All Day Alba is captivated by beautiful and strong female superhero figures, as they reflect the passion for female leadership.
‘’It is truly amazing that they save the world while wearing high heels and with the power of their sheer beauty! ‘’
All Day Alba fashionwear is designed to enable confidence from the moment of getting dressed to the end of a long and busy day. The secret to relaxed confidence. No more compromises. Discover endless opportunities, effortless, spontaneous.
‘’We believe that doing good to yourself and others, feels powerful. We welcome you to fearlessly express who you are in every situation!’’
Meet Rachel Katzin, 45 years old, Founder and CEO of All Day Alba Inc. an elegant female activewear brand that sells high quality, design activewear, and believes in empowering women through sports. Rachel Katzin is originally Italian, a martial arts instructor who speaks five languages due to her international background living in six different countries, including the US.
We sat down with Rachel Katzin to try to find out more about her journey.
Can you introduce yourself, your position and your brand?
Hi, I am Rachel, co-founder, and CEO of All Day Alba, Inc. I was born and raised in Milan, Italy where I lived until the age of 19. After that, I lived, studied, and worked in six different countries. I have a first degree in translation and an MBA. I speak five languages and am a martial arts instructor.
What do you sell and who are your customers? Feel free to include your brand values here too.
We sell fashion-forward activewear that is designed to dress women for their day, from the office to lunch, to a drink with friends, to errands, and finally to the gym. Unlike other activewear brands, we take women from their day to the gym and not the other way around. Think about it: your time is split into daily activities (most of the day) and workout (one or two hours a day). What should your clothes accommodate first?
What drove you to set up your brand?
I worked in hi-tech for many years and after my second child was born my husband was diagnosed with cancer. After two difficult years at the end of which he fully recovered, I understood that hi-tech was not my dream and wanted to create my own business. After my daughter Alba was born, I decided to start my brand and call it after my daughter.
What goes into the design process of your collections?
Every little detail! We don’t leave anything to the case. We put the effort into the design of our styles, the zippers, the zipper pullers, and even the threads. We turn each element into a touch of elegance.
What should we look for in a great piece of activewear?
Quality, style, and comfort. This is, in our opinion, the perfect formula.
What inspired you to become a martial arts instructor?
Since I was a child I was attracted by female super-heroes. I didn’t miss one episode of wonder woman or the bionic woman. I wanted to be strong and beautiful like them. When my karate instructor told me I would be a great instructor, I decided to go for it.
Do you think anyone can do the sport martial arts?
Absolutely yes! In our karate classes, we train with 16-year-olds as well as with 70-year-olds! There are even karate classes for vision-impaired people and handicapped people. Karate is really for everyone!
How do you balance work and life?
It’s not easy, but I love my family and my job so much that I find the way, even when I am really tired. When I feel too tired I take some time off. It could be an hour, a day, or even a week. Whatever it takes to regain forces.
Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?
You have to really believe in what you want to achieve because it’s not always easy and a sense of discouragement can take over sometimes. Networking and speaking to experienced people is also crucial to learn and get inspired.
How do you stay motivated?
I speak to people, all the time. When you share your concerns and worries with people you respect and trust, you always get good advice and it often helps to put things into proportion. Making mistakes does not mean failure, as long as we learn from them and try to improve. The path is not always easy, for anyone. If we learn to accept it we will always find the motivation to go on.
Share us some tips for women who are in doubt of leaving their secure job and starting their own business.
Taking abrupt steps can be scary and not necessarily the right thing to do. My suggestion (and this is the way I did it) is to gradually integrate your dream into your life and once it becomes tangible and concrete make the big step. It’s important to take steps with confidence and this can only be done once you feel ready.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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