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- [00:03]
A
Hey, guys. Welcome back to Skin Anarchy. Today is a Fashion Friday special. I'm super excited about hosting this brand because summer here and, you know, I think we're coming to an end, but I think we're always looking for really great options when it comes to swimwear and just sun protection at the same time. So without further ado, I want to introduce you guys to the founder of Wattskin, Lois Robbins. Welcome, Lois. I'm so excited to host you.
- [00:28]
B
Thank you, Doctor. So happy to be here with you.
- [00:30]
A
Yeah, I'm excited to dive in. I really love your brand. I think that it's. It's so nice for people like me because I'm always having issues, you know, finding something great for myself when it comes to swimwear. So when I discovered Wattskin, I was like, oh, this is beautiful. More people need to. Need to see it. But I would love to learn more about you, Lois. You have such a multifaceted career. You know, what made you want to begin a fashion brand? Okay, if you can walk us down memory lane.
- [00:55]
B
Sure. I mean, this was really a situation of necessity as the mother of invention. I had no intention of becoming a fashion designer or go into the fashion business at all. But I was diagnosed with a squamous cell on my face, and my doctor told me I should never be in the sun. I also subsequently found out that I'm predisposed to melanoma.
- [01:18]
A
It was.
- [01:18]
B
I designed some things for myself because I was searching on the Internet to find something beautiful to wear to protect my skin and allow me to be safely and feel good at the same time. I could not find anything. And so I thought I had this idea that I would make myself a couple of cat suits and some matching skirts. I don't know why I thought that was a good idea, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. And I called a friend of mine who was a tailor, and I said, where can I find some UPF fabric and some great zippers? And she told me where to go. Downtown in New York. I found some great fabric and some fun zippers. I had her come up to my apartment. I said, okay, so this is what I'm thinking. I'd like you to make me six catsuits, and I'd want a skirt and a sarong type skirt, and she made them for me, and I started wearing them everywhere, just for me. I wasn't thinking about other people at the time. I started wearing them everywhere I went, and over a period of two years, I kept getting stopped whenever I wore them. At least 6, 8, 10 times some days. Where did you get that? I love what you're wearing. Finally, I was in St. Barts on a vacation, and this beautiful young woman stopped me and asked me about it. We started chatting, we became friends. Turned out that she was working for another swimwear company. And she said that was the opposite of what I was doing. And she said, I want to help you launch this company. I think you really have something. And it's a needed item. It really is. So she introduced me to two incredible women to help me with the merchandising and to work with me on the designs. Within six months, we launch, and this Labor Day will be our three year anniversary.
- [02:58]
A
Well, congratulations. That's amazing.
- [03:00]
B
Thanks.
- [03:01]
A
No, I love that. I mean, I hate that you had to go through that with the, with the melanoma scare and the squamous. I mean, that's a lot to like, I think, take in when you, when you hear something like that. But to then channel that into creating something that can really benefit people is, Is absolutely extraordinary. So, truly, hats off to you for that. Yeah.
- [03:19]
B
Thank you. Thank you.
- [03:20]
A
No, I mean, I think that when it comes to sun protection, this is an angle that's rarely discussed, Right. Where it's like we're not really talking about what are some better options. You know, I think everybody loves to kind of shove sunscreen down our throat and say, this is it. You know, you either use this or you're out of luck kind of deal. And we never really talk about the fashion side and how much that plays a role, because I think a lot of us, right, like, especially not just in the summer, but in general. I mean, when are you being mindful of how much you're covering up, you know, or how much exposure you're getting just based on the clothing that you're wearing? So I think it's important to kind of shine that light, you know, especially in the skin health space. Like, it's a really important conversation.
- [04:00]
B
Yes. I mean, I, you know, I listen, I didn't think about it, obviously, before this happened to me, but I've sure learned a lot since I started the brand and wish I had known a lot of what I know now when I was younger, because obviously that's where it all begins.
