Sunkissed Summer Looks and the Beauty of Upcycling with Hilary de Roy of Sustainable Fashion Brand Royal Native
Show Snapshot:
Pull up your beach chair! Pop on your shades. Meet Hilary Star de Roy of sustainable fashion brand Royal Native, a line of sunkissed beach chic apparel and accessories made from vintage textiles including beach towels. We dive into the beauty of upcycling, midlife entrepreneurship, and learn how Hilary grew the Royal Native collection from a pair of beach shorts into a line of ultra-chic jackets, pullovers and sundresses carried at her own store and Veronica Beard boutiques across the country. Bonus! Why midlife creative collaboration and meditation is always in style.
Show Links:
Follow Hilary
Quotable:
I love aging, I think it is an absolute honor and privilege to get to wake up every day and be a day older. And I feel so powerful and so much more myself.
Transcript:
Katie Fogarty 0:03
Welcome to A Certain Age, a show for women are unafraid to age out loud. Beauties, pull up your beach chair, pop on your flip flops, pour yourself an icy cold glass of lemonade. We are conjuring up sand, sea, surf, summer fun and a big heaping of beach babe fashion with a side dish of sustainability. Please meet the high priestess of endless summer, Hilary star de Roy. Hilary is the creative force behind the sustainable fashion line Royal Native, a line of ultra chic, ultra upcycled one of a kind pieces and accessories made from vintage textiles. Think cozy, colorful jackets, flirty dresses, Boho overalls, beach bags and more. You may have seen Hillary in Royal Native on her sun-soaked Instagram and Hamptons magazine or at pop ups at Veronica Beard. Or perhaps you're just meeting her today. Any which way you and I are in for a treat. Let's talk summer Sunkist fashion. Welcome, Hilary.
Hilary Star de Roy 1:03
Thank you, Katie. I'm so excited to be here.
Katie Fogarty 1:05
I am really excited. This is dropping in July. We're right in the midst of summer. I've been following you, royal native, and your chic fabulous, beachy fun fashion. And I'm excited to talk about this. Can we start by having you share with our listeners when and why you launched Royal Native?
Hilary Star de Roy 1:23
Yes, of course. So I launched Royal Native in 2013. So this summer is my 10 year anniversary. And I basically had taken a little break from fashion when I had my two kids, and I had worked in fashion prior for about, I'd say 13 years, and doing everything from fashion styling to working for Diane Von Furstenberg, and I just kept feeling like I needed to make something. And I started with just a pair of shorts. And you know, I made a sample, I ended up having a lot of contacts from my fashion days. And it was super awesome, everyone was very helpful, gave me names of places and factories and the whole thing. And I made a pair of shorts. And I took some photos and I launched a website thinking that everyone was going to just go on the website and buy them, and that did not happen. And I just kind of stuck with it. I made a lot of mistakes along the way. And I learned so much. And here we are 10 years later, and I I have my own shop and I am just having such a good time with it.
Katie Fogarty 2:44
I bet. Well congratulations on a 10 year anniversary, because you know, there's a lot of work between one pair of shorts, 10 years later, a physical store, I want to get into all of it. But I want to start by asking you, I know you work across a range of textiles, you know, wax fabric, vintage textiles, vintage towels are really big staple. Sustainable fashion and upcycling is now super buzzy, but it wasn't when you started 10 years ago. So what what was sort of the aha moment that made you start to design with vintage?
Hilary Star de Roy 3:14
Well, I always loved textiles. I have collected, I've actually collected vintage beach towels for a very long time, even before I started Royal Native. So I guess I started using them in 2020 When my factory shut down, and my you know, all of the fabric shops shut down. And I was like, You know what, I still wanted to make things. And I was doing tie dye at home like almost all of us were. And I had my local tailor make the same pair of shorts that I had started my business with in a towel. And I posted them on my Instagram. And it was like, I just, I don't know, I made 10 pairs and they flew off the shelves, let's say. And I just kept going with that. And it was like I really had this aha moment when I started with the towels because I really had been doing so much research on how the fashion industry is so bad for the environment. And, you know, I just wanted to take something that already existed in the world that I saw beauty in and turn it into something that people could wear with a new life. And that's really how it started.
