S4. Ep. 276 Becoming an Overnight Success....After a Decade, with Ripley Rader, Founder of Ripley Rader

Feb 18

Success rarely happens overnight, but what does it take to stick with something long enough to make it work? Ripley Rader knows firsthand. She spent years sewing her own clothes, believing in her designs, and grinding through the tough moments before her fashion brand became a multimillion-dollar powerhouse.

Lindsay Pinchuk sits down with Ripley, the designer behind the viral wide-leg pants that women can’t stop raving about. Ripley shares how a single jumpsuit changed everything, what happened when a Fred Segal buyer took a chance on her, and why she chose to grow the brand without investors. She gets real about the sacrifices no one talks about—the financial struggles, the years of uncertainty, and the gut instincts that kept her going.

What makes a product take off? How do you scale a business without losing yourself in the process? Ripley breaks it all down, from building an authentic brand to trusting the slow, steady path to success. She also shares her best advice for entrepreneurs who are serious about making an impact. If you’ve wondered whether to stick with something a little longer, this episode will give you a reason to keep going.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

04:04 Ripley’s Fashion Journey

07:19 Early Challenges and Breakthroughs

10:15 Transition to Commercial Production

13:16 Ripley’s Clothing Line

15:53 The Viral Pants

19:24 Impact of Viral Success

21:36 Marketing Strategy

25:01 Company Growth and Scaling

28:12 Adapting to Rapid Growth

30:01 Team Structure and Hiring