- [04:14]
A
Yeah. No, I agree, though. I wanted to ask you, like, you know, what were. Maybe before you were coming up, there were some of the compromises in, like, sun protective clothing that you saw and then that you really wanted to change. I mean, especially when it comes to the design of the clothing.
- [04:30]
B
Right? Well, listen, for the most part, most sun protective clothing is not very fashionable, sophisticated, stylish, sexy, you name it, it's not. And I wanted something that, you know, as we say at Watts and you can wear it in and out of the water. It's something you can literally put on in the morning. I guess we are to the sun protective world. What lemon or one of those or aloe became too extra exercise and a more laid back lifestyle. Wattskin is meant to be worn in a similar capacity, except that a lot of people wear wattskin in the evening. There are. I have friends who buy the denim catsuit, they put it on in the morning and if they're in a. It's for busy, active women who, you know, they'll throw on a pair of heels and a cool jacket and wear it right into the evening. So it really is a lifestyle brand that, like I said, is meant to be worn in and out of the water and should be able to take you to pretty much every eventuality you can think of.
- [05:31]
A
I love that. I think that's so cool. Especially for those of us living out. If any of you listening are in like LA or in California or Florida or places where it is always kind of sunny and warm and you know what I mean? Like, this is such a great option.
- [05:43]
B
Yeah, it feels so good. I was just wherever I go because obviously for me I wear them every day. And it's not just because I feel like I need to or I really need to a But I took a walk with a friend of mine on the beach this morning and I'm in East Hampton and I got stopped a few times and you know, women were saying to me, oh my God, I love. It's just so exciting for me to, you know, to have invented something that is not only really needed, but people feel good in it. You know, you just. And people will say, oh well, you need your body to wear it. I say, no, you do not need to be a thin person. It actually, it's so fun flattering on everyone. Women who are bigger women say, you know, you've made something that makes me feel so good because I want to be able to be outside, but I don't want everything hanging out all over the place. And this like kind of sucks you in.
- [06:31]
A
Yeah.
- [06:31]
B
And makes you feel really great.
- [06:33]
A
No, it does. I was gonna tell you that like when I first tried all the pieces, I was like, oh, I love this. It's so flattering. Like I feel like the. The way the cuts are and Just the overall thought that you've put into creating truly beautiful swimwear, Right? It's not just, yeah, it's beautiful, and it really complements you. And, I mean, I'm by no means, you know, the typical body size of, like, models or in any way, shape or form. You know, I feel like I fit into this really weird category with. I'm that in between. I can never find the right fit kind of deal. But I just really love. I immediately remember when I tried it, I was like, oh, I love this. You know, this is so nice. And. And I think that's part of it, right? Because when you. You think about, like, you know, we talk about beauty a lot on this podcast, you know, and, like, what that for people, But a lot of times it's really just finding your perfect fit, you know, and whatever that might be, whether it's clothing, makeup, whatever, but you have to find that for yourself, you know, I want to talk about the fabric, though. I feel like that's so unique. You have this UPF 50 plus material that you're using. Tell us more about that.
- [07:36]
B
Well, it was really. This was a learning curve, too, because I have to say, the very first launch that we had, I wasn't in love with. I mean, I loved the fabric at the time, but in actual fact, I really didn't know better, and I didn't know what my options were until we really started sourcing. And when we stumbled upon the fabric that we're using now, which just feels so luck, and it really. It really does. Like I mentioned a minute ago, it feels like a second skin. It's just this very soft, luscious fabric that, you know, protects you, but feels great and.
- [08:09]
A
Yeah.
- [08:09]
B
And even the ribbed. I'm wearing the ribbed one right now. You can't see me, but I. I feel like you feel naked in it, frankly. Just.
- [08:16]
A
Yeah, it's a very, like, fabric. I've noticed that as well, but it doesn't. I think it's very good quality, though, because you can tell immediately when you feel it that it's dirty. And you know how sometimes, like, fabrics are very light, but they feel flimsy. Like, you can tell they're going to, like, tear. You're just not going to wear this for a long time. That is not at all how this is. So that's very cool. I love that. And, you know, I'm curious, you know, how long did it take you, though, to find your perfect fabric? I'm sure that was a. Quite a, you know.
