Meet Heather Roma: LA Mama and The Westside Collective Founder
“Just being able to do what I love, be home with my family, travel when we want to, and be able to support myself — this is all I've ever wanted in life.
WHAT DO YOU DO AND WHAT LED YOU TO THIS CAREER?
When I got pregnant I was on a hiatus from fashion and was traveling the world as a private flight attendant. I knew I couldn't continue doing that and I knew I didn't want to go back to work for someone in fashion. I knew I wanted to have my little one by my side; to teach him or her the value of working for yourself and doing what you love.
For years I had been giving out free advice to friends and colleagues who wanted to know about the fashion industry, so I decided to start a quick consulting website. I shared it on Facebook and that same day I got my first client!
In the meantime, while about seven months pregnant, I bought and started restoring a vintage trailer. One month after Hendrix was born, I started doing pop-ups in the trailer selling local and ethical goods. For the first couple years of his life I simultaneously did my consulting and the shop. However, soon after Trump was elected retail slowed down immensely while my consulting continued to grow until I couldn't handle it all myself. This is when I decided to build a collective of creatives to implement all of the services I wanted my agency to offer.
Today we help brands from concept to consumer and everywhere in between. The Westside Collective Agency now does branding, product design, development and production, content, social media, digital marketing, events, and PR.
WHAT ARE THE NAMES AND AGES OF YOUR CHILDREN?
Juniper was born 9/25/20, Hendrix is 5, and Dayo (stepson) is 7.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CAREER ACHIEVEMENT THUS FAR?
Just being able to do what I love, be home with my family, travel when we want to, and be able to support myself. This is all I've ever wanted in life.
WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING ASPECT OF BEING A MOTHER?
Raising good humans.
AND WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING?
Right now it's trying to get work in while having a newborn who nurses 24/7 and having two kids home doing distance learning at all different times of the day!
WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR SOMEONE NEW TO YOUR INDUSTRY?
Be as knowledgeable as possible in your field, be gentle with yourself, and be transparent with your clients.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR A NEW MOTHER?
In the hard times, breathe and know that everything is temporary.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU? DO YOU HAVE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS COMING UP?
During quarantine I've been gearing up for so much: The launch of The Almanaq with fellow Fashion Mama Ruby Nichols, continuing to sell my EMF blocking pouches, rolling out a retail program of map bandanas for different destinations locations around the US, launching an online marketing course called Mindful Marketing with my PR partner Staci Levine of SLPR, and planning a luxury retreat in Joshua Tree for spring 2021 called Business, Body & Mind with SLPR and Cure Designs.
Follow Heather at @thewestsidecollective.