Welcome to Studio Sessions — a monthly column spotlighting women who are turning creative vision into thriving ventures. Each month, we’ll bring intimate conversations that reveal the unfiltered reality of building something meaningful, balancing creative integrity with business growth, and defining success on personal terms.

For our Mother’s Day edition, I’m thrilled to feature Bryn and Lisa Rhoads, the mother-daughter force behind luxury shirting label The Anteros. Since discovering them last fall, I’ve admired their creations and approach to modern luxury. It’s an absolute honor to share their story.

Their partnership captures the special creative alchemy that happens when generations collaborate — combining Lisa’s business savvy with Bryn’s industry expertise. Together, they’re reimagining women’s shirting with a commitment to quality, longevity, and transparent pricing. Their vision? Creating forever pieces that transcend trends and become the backbone of a thoughtful wardrobe.

Heads up: This one’s a longer read; best enjoyed in app. These interviews have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

It’s truly amazing to see your child—the one you taught to walk, talk, read, and write—become so competent and a partner in every sense. We can talk through anything, even disagreements. As we grow the business, we expand our friendship and shared interests. It’s the greatest opportunity—sharing a journey where we’re together, yet can leverage our strengths and lead each other in new directions - Lisa

How did The Anteros come to life? What inspired you both to create a luxury shirting label together?

Bryn: I’ve always been drawn to my mom’s closet—borrowing her pieces for as long as I can remember. Every time I wore one, I’d get asked, “Where is that from?” It sparked something in me: her wardrobe wasn’t just stylish, it had longevity. We started to realize that it was the pieces from 20 years ago—the ones with thoughtful tailoring and beautiful fabrics—that still felt relevant today. They didn’t just follow trends, they transcended them.

My background is in styling—runway, editorials, private clients, and most recently brand styling at Tibi—so I’ve always had a trained eye for silhouettes and construction. As my background in the industry grew, my mom and I were constantly talking about quality, design, thoughtful pricing, and noticed there was a real gap in the market for women’s shirting: pieces with the same structure, integrity, and quality as men’s, but designed with the female form in mind. Most options were either overly masculine or overly styled—and rarely both wearable and elevated.

That’s really where The Anteros began. We wanted to create what we were missing: beautifully made, intentionally priced shirting that doesn’t chase seasons, but instead becomes part of your forever wardrobe.

Lisa: I’ve loved fashion my entire life—starting with sewing and designing clothes for both my Barbie and Dawn dolls. I have been drawn to fabrics, clothing and just loved the experience of design and how it changes people—providing confidence and comfort. I went into business and followed this path but always knew I would do something in fashion—and each time I came back to the same idea—women’s shirting. Very few look at this item, yet it is a key element of a wardrobe—one that men have in variation with quality fabric.

As my daughter grew, we shared many years of exploring the streets of Paris where I got her first shoes and clothes after making some of her dresses from Liberty of London fabric... we shared so much joy. As she grew, I saw the incredible skill and creativity she had and we knew this is the perfect combination—her expertise and experience in the sector, and our joint styling ethos and my business background—so it just fell together. Quite organically.

Was there a moment when you both looked at each other and thought, “We’re really doing this”? When did it click as a real business?

Bryn: I don’t think I could pin one pivotal moment because honestly, my whole life with my mom was building toward this. She’s always been my best friend—there’s a trust and understanding we’ve built over years. Growing up watching my parents build their careers and sitting in on business dinners at age 5 gave me insight into how my mom would be as a business partner and showed me how incredibly intelligent and creative she is.

When we started Anteros, transitioning to business partners felt seamless because I knew what to expect from watching her create my whole life—which is one of the best gifts she ever gave me!

Lisa: Our partnership evolved so organically it is challenging to choose just one moment. If I had to choose, I would say the evolution came as Bryn would come to a design meeting, or we would be on a call, it was clear, my daughter has come into her own, and she is so competent. I shared with her father what an amazing business partner she is—she spent a lifetime observing her parents, and she is going to do better.

Seeing your child—who you taught to read and write—be this competent and share your vision—is beyond inspiring. From there, we naturally fell into complementary roles. This was such a joy because I see it as an opportunity to grow something together and eventually hand it to her as the next generation—both a legacy and joint gift to one another.

