplight feature. We love getting to know small shops better and sharing their journeys with you. Now don’t forget to head to Instagram and enter our giveaway poster here.
Smash + Tess is social // Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Thank you to Smash + Tess for partnering with me on this post.
I was given the opportunity to try out the Sunday Romper in order to write this post and
share my honest views and opinions.
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