- [08:40]
B
Yeah, no, I Think we came into it in, in the first year and we've been using that fabric ever since. And we, we've moved. We have like three different fabrics that we're using because there's the simple one that just feels, you know, it's very flat. Then we have the ribbed and we have the pique. Three fabrics are the three that we're working with. But all three of them are wonderful in their own right. Initially, everything was lined with a mesh fabric that tucked you in. But I think for some people, and, you know, you learn as you go, some people felt it felt a little bit too heavy. For me, it doesn't. I love it because I love that feeling of being snug in the suit. We have some new ones coming out that are not lined. See how that goes. I think people are really going to love them because when I tried it on for the first time, I was afraid it wouldn't have that good sucked in feeling. But it sure does. And it just feels, really feels like you're wearing something but you're kind of naked and comfortable.
- [09:34]
A
Yeah, I love that. I mean, I think that I'm really curious because, you know, a fashion brand, that's tough. You know, right now we're living in this crazy economy and we're living in a world where there's so many brands. Right. Especially when it comes to, I think, beauty, beauty, these different categories. I mean, how is that for you as a brand founder? You know, what are some of those hurdles that you deal with on a day to day basis? Or how has that been, I guess, with all the things that are shifting?
- [09:58]
B
You know, I, I look at what I would call our competition, but I don't really see it like that, honestly, because I always, I come from a world of, especially as an actor, there's always room for somebody else. You know, you can't live in a world where you think, oh, you know, they're doing it better than I am, or, you know, how can I do it better than they are? I feel like what we're doing is a, a niche one else in this space has done. And honestly, I do feel like we're doing it the best. I don't even, I hate to say that I don't want to sound braggadocious, but I don't think anyone is doing sun protection as well as we are. I really don't. I don't think it's as beautiful, as stylish as thought through. I think that our zipper is such a standout feature of the brand. And that we just keep making it more and more elevated in every way. And I'm really proud of my team. I'm so proud of what we've accomplished and I don't see anybody doing it as well. I really don't.
- [10:53]
A
I love that though. I love that you have that mindset about you as an entrepreneur. Because I feel that people get so they fall into that trap. Well, I have to compare myself, you know, to everybody else. But if that's what I've noticed at least is like the most successful brands, it's. The entrepreneurs are not looking around, they're not like looking at everybody else and they're not comparing and they're not talking about. It's like more like focus. Like this is what I'm doing, this is where I'm going. And I love, I think it's so important.
- [11:20]
B
Thank you. Thank you.
- [11:22]
A
I think that Watts skin is really fascinating for me as a brand. You know, when I look at it from a consumer perspective, obviously I love everything skin, health, you know, so for me, when I first discovered it, it was like a no brainer that this is. It makes sense, you know, for me, my lifestyle and the things that matter to me. But you know, it's definitely, I think category. So how is that, you know, building out? It's kind of a category defining brand, right? So like how is that for you when you're having the conversations, when you're trying to relate to your consumers, you're trying to do on a more deeper level, right. Than just it's a clothing brand and you have a bigger mission at play here. What is that like, you know, on a day to day for your team, trying to get that message out.
- [12:02]
B
Dr. Ekta, that is such a great question because we really are a niche brand and it has been very challenging trying to get the consumer, certainly retail stores to understand who we are. But it is happening in such an organic way. So I have to say, you know, at first it was like, are you a bathing suit? Are you exercise clothes? Are you, who are you and where do you fit in our store? How are we going to merchandise you? And we have been giving a tutorial to everyone all along the way and people really get it now and they understand that we are a new category. This is a lifestyle brand that really can fit into so many different areas. So we can go into athletic wear, we can go into swimming wear, we can go into, you know, lifestyle wearing the way, like I said, aloe people wear that. You see young people wearing it all day long. As well. Except that what you're doing in a wattskin that you can't do in aloe leg, you can wear it all day and then jump in the water. You can wear it all day and go to a yoga class. You can wear it all day and go to dinner. You can wear it all day and, you know, go paddling or go play tennis, go play pickleball, go play paddle. There's just so many things you can do in it. And we are educating the consumer as we go, but I think people are starting to understand that.