Katie Fogarty 4:32
I love that I love that that you had these towels. You know, it's such a great pandemic story because we all sort of made do with what we had in our homes to do anything and you know, I've been on your Instagram preparing for this and I saw you post it I hope all of our listeners are going to go check out @RoyalNative just so they can see what we're talking about. And we're going to try to describe them too because Hilary's products are so eye catching you know, it's like a Crayola crayon box of yummy colors and imagery. And on your recent Instagram, you shared a picture of one of the beach jackets that's hanging in your store window and it's got a Coca Cola logo on the back because it came off of a Coca Cola towel and they're just so super fun. So maybe as a sort of starting point, could you describe with our listeners what your product line is, you know, I know it's jackets, it's pullovers. And what did these these towels sort of look like?
Hilary Star de Roy 5:29
Okay, so first off, I just wanted to say that my Instagram is @TheRoyalNative. So that's
Katie Fogarty 5:35
Very important, The Royal Native.
Hilary Star de Roy 5:39
And I really don't discriminate whether it's a vintage YSL towels super fancy or a towel, a beach towel, an old beach towel, or your grandmother's bathroom towel. I love all towels. So I have actually befriended many vintage dealers across the country, sometimes even out of the country. And they send me photos of towels. I tried to buy them in bulk. Although that doesn't always happen. Sometimes I spot a towel on eBay or Etsy and I grab it, and I turn them into, yes, my best selling item is the Chico jacket, which is a very easy to wear, kind of little throw over a bathing suit or a pair of jeans, and you can really get so much use out of it. I also use vintage sheets and vintage tablecloths and vintage, just really like I've used a vintage sarong before from Indonesia. So it's really just, I don't do a lot of styles per season. I do maybe two or three new pieces, new styles per season and then the basics. So I always go back to the classics, because what I find is if they work, they work and people love them. And they've almost become collectors of a style that they like.
Katie Fogarty 7:06
Yeah, absolutely. Because this is the Chico Jackets are these sort of short cropped little jackets. And you've got these adorable beach shorts and this, the Baha pullover and I see that you've got this line of like really fun flirty sundresses now and I noticed on your website that you call Royal Native products 'future and nostalgia,' which I absolutely love how you married these ideas, because your products and design feel very modern, but they're rooted in the past I get a huge 70s vibe from it. And when I look at your Instagram and the clothes, it feels like maybe what a young Ali McGraw would wear you know if she traded her corduroys for beach clothes. So is there a particular era that informs your fashion sensibility for both Royal Native and for yourself?
Hilary Star de Roy 7:47
So actually, I I love vintage, all vintage, I really try to stick with silhouettes from the 60s to the 90s, I would say that's really where my sensibilities lie. I grew up in the 90s. I was in high school in college in the 90s. So a lot of times I will look to like vintage photos of the supermodels when they're not you know when they're just dressed like street photos and but I always love slim Aaron's photos and travel, you know when when they would just capture these people in their natural element.
Katie Fogarty 8:27
And it was so glamorous and it felt so like such a such a moment in time. We're heading into a quick break Hillar. But when we come back, I want to talk about how you transitioned from being a sort of a virtual line to your physical store.We'll be right back. We're back from the break. Hilary, you launched your line when you were in your mid 30s 10 years ago, I know that you're in your mid 40s now. You just opened your first physical store, which is an amazing evolution. People have been saying retail though, is dead for years, you know, but you are betting on IRL. I'm wondering what role if any, did getting to midlife play in your willingness to take a risk on opening up your own shop?
Hilary Star de Roy 9:09
Definitely. When I hit my 40s I just felt this immense sense of freedom. My kids were getting a little older and I just felt so much bolder in I kind of stopped caring what people thought about what I did. My imposter syndrome started to melt away, which actually cut it kind of just happened recently aware. And I just said you know what? I'm going to do this. I've been wanting to have a store since I'm 16 years old. So it's been 30 years coming and I just knew that after the pandemic that people were interested in getting back out there, they wanted an experience. When I opened the shop I asked my friend Nina, who is a vintage Home Goods dealer, her Instagram is @TheThriftacrat and she is ultra talented, she's a lot younger than me. And our aesthetic is so well meshed. And it's nice to have all of the different elements in my shop. And I just knew that after the pandemic, I had to bring it, like really bring it to the table. So it's definitely not your typical shop. It's a lot more than that.
