Being a Mom, Entrepreneur, and Product Designer

Jessica Roberson is no stranger to hard work. She was raised by an extremely strong mother who owned a clothing factory in Orange County, California, and she followed in her footsteps from a young age.

Being invested in growing her career in the clothing industry didn’t stop Jessica from seeing an opportunity that she soon felt driven to fulfill. It was the need for high-quality, and sustainably-focused swimwear for mothers and daughters that inspired Jessica to take a leap of faith into entrepreneurship and launch Saint Maddox Swim.

Jessica and her daughter, Maddox.

Let’s get to know Jessica, what inspires her, and brings her joy, as she balances a growing business, motherhood, and life as an entrepreneur! 

How would you describe yourself in a few sentences?

First and foremost, I’m a wife and a mom of two crazy kids! They keep me busy, which is when I’m the happiest. To keep my plate full – I always have multiple projects I’m working on, go on a lot of family camping trips, ride dirt bikes together, surf, hang out at the beach, and try to stay active as possible in between running my businesses and helping the kids with school. I was born and raised at the beach in California, and I’m pretty laid back, but I also work extremely hard to achieve my goals and run my business. 

How did you get started in your career?

My mother grew up in Thailand where she went to design school. Eventually, she moved to the US and has owned a sewing factory in Orange County, California since before I was born. I grew up around apparel and sewing production, which inspired me from a young age. Once I had finished school I started helping my mom in the factory. Then I got a job working for various furniture, apparel, and swim brands. It was then that I knew I wanted to focus on swim and create my own brand. 

How did you know you wanted to launch your own swimwear company?

I had my daughter in 2016 and realized there were not many swimwear options that were both premium quality and eco-conscious. I wanted to create a brand that had the colors, prints, and style of something I would wear, but made for my kids. That’s how the brand was born! Saint Maddox also focuses on sustainability by using recycled fabrics and trims, in addition to only producing domestically, which helps our planet. 

What has been the biggest challenge of moving from working for an organization to a business owner and entrepreneur?

I’d say the biggest challenge is time management. When you work for a large corporate company you have time in the office that is dedicated to getting your job done. Now being a business owner, I have to stay focused and make sure I am giving myself enough time to get my work done. Whether it’s the fun stuff like designing or planning a photoshoot, or the not so fun stuff like sending invoices and doing paperwork, it all needs to get finished. I find myself working all the time now, and not just a nine to five schedule. Fortunately, I love what I do!  

You’re a mom, right? How do you balance work life and home life?

Balance? What balance? Luckily swim is somewhat seasonal so there are days that I am slammed, and then there are days that the work can wait and I can ditch out and go play with my kids. My husband and I love the outdoors so when we don’t have to be home for work or school, we're usually traveling in our camper, riding dirt bikes or surfing.

If you could give your 20-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Work hard and learn as much as you can while you’re young. I had a few different apparel development jobs and I learned so many different things from each of them that I have kept with me. You can run into many different obstacles owning your own company and I feel like I have a pretty well-rounded background and can adjust on the fly to figure out how to fix problems when they arise. 

Who is your mentor, and why? 

My mom. She worked hard for my sister and me growing up. She always told us we could do whatever it was we set our mind to and always believed in us. Starting a business on my own and running a brand is not easy, but it’s a dream I’ve had for a long time. She’s always supported me and coached me along the way. 

What’s one thing about the world you’d like to see change for your children?

I’d make the ocean cleaner for them. My kids love the beach and our planet. It’s incredibly sad to see how our oceans have become such a mess. At Saint Maddox, we’re actually working on partnering with an environmental organization and donating some funds and our time. I think it’s important for kids to learn about our environment early, and donate their time to a good cause that they’re passionate about. 

What are you obsessed with right now?

I have always been into pretty mellow music. My husband and I played tons of Jack Johnson at our wedding (back in 2009), and I also love Colbie Caillat. I literally tell our Google Home to play Colbie every day while I am working. It keeps me calm and focused while trying to juggle the kids’ needs, school, and work. 

What brings you joy?

Other than my family (which is undeniable), I love seeing our designs at Saint Maddox come to life! Seeing a design on paper or in your head is one thing, but being involved in the development process and then seeing it on someone is truly amazing. I love that our swimwear makes women and kids feel good and gives them joy. 

Do you have any other parting thoughts to share?

“Don’t wait for opportunity, create it.” I love this simple yet powerful piece of inspiration – it’s what motivated me to start Saint Maddox and I hope it can motivate other women to pursue their dreams and goals too.

To learn more about Saint Maddox Swim, and founder Jessica Roberson, visit their website. Then, buy all the matching swimsuits you can handle for your favorite mama and her mini-me.