- [13:25]
A
Yeah, I mean, I think that happens though, when you have a brand new category that you create. You know, people need a minute to be like, wait a minute. Like, this is not my average. You know, like the thought process has to change. And I think that's what's phenomenal about what you're doing because it's a conversation that now you have in your own mind. You know, when you're shopping the brand, like you're. Now you're thinking about this. Yeah.
- [13:45]
B
Crunch up. And with one another thing, for instance, our body is a bodysuit and a bathing suit. So wear that bodysuit with a pair of jeans. You can wear it and swim. You can wear it any which way you want. You can wear it for tennis, for golf. We have, you know, ones that have collars that are great for golf if you want to be protected on a golf course. So they really are meant. That was a tough thing. Like, is it a bathing suit or is it a bodysuit? Well, it's both. And you know, for a lot of people it's kind of pricey. But what I try and explain to them is, look, you're not buying a bathing suit. You're buying a garment that you can wear for so many different things. So think of it that way. And, and that's how we need to educate the consumer.
- [14:22]
A
I love that. I love, I personally love products like that, though. I don't know about you guys out there listening. I really love a piece of clothing that I can use in so many different ways. I have so many pieces like that I feel like in my collection where it's like they're multifaceted, you know, like you need that. I think when you're busy and you've got all this life going on, like, yeah, I think that's awesome.
- [14:41]
B
Travel. When you're traveling, think about you would have to take with you. When I travel now, I literally could go with a came carry on bag with wattskin leggings, watkin tops, watts and catsuits. I'm dressed. I don't really need much more than that.
- [14:56]
A
Yeah, yeah. And I love that. I think that's really cool. And I think the world we're living in, we kind of need that. You know, women nowadays, like, we have so much going on. There's, like, life, mom, you know, motherhood, like, work, career, constantly on, you know, and then when you don't. I think one of my biggest pet peeves is looking in my closet and being like, oh, God, I have to figure out what to wear. Like, I have to. I have to figure this out, you know, And I've got five minutes. Like, that's the worst. You know, So I think that's really, really important. You know, I want to actually, I want to shift a little bit because I think when you look at fashion, right. When you're looking at it from the perspective of, you know, like, skin health and understanding, like tanning, for example. Right. It has been so glamorized. I feel like in our world. And when I look at a lot of fashion, like, it kind of goes around it. So what was maybe a cultural blind spot that you noticed when it comes to protecting our skin, you know, when it came to that facet of the brand?
- [15:50]
B
Well, I don't know about you, but I don't know too many people that can anymore. I mean, I think younger people. I've got, you know, three younger kids who. Their faces barely see the sun. I think sun protection has become a very important part of their lifestyle. So in that sense, I feel like this was a very seamless sort of. I mean, what's. What I'm. I don't know the word I'm trying to look for in terms of answering.
- [16:18]
A
Your question, but, yeah, it was the obvious choice. Yeah.
- [16:21]
B
I feel like, first of all, I don't really like sunscreen. I'm really happy when I consider hats are so wide brim that I can, like, zip up in my catsuit and throw on my hat, and I don't have to worry about sunscreen except for the tips of my fingers and. And my. My kids wear it now, too, and they. They're very aware of sun protection and the importance of sun protection.