Katie Fogarty 10:29
So I love that you're working in the sort of multi generational fashion with, you know, with that somebody who's younger than you, and you're pulling her products into your store. What makes this store different? Is it the combination of products, you know, you said you wanted something that didn't feel like a regular store. Tell us what's different about Royal Native?
Hilary Star de Roy 10:51
Yeah, so it's very much an experience to come in here. One of the things that's really great about it is that I want people to feel like they're kind of in someone's living room. And because we sell, I'd say 90%, vintage or upcycled vintage clothing, the things are always changing, and we're not bringing in the same things. So it's always a new experience coming in. And also, I really feel that I draw people who are kind of interested in something different and a new way of doing things. So when I host a pop up, it's not just here's some jewelry come in and shop. It's more, I'm hosting women who create things who have a different viewpoint on how to do business. I hosted my friend who is also my photographer, and she did mini portrait sessions, we're going to do a sound bath, pop up, we're going to do a tie dye, like everything has to be interactive, because when people come in here, they feel comfortable, they feel at home. And that's definitely something that I've come upon in in my forties is just really just, I've been attracting really amazing women and men, to my..
Katie Fogarty 12:16
So fun to have collaborators. And it's also so fun to get to midlife and just say you know what I'm, I launched the store that I, that's been my dream. It's gonna be exactly how I want it. I'm going to you know, I'm going to, I work for myself. And I'm like creating my own vision. So for listeners who are thinking, you know, I would love to launch my own physical store. What what would be one or two learnings that you can share? I know that you sort of soft launched by doing pop ups and Veronica Beard, which is obviously a super uber successful clothing line and brand. Was it helpful to do pop ups as a starting point? What did you learn about launching a store that you could share with our listeners.
Hilary Star de Roy 12:56
So actually, I that was really far into my business. Before that, and actually right before that I shared, I rented space in the shoe store that is literally right next door to my shop. And I was there for three and a half years. So it really was great for me to be there to be in this neighborhood, which is dumb, it's basically five minutes away from my home. And I got to know local customers. And I just finally was like I'm ready to have my own space where I can do this my way. And prior to that I had run a lot of shops, I opened Steven Allen shops in LA in 2008. Before that, I managed the Diane Von Furstenberg shop in the West Village. So I had I've had a lot of retail experience. But I also did buying for a local, little general store. So I've had a lot of experience doing, buying and curating and connecting with other small brands. So I was really ready to do this.
Katie Fogarty 13:59
That makes so much sense to take sort of the experience that you had and to create your own thing. So, you know, in terms of being an entrepreneur and a business owner yourself, what have been some of the challenges that you've experienced.
Hilary Star de Roy 14:13
Um, I really, you know, I guess just being a Virgo, and my partner's a Virgo too. And we're both very into astrology. So we're very, we'd like everything to be perfect and a certain way and that is something that I have noticed since I've become, you know, I'm turning 46 in September. I've let go of a lot of that. And I feel like letting go of the perfectionism and having to have things be a specific way. It just opens up, the universe just brings you exactly what you need. So I think just letting go of that feeling like everything has to be a certain way for or it to be great is something that I've learned and something that I've accepted and it's really opened me up for amazing things.
Katie Fogarty 14:59
I'm a recovering perfectionist myself, so I can completely relate to this, you know, when you let perfectionism go, there's just so much more you like open up yourself up to peace and new opportunities and I feel like I just I get more shit done quite honestly like, you know I can move through things faster. It's not that I don't care but I recognize that like 85% sometimes it's good enough, you know, it doesn't, you don't have to and so, so that's that sounds like something you've let go of, perfectionism. What is something that you've added to your life in midlife, either through your entrepreneurial journey or simply just by aging?
Hilary Star de Roy 15:35
So actually, it's so interesting that you asked that question, because this morning, in my meditation, I was thinking, I really want to talk about my meditation today with Katie, because I, I began, I started working with a meditation teacher last October, and I speak to him every 40 days, and it has changed my life. I meditate every day. I, He gives me a mantra and a frequency to listen to, and a little breathwork. And it is something that is a non negotiable for me. And it has, it has literally changed my life. And for somebody who, I'm a very spiritual person, not religious, per se, but my grandmother was the same. And she meditated every day. And I always wanted to do it, but I could never, I could never get it. I just would always avoid it, I guess, and working with my meditation teacher has, it's just changed my life. Everything has started to flow. And I could not recommend this practice more.
