Meet Maya Pinn, the small business owner of “RareWear” based in Melbourne, Victoria
Maya’s business, “RareWear” was created and established when her oldest child was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition at the age of 2, sparking the initiative to develop more inclusive clothing options for children with a disability. It is an adaptive clothing business to simplify life for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities.
“I received business mentorship from my business coach, Richard at Many Rivers. We meet either in person or via Zoom. We started by developing a business plan, focusing on financial aspects, personal and business income, and marketing strategies. Richard always gives me a sense of hope and motivates me to keep making progress and never give up. His support includes generating new ideas and helping me refine my business approach.” – Maya Pinn, RareWear
Read more about Maya’s business journey so far:
Maya’s Business
My business, “RareWear” is an adaptive clothing business for children with disabilities. It has been operating for over a year, I opened it in 2022 when my son was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition at the age of 2, sparking the initiative to develop more inclusive clothing options for children with a disability.
What were you doing before you made contact with Many Rivers?
I am a full-time university student doing my bachelor’s degree in health sciences and I used to work at a retail store before that. Currently, I am working at a not-for-profit organisation, and I am a single mum to my two kids. In my spare time, I have also worked full time at Supercheap Auto sharing my mad car skills taught to me by my dad, and undertaking community advisory roles with a range of organisations, including SWAN Australia.
Why did you want to go into business?
When my son Lloyd was born, he weighed 8½ pounds (3.6kg) and seemed perfect. But at six months old, his journey took a different path. It took 2.5 years to find out he has a gene mutation causing ‘IQsec2 Associated Disorder.’ Now 6 years old, Lloyd uses a wheelchair, has a feeding tube, and deals with epilepsy and intellectual disabilities. Inspired to make my days easier as dressing him up used to take up so much of my time, I started RareWear, my clothing range for disabled children. It all began with creating matching outfits for him and his 3-year-old sister. My business focuses on adaptive clothing to simplify life for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities. I believe in inclusivity, comfort, and style, with each piece reflecting resilience, love, and the unique journey of parenting and caregiving.
Working with Many Rivers
I received business mentorship from my Many Rivers business coach, Richard. We meet either in person or via Zoom. We started by developing a business plan, focusing on financial aspects, personal and business income, and marketing strategies. Richard always gives me a sense of hope and motivates me to keep making progress and never give up. His support includes generating new ideas and helping me refine my business approach.
Did you get a loan from MR? How did you use the loan?
No, I didn’t get a loan from Many Rivers.
What did you find the most useful about the assistance from Many Rivers?
I found the overall business mentorship very useful.
Do you have any current employees? If so, how many employees? Are they full-time or part-time?
It’s just me.
Biggest Challenge
Consistency in running and growing my business. It’s a personal challenge that I face every now and then due to my son’s condition.
Biggest Success
For me, the biggest success is to be able to provide accessible everyday clothing for children with special needs. After struggling with my son’s clothing, I feel proud of myself for making fashion easy and comfortable for both the disabled child and the carer. Another success is that I got featured in a podcast recently Toopeas in a Podcast.
Biggest Change
This business has helped me bring my passion to life, I take pride in being able to help families who have kids with disabilities through my unique clothing and accessories range.
Future Goals
In the long term, I want RareWear to become the top clothing brand for kids with disabilities and be recognized for making a positive impact on their lives. In the short term, my goal is to keep moving forward and stay consistent.
Thank you, Maya for sharing your business journey with us. We wish you the best of luck with future endeavours and business success.
If you would like to stay updated with Maya and her small business, follow “RareWear” through the following links:
Website: https://www.rare-wear.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rarewearau
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rarewearau/
We love to encourage people to take the first step towards kick-starting their small business ideas. Do you have a business idea?
CLICK HERE to see if Many Rivers is right for you
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