- [16:40]
A
That's awesome. No, I love that. And I. And I brought that up because, you know, for me, like, yeah, I don't. People thank God that they don't go to tanning beds anymore. I know when I was growing up, it was. Was the thing. You know, in high school, everybody was going to a tanning bed, and it Was. I mean, you know, you knew something bad was going to come from that. You know, even back then, I was like, this is not going to end well for you, you know, so. But I'm so happy to see that we have shifted. Like, the culture has shifted a lot, you know, and people are like, you know, it's like self tanner or whatever we're using now, right? Different kind of society. But I think especially still. Still a thing, though. I think, you know, you need options, and this is why I asked you. You need options in your clothing that are still going to allow you express yourself, but you don't feel like you're compromising on something like sun protection. You know, I think that's where it's important because, you know, you don't want to want that beautiful tanned look. You want to still be able to wear clothing that's flexible and it's you, that lifestyle choice. But you're not limited. You know what I mean? You're not like, oh, God, I have no other options except a bikini. You know, that's all I can wear. I have like five swimsuits and they're not. You knew something bad was going to come from that. You know, even back then I was like, this is not going to end well for you, you know, so. But now I'm so happy to see that we have shifted. Like the culture has shifted a lot. People are like, you know, it's like self tanner or whatever. We're using a different kind of society. But I think especially still. That's still a thing, though. I think, you know, you need options. And this is why I asked you, you need options in your clothing that are still going to allow you to, like, express yourself, but you don't feel like you're compromising on something like sun protection. You know, I think that's where it's important because you don't want to, like, you still want that beautiful tanned look. You want to still be able to wear clothing. It's flexible and it, you know, it gives you that lifestyle choice. But you're not limited. You're not like, oh, God, I have no other off the bikini, you know, that's all I can wear. I have like five swimsuits and they're not, you know, it's like, not for the whole day where if you're doing like a pool party or you're doing something outside the whole day, you don't want to be in that all day. You know what I mean? You want to have an option where you can be like, okay. This is flexible for me. You know, I can go in and out with this. So. Yeah, yeah, that's important. Now I just want to, like, kind of, because a lot of our listeners are. They're very much into entrepreneurship. They think a lot of you out there are brand founders yourselves. You know, you're working on something yourself. I would love to get your take on this, about understanding this world of entrepreneurship, you know, and kind of approaching it from, I guess, a standpoint of whatever words of wisdom is what I'm looking for. You know, I should say that, like, any advice you can offer for anybody who wants to go into entrepreneurship and wants to go into this world.
- [19:08]
B
Oh, sure, I love that. Well, you know, for me, when I started as an actor, my whole life, but I. My father was a businessman, my husband is a businessman. So I've been around business people my whole life, and my husband was a little concerned when I said I was going to turn this into a business. He was like, you don't know anything about business. I said, yes, except I'm a very smart woman and I know how to surround myself with people who know what I don't. And that would be my greatest piece of advice, anyone that wants to start a business and surround yourself with people who know what you don't know. And I also feel one of my great strengths as the leader of my company is that I'm very opening to hearing other people's opinions and thought, and I'm a very good collaborator. I think that that's also a very, very important piece of entrepreneurship. Listening, collaborating, and surrounding yourself with people who know what you don't.
- [20:03]
A
I love that. Yeah, that's important, for sure. I think that, you know, it's a hard world. Like, entrepreneurship is a really hard world, and I think a lot of times it gets lonely as well. So I'm glad you said that about, like, surrounding yourself. Yeah. Like, I think a lot of times people get caught up in that world with just, you're in your own head and, you know, you're creating, so you just don't look around and see that I need a support system, you know, with me as well. So.
- [20:27]
B
Yeah, and it's, you know, it's been a huge learning curve for me. I mean, there were. There's language and garment business that I was not aware of, that I would hear my team say things, and I didn't want to interject every two minutes. What does that mean? What is ROA STEM? So I would be busy on ChatGPT as we're in meetings, looking it up so I wouldn't have to ask so many questions. But the thing is, you need to not be shy to ask and also just do your homework. Read, investigate, learn what you don't know. And it's been a great learning curve for me, and I've so enjoyed. As an actor, you're not in charge a lot of times. And it's wonderful to feel like I'm leading something and creating something that nobody else could do for me, that I had to do for myself. It's very exciting.