Katie Fogarty 16:36
You are, you've gotten me so intrigued because you are not the first guest to come on to talk about the power of meditation. And every time somebody says meditation, my monkey mind starts like hopping around and I'm like, I love yoga, but I don't know. You know, my brain doesn't feel like it cooperates sometimes. So how did you, you know, do you, how long do you meditate every day? Is it something that you are guided, it sounds like your your coach helps you with mantras. But do you listen to something? Do you just quiet your mind? How does it walk us through it a little bit?
Hilary Star de Roy 17:07
Sure. So the one thing that I think that is a misconception about meditation is that you have to do it right is that there's only one way to do it and that you're supposed to think of nothing, and it's supposed to be very quiet. And that's not really how it works. So Tony gives me a we talk. So it's almost like a therapy session every 40 every 40 ish days. And he listens to what's going on in my life. And he gets a feeling of this is what Hilary needs. And he gives me a mantra which I have a mala, which is a bead - 108 beads - and you kind of do the mantra 108 times and you count the beads with your thumb. And then there was a frequency to listen to that's on Spotify. And it's it's different all the time. It connects with a different chakra. So it depends like this month I'm working I believe on my heart chakra and some breath work and I've moved up so that my whole meditation probably takes about 25 minutes and the whole time I mean, some some days I go completely inward and I'm not thinking of a lot other days I cannot sit still I am thinking of my to do list I am kind of freaking out and it's all good. And that's basically yeah, it's it's just know that that is what has helped me with my perfectionism.
Katie Fogarty 18:34
Absolutely I you know I'm taking this on I'm like committing to myself to try this because I've heard so many people speak about it as such a source of peace and energy and well being I'm so I newly inspired to give it a try and the fact that you don't have to be perfect at it and you can do it in different ways definitely appeals to me. Do you, are you doing this like on the beach? Are you doing this at home? Is it is it an outdoor thing for you?
Hilary Star de Roy 19:02
No. So this actually happens in my attic, which we turned our attic into my walk in closet years ago. It's it's a great space. It's full of all happy, you know, Royal Native pieces and vintage pieces. And so sometimes I'll open my eyes and I'll look around and I just am very happy up there. But it's in my attic and I just have a little altar. It's a little table that I found on the side of the road with some candles and some crystals and some photographs. And and that's it.
Katie Fogarty 19:33
It sounds absolutely amazing. It sounds amazing. And I would love if you wouldn't mind after we get off if you can share Tony and maybe the Spotify channel that you listen to if you're new to meditation, I'd love to put those into the show notes because I'm sure listeners are intrigued as well.
Hilary Star de Roy 19:48
Yes, I will share Tony's information but the frequency changes all the time. So it's not really like a channel. But I will I will give you an example of what it is so that you can share it perfect. Thank
Katie Fogarty 20:00
Thank you Hillary I'm I'm excited to give this a try myself. So Hillary switching gears for a minute. I recently had this really hilarious writer and author Laura Bell Gray on the podcast, she wrote a very buzzy and hot new book called Tough Titties. And I know you will absolutely love the the cover because it's got a real 70s vibe. It's got like that, like, almost like a Dr. Pepper logo type, you know, with a big, fat 70s font, and it's super cool. But on the show, the show, she, and in the book, she talks about being a late bloomer, and she's, you know, achieved, you know, success now. She's got a great new book out. So she often gets asked about what it's like to achieve success in midlife, and she shared something that I absolutely love, which was it took what it took, you know, it took exactly what it took to get to where I am today, and where I'm doing the thing I'm meant to be doing. And I absolutely adore that. Because I feel like for me, it took what it took to launch this podcast, I did it 35 days before I turned 51 Because I had it on my list to do by fifty, you know, during my 50th year and I was like, Holy crap, I'm running out of time, you know, and then I, I launched it like I like I'd literally like recorded six shows, then told everyone I knew I was launching a podcast. And I am a true believer, for myself and from the women that come on the show that there's no one magic age to do anything. And that when you start to do whatever it is that you're doing that lights you up, you know you are right on time. And before we move into our speed round in a few minutes, I would love to hear what your take on this is, you know, do you believe in like a magic age? Do you feel like you're right on time? What's your attitude about age and aging?
