We were lucky to catch up with Morgan Rizzuti recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Morgan, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?
Completely honest answer – 50/50 yes and no. Before I started my business, I did have a regular corporate job working almost 70 hour weeks, so I definitely know what that life feels like. Sometimes I really do miss it in the sense of security and routine, having a clear path to advancement, a steady paycheck (!!!). But what I do not miss is being completely unfulfilled, overworked, and just going through the lackluster motions.
My company is only 2 years old. Since the start, I’ve had the thought of throwing it all away and going back to a 9-5 AT LEAST once every other week. When you start something of your own, its nearly impossible to not to feel like its success is tied completely to your self-worth. You took all this money and time and put yourself out there… it becomes your identity. And if it fails you feel like you, yourself, are the complete failure – not just the business.
As a business owner, you have to accept that the lows are really low and the highs are really high. I’ve had many (and still counting) days where I’m negative in my bank account. I’m screaming and hollering because I’m struggling to build an organic following and online presence. Pulling my hair out arguing with overseas manufacturing over months of delays. And then I turn around and British Vogue is contacting me about a magazine placement. Like, WHOA. Emotional rollercoaster.
Ups and downs are the name of the game and over time I have learned to take a step back and dissect things from a higher level when the thought of “would I be happier back in corporate” crosses my mind. Would I be? Maybe. Maybe I’d feel relief. But I know for a fact I wouldn’t be satiated for long. I have learned SO much more building my company than I ever thought I would – even if I don’t have all the successes in the world to show for it! I may work more hours now (and get stress hives on the daily) but at least its for me, at least it’s for something I’m really proud of and have so much fun with.
Morgan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Morgan Rizzuti and I’m the founder and designer of a sustainable swimwear company called House Of ZZ. I started the e-commerce brand with my husband, Michael, and we launched in the summer of 2020.
I actually got into the swimwear industry by accident – my original idea was to start a trendy womenswear boutique. While researching the building blocks for that I came across a manufacturer that ethically produced swimwear with recycled fabrics. Now, at the time, my idea of “sustainable” clothing was something like…crunchy beige flax pants that cost $400 and only look cool on your super zen yoga instructor. Lol. I really didn’t understand all the nuances of sustainability in the fashion world at the time, but it really piqued my interest. I’m a beach rat at heart and am always finagling a way to get near the water, so swimwear just totally fit the bill. But the fact that these garments could be made with regenerated plastics is ultimately what pushed me to take the leap.
I did not have the slightest clue about design when I started. I draw like a 5th grader. I didn’t know how to measure, couldn’t understand sewing patterns, still don’t know all of the terminology. But I worked really hard to teach myself through research and a ton of trial and error. If you could have seen my first pair of bikini bottoms! Too late. I’ve already burned them. Still a work in progress, always, but today we sell some really beautiful bikinis and one piece suits that I am so proud of!
I love making swimwear that makes the wearer feel like a million bucks – not only because it flatters them, but because it was responsibly made with purpose. I think the average consumer’s idea of “sustainable clothing” is skewed in a sense, just like mine was. It’s not all ill-fitting earth tones and inaccessible pricing. I’m trying to change that perception. Eco clothing can be just as bright and exciting and trendy and affordable as what’s produced by some of the biggest fast fashion offenders that most of us buy from all the time. It’s also not realistic to think that we have to use the all-or-nothing approach with clean living and the way we shop. Baby steps are STILL steps (sometimes the best ones). Even one sustainably made piece in your wardrobe is a huge win for the environment!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Blindly following advice because it comes from someone “more experienced” or from someone you look up to. Starting out, we had no business or marketing experience, so it made sense to reach out to and follow people who did. Don’t get me wrong – some people shared a wealth of knowledge that was extremely useful to us. But I’ve learned to not take everything as Bible. Everyone’s business is different and you have to test things out slowly before going all in. In addition, there are always going to be those who want to give you unsolicited business advice about how they think you should be doing things. Bottom line, trust your gut before anyone else!! We wasted a ton of money learning this the hard way.
We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.
I feel like manufacturing was the hardest part of getting started. No one tells you the rules. What do you look for? What are the red flags to be aware of? How can you trust them to not run away with your money? WHERE do you begin to look?
What drew me to our manufacturer was that they marketed themselves as sustainable and ethical. The only way to make sure that was true was to visit in person, so on an already-planned trip to Southeast Asia, we rerouted a bit and toured in person. We were lucky everything checked out on the first go round but learned a lesson on getting swindled in pricing and have since switched.
Lessons I’ve learned – do your due diligence when choosing one. Visit in person if you can. There has to be good communication. Build a relationship with your contact. Ask questions about things that may seem insignificant and double check EVERYTHING when sampling and ordering bulk. Little mistakes or missed details can ruin a production run and (usually) there’s no getting your money back!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.houseofzz.us
- Instagram: @houseofzz__
Image Credits
Kayla Davis