- [21:19]
A
Yeah, I hear you. I really hear you on that. And I want to ask you, though, you know, in terms of, like, the limitations part. Okay. Because this is where, as someone who was once told, you know, stay out of the sun. You know, how did that feel for you to kind of reclaim your own lifestyle and then. Not only that, but then create a brand out of it. Like, you know, what was that?
- [21:39]
B
Not easy? Let me tell you. My family was getting ready to go on a. When I. When I was diagnosed, my family was getting ready to go on a trip to the Grand Canyon.
- [21:47]
A
Yeah.
- [21:47]
B
And I didn't have Watkin yet. And my doctor was like, lois, a trip to the Grand Canyon where you're going to be so exposed to the sun would not be what I would advise for you right now. I was really devastated. Best thing that happened was I booked a movie, and so I couldn't go with them to the Grand Canyon because I got a job, which was great and not great because here my family was going off to make this incredible memory together, and I wasn't going to be able to join them. But had I not had something else I was doing, I don't know what I would have done. But that definitely inspired me to, I think probably got me more motivated to find something and was probably. Now that I'm telling you the story where the germination came, I'm thinking, what am I going to wear so that I can be outside and enjoy my life? Because I love to hike and I love tennis and I. I love the water. I love being outside. So what was I going to do? Until. That initial bomb that dropped was not wonderful, but something great came out of it. So I guess that's the good news.
- [22:50]
A
Yeah, I like that you turned something like that into something so positive, because I think someone told me a while ago, they said, you know, whenever you're trying to create something, you have to ask yourself, what do you wish existed in this world? You know, and that's like, the first question you should ask yourself about entrepreneurship is like, what do I wish existed? And then that's. That's your guiding light. And so, like, what you just said to me, like, made me think of that, you know, because it's like telling you, like, you can't do something. You're like, wait, wait a minute.
- [23:19]
B
That's something I say all the time. I don't take no for an answer.
- [23:22]
A
Yeah. Yeah, I like that, though. I think we all need a piece of that, you know, in our lives. You have to. At some point, you have to put your foot down. But no, I love Watson Watkins so much, Lois. And you're creating is. I think it's so needed, you know, especially when I look towards. I'm a millennial site for my generation, but then also for even Gen Z out there, you know, I think when it comes to clothing options, we just need more. More variety, you know, we need variety in a meaningful way, is my point. You know, it needs to be something that it fills a true white space. And that's exactly what Wattskin does. I absolutely have fallen in love with your brand. I think everybody needs to get their hands on it. You guys gotta check it out. Especially, like I said, if you're in Florida, California, any of these areas where you're seeing a lot of sun, like, daily and you don't want have to, like, compromise. This is a really, really great option. So please go check it out. But no, it's such an honor to talk to you and such a pleasure learning from you. Thank you so much.
- [24:13]
B
Thank you so much for having me. I really enjoy your podcast so much.
- [24:18]
A
Thank you so much.
- [24:19]
B
Thank you.
- [24:21]
C
Hey, guys. So I hope you love that episode. Please make sure to hit subscribe if you're tuning in to us on any podcast platform. We are available on so many different platforms, so wherever it is that you're tuning in, just go, hit subscribe. You'll be immediately notified when we publish new episodes. This way, you're able to tune in to amazing insights from experts, brand founders, industry leaders, authors, all the wonderful people that we host. And that's very important for me because I love to hear from you guys and really understand what you love and what you want to hear more of. Also, make sure to give us a follow on all of our social media outlets. We're available on Instagram, TikTok X, you name it, we're there. We also have a blog on Medium. So if you're a reader and you love Medium blogs, check us out.
- [25:06]
A
On Medium.
- [25:07]
C
We publish some really great articles on there that do deeper dives than just what's available on the podcast. And it's really a great place for all of you science geeks out there that want to learn a little bit more. We go above and beyond with our research and making sure we're bringing you information that you usually probably won't hear about in other outlets. So check us out, leave us a comment, leave us a review, and we'll be back next time with another episode. Thank you.