Hilary Star de Roy 21:37
It's so funny, because I was just taking a photo of Tough Titties. It's in my local bookstore. I'm going to go and get it after this. So I took a picture for you because I wanted to show you that I was going to, it is it's a great cover. And I forgot to text you to the photo of it. But I will after this. So love it. I could not I could not agree more with that sentiment. I love ageing, I think it is an absolute honor and privilege to get to wake up every day and be a day older. And I feel so powerful and so much more myself. I just had so many insecurities when I was younger. And I always was worried about what people thought of me. And I just, you know, I didn't, there were so many things that I didn't do because I was worried about what someone else was going to think. And now my biggest joy is getting to inspire other women, especially women who are younger than me or even not even women who are older than me and be like, if I can do it, you can do it. Like we are all meant to do something and I swear sometimes I will just stare at a pile of, a stack of vintage towels and be like, I don't know why but this is my calling. This is what I meant to do. I I don't know why towels, but I just know that. Like, I just love them. I love, I love anything with a story. And that is why I'm so happy to be on on your podcast because I love other women's stories. And I love hearing you know, we're all different. And we're all meant to do something. And I just feel very inspired every day.
Katie Fogarty 23:26
Absolutely, sometimes we just need to get out of our own way because I you know I was nodding my head when you were talking about you know, not saying yes to things. Sometimes we were younger because we sort of felt like, you know the imposter syndrome or we felt like you know why me? You know, you get to a certain age you think why not me? You know, why not do this thing that I'm excited about that's lighting me up. And I 100% agree that when we share our stories, we get other women excited as well. I've experienced that myself. I hear from listeners on the podcast that they've been inspired. I've had listeners reach out to me to say they've launched businesses after hearing another woman every single Monday who is knocking it out of the midlife park and doing what they're meant to be doing and I love that you have also breathed new life into these gorgeous towels. I mean I'm everyone needs to go look at Hillary's Instagram. I'm gonna say it correctly this time @TheRoyalNative because it is this sort of sun-soaked sunkissed, just joy of life, of beach, of wanderlust. It's got a whole vibe and you know I have a 22 year old daughter who's an enormous thrifter, she's not yet a good upcycle her because she you know is not handy with the needle but she really believes in, she's also a marine scientist, she she cares about the ocean, she cares about the plastic and the pollution that's in it. She cares about leaving a lighter footprint on the planet, and there's so much beauty and value in the products that exist in the world already. And I love that you are breathing new life into them and are creating your own your own magic with Royal Native. So if anyone's on the Long Island area, you should definitely visit Hilary's gorgeous store. But you can see her products on Instagram and on her virtual shop.
Hilary Star de Roy 25:16
So yes, but Coco, I just wanted to say, really quick. Oh, I do not. So the things myself, I just wanted to put that out there, everything is sewn in. In New York City factory, a small factory, I've been using the same factory for 10 years. So your daughter can also make a business out of just thrifting like my partner does, she takes old things and arranges them and makes them look absolutely beautiful without doing one bit of work to them.
Katie Fogarty 25:43
That's such a good point. You don't have to do everything. And this is a good point for anyone who's listening. You don't have to do everything yourself. Hillary had a vision for what she wanted the clothes to look like, based on what she loves about these towels, but somebody else does it. And I think that's you know, I mean, Dave Goldberg, who's joining Hillary and I today is the sound engineer on the show. I don't have to actually do everything myself. You can work with people, you can work with talented vendors, and creatives who can help you make your dream a reality. So that's another excellent piece of advice, Hillary, which I love that you shared, like, don't be afraid to partner with people that can help you make your dream a reality.
Hilary Star de Roy 26:20
Yes, and one more thing before before we end is that I wanted to say that I truly believe that collaboration, not competition is the key to happiness and success. Because so many people just feel like there's not enough room and there's not enough money and there's not enough space for all of us to be successful. And that is just simply not true.
