Helya Mohammadian
As part of our brand, we like to recognize a wide range of influential and inspiring female entrepreneurs, designers and creators. For this profile, we interviewed Helya Mohammadian, the founder and CEO of Slick Chicks.
Slick Chicks is an adaptive underwear line focused on empowering women with physical challenges. The mission of the company is to give women with disabilities their confidence and dignity back by feeling and looking good. Slick Chicks’ focus is on being inclusive and merging the gap between fashion and function.
Who in your industry do you admire - who has influenced you?
When I first launched Slick Chicks, I didn't realize that this product would have a huge impact on someone's life. It wasn't until I started receiving messages from women thanking me for making their lives a little easier that I realized so many women need these underwear. So I would have to say it was every day women who influenced me. But it was one specific email from a woman that really changed my purpose with the brand. She reached out and shared that she had limited mobility and Slick Chicks would be so helpful for her. Her request made me realize that the innovative product I had created for women to have a convenient way to change their panties also had a use as adaptable clothing for people with disabilities. The fact that Slick Chicks empowered her so much erased any doubts I had about my product and strengthened my mission to help others.
Where do you go/what do you do in order to do your most creative work?
I am most creative when I’m feeling relaxed . When I stop thinking about my daily routine and I give myself some personal space to just think; that is when the juices flow. I’ve also just recently started meditating which has made a world of difference. I really seek creativity from anyone or anything that brings emotion out of me . Observing people in the street, watching a really good film, having heartfelt conversations, and just taking in my surroundings. I’m also a big daydreamer, so some days I will just take long walks and let my mind run free.
If you could recommend one book or documentary, what would it be?
One of my favorite books is The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle . It's about an inspiring journey to find your true and deepest self in order to reach your ultimate personal and spiritual growth. It's easy to get stuck dwelling in the past and sit around waiting for the future to come along. Maybe you aren't happy in your career or stuck because you don't know what to do next. This book focuses on how to be consciously present in the moment and what that can do for you in your everyday life.
What trends in your industry excite you the most?
The current landscape of the undergarment industry is really exciting right now. And we are proud to be innovating a product that can really impact a woman’s life. Companies are finding ways to bridge the gap between fashion and function and we are excited to be a part of that change. It's crazy that 1 in 5 people globally have a disability (that's 15% of the world's population) yet there is still a huge gap in the apparel market. So I think it's important that emerging companies and start ups are finding ways to be inclusive.
What are your essentials for a productive day?
My essentials for a productive day start by taking my dog for a walk first thing in the morning to clear my head, tackling at least one or two big things on my to do list, which is all written on pen and paper (call me old fashioned), and making sure I take small breaks and unplug from the computer every now and then because are bodies and brains are just not meant to work non-stop; so a break keeps me refreshed.
What was the best piece of advice you have been given?
I recently received a great piece of advice from one of my advisors and that was to stay humble in my attitude and be caring in my actions. I know personally I've gotten so caught up in the "entrepreneurial life" that I had to take a step back and do some personal reflecting. What keeps me grounded is the passion that propelled me forward and kept me going through any self doubt and dark times I experienced. The most passionate entrepreneurs are driven by more than just money, their driven by living a fulfilled life and helping others.
What is one product or service under $200 that you’ve found in the past year that has changed your life?
To be honest I found that my online service provider, Shopify , has everything I need to operate a successful online store and shopping experience for the customer. Shopify helps with inventory management & order & payment processing. I've also used dozens of internal apps, many which are less than $20 per month, that have helped me boost revenue and drive traffic.
Loved this? You may also like...