Katie Fogarty 26:48
100% I love that you share that, my, I think I've said this a couple of times in the show before I don't know but I say it a lot at home and it drives my kids crazy, which is that there's enough sunshine for everyone and I believe that, you know they're like there's sunshine is not a finite resource right as success and creativity is not finite. Just because somebody else is doing something amazing doesn't mean there's not room for you, your voice, your ideas, your products, whatever. So I love it. I love that Hilary thank you for sharing that. All right, we are moving into our speed round because our time is drawing to a close. This is just kind of a quick, you know high energy one to two word answers for stuff and it's a fun way to end. Are you ready? Let's do this. Okay, I wear this Royal Native item on repeat:
Hilary Star de Roy 27:33
A Chica jacket. I'd say five times a week.
Katie Fogarty 27:36
Nice. Royal Native items are one of a kind. I'm still thinking about this item that was sold and is living in somebody else's closet:
Hilary Star de Roy 27:46
Pretty much everything I sell I still think about.
Katie Fogarty 27:50
You're like drat another good one gone.
Hilary Star de Roy 27:53
But you know what I actually know I keep track in my head of what customers have what so if I get like a towel that matches I'll make them something to go with it.
Katie Fogarty 28:03
Oh my God, amazing. All right, you describe Royal Native as future nostalgia. What's something that's past nostalgia that you miss?
Hilary Star de Roy 28:12
So the thing that I miss the most is pre iPhones, pre iPhone life. I just miss the not everyone seeing and knowing everything that you are wearing and doing and having to do a little hunt to find things.
Katie Fogarty 28:28
Yeah, absolutely. I think we all sometimes we love our phones but we also miss not you know, life before them. Your brand is sand, surf, Summer Fun what's on your Summer Fun Bucket list.
Hilary Star de Roy 28:42
So I am headed to Portugal at the end of July for a yoga retreat actually with my meditation teacher and I'm very excited for it and I will be dressed head to toe Royal Native the whole time.
Katie Fogarty 28:55
Take me with you, oh my God I, Portugal is on my bucket list I'm super super jealous, have an amazing time. Okay beach or pool?
Hilary Star de Roy 29:06
Pool to lay out and read, beach to walk and calm my mind.
Katie Fogarty 29:13
Nice. So this is I might know the answer this one it's surf or sunbathing?
Hilary Star de Roy 29:17
Sunbathing.
Katie Fogarty 29:19
Bikini or one piece?
Hilary Star de Roy 29:21
Both, I actually sell swim in my shop and I am on rotation with that. However, I do wear full pieces as body suits now under the Chica and it's very cute.
Katie Fogarty 29:31
Nice. I know you make vintage tile beach bags, what's always in your beach bag?
Hilary Star de Roy 29:38
Books for sure. Something to drink, water. Lip gloss and sunglasses.
Katie Fogarty 29:46
Nice, soon you're gonna have Tough Titties in that, in that book. That beach bag. Entrepreneurship is a roller coaster. This lifestyle hack keeps me sane:
Hilary Star de Roy 29:59
Not drinking alcohol and meditation.
Katie Fogarty 30:01
Nice. Finally, what's your one word answer to complete this sentence: As I age I feel:
Hilary Star de Roy 30:09
More myself.
Katie Fogarty 30:11
Love it. Oh, thank you Hillary. This was so much fun. I really I love your products. I love your Instagram and I so enjoy the chance to talk with you and learn more about you and Royal Native. Before we say goodbye, though, how can our listeners find you learn about your store and find Royal Native?
Hilary Star de Roy 30:31
So you can find me on Instagram @TheRoyalNative. I have a website that is also TheRoyalNative.com My shop is in Locust Valley, New York at 27 forest Avenue. And I answer all my DMs myself. I even give out my phone number to customers. So I'm very reachable. And I'd love to speak with all of you and Katie, thank you so much. This was such a pleasure.
Katie Fogarty 30:58
I loved it. Thank you, Hillary. This wraps A Certain Age, a show for women who are aging without apology. Want more of A Certain Age, sign up for our newsletter Age Boldly over on our website ACertainAgePod.com or follow us on Instagram @ACertainAgePod. We share bonus content, giveaways, links, and mid life resources. Come hang out. Special thanks to Michael Mancini who composed and produced our theme music See you next time and until then, keep aging boldly beauties.