Little Miss Personality

Angela Galvez

·

Apr 3

Read full story

Tell us what happens behind the scenes when it comes to creating a new design. How do your distinct perspectives complement each other?

Bryn: For me it’s always rooted in what sparks inspiration and feeling. I’m definitely the pickier one with design—I’m intentional about what I like and how it fits the body. My process starts with deep mood-boarding, primarily referencing the ‘90s and earlier—not just fashion, but mood, texture, and color. I’m drawn to imagery that captures an emotional resonance or atmosphere.

Once I’ve gathered references, the process becomes collaborative. We bring our ideas to the table, creating a kind of creative collage—layering, adjusting, and refining until it feels distinctly ours. It’s funny—we’re often drawn to the same foundational concepts with slightly different interpretations. It really comes down to feeling which variation speaks to us most in the moment.

Lisa: I would say I start from a constant stream of exploring what I am drawn to and what feels right in the moment. I’ve always been drawn to the sleeve and how it can add a sense of drama to the hand—which in Italian culture is a language unto itself. A woman’s sensuality is often expressed through her hands, so adding intrigue there is where my design process begins.

I look at starting with a sleeve which highlights where we are in this design moment, then add touches based on how it feels to move. I first test it in white, consider if the fabrication should shift, then play with shaping and draping. I’m never driven by trends—I start with what I’d find beautiful in my own closet.

How do you divide roles and navigate the day-to-day responsibilities? Has your dynamic evolved as the business has grown?

Bryn: I’d say that our roles found us instead of us finding them. We share the same vision for Anteros, yet have different backgrounds—which is a strong asset. We communicate constantly—when I don’t know something I ask her; when she doesn’t know something she asks me; and if we both don’t know, then we learn it together!

What’s great is how we support each other’s strengths without competition—where she shines more, she leads and vice versa. The only part we share equally is design. We’re also intentional about creating a space of safety and positivity, leading with love—not only with each other but with everyone we work with. It’s essential to have an environment where we can be freely creative and give each other room to excel in our own ways.

Lisa: Our roles came naturally—we gravitated to our strengths, and when we didn’t know something, we both researched, networked, and learned together. To this day, it’s clear what we each do without needing to explicitly define roles.

We both design—then take different responsibilities, each leading without question. I love how we’re both accountable and supportive of one another—sharing an ethos of positivity that extends to everyone we work with. What’s most exciting is seeing the models smiling and happy after a photoshoot. This is how we like to work together because, after all, what we create is about beauty and joy.

The concept of luxury is evolving so quickly in fashion. What does “modern luxury” mean to you at The Anteros? I’m curious how that philosophy shows up in your materials, craftsmanship, and design choices.

Bryn: To me, modern luxury is about ease and the ability to spark creativity. At The Anteros, that means creating intentionally designed pieces that feel elevated but never intimidating—taking the best of what luxury has to offer while leaving behind what feels outdated.

You see it in our approach to fit and form. We design with intention: with larger collars, because slim ones feel like you’re about to head into a corporate meeting; wider cuffs to invite a more relaxed play on structure; and thoughtful button placement that accounts for the bust. These small nuances are luxury—honoring those subtle decisions you don’t always see, but definitely feel.

Lisa: I think luxury is a combination of timeless style with tactile fabrics, combined with color. It’s something timeless, yet with a special touch that feels perfect for the NOW moment. I’m enthralled with color and how it impacts people’s moods. Color is a luxury that few play with— and while we start with white, we’re adding color as part of our modern approach to luxury.

The Group Chat | Vol. 3

Angela Galvez

·

September 22, 2024

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How has working together on The Anteros shaped your connection? As mother-daughter and beyond.

Bryn: I’ve always thought of our relationship as incredibly close—she understands me like no one else. That deep understanding of each other has been key to our success with Anteros. Working together has only deepened our connection, revealing facets we might have only heard about before. Shared experiences always bring you closer. We joke that we’ve known each other in past lifetimes—which I believe is true!

Lisa: It’s truly amazing to see your child—the one you taught to walk, talk, read and write—become so competent and a partner in every sense. Daily I witness her competence and our mutual support. We can talk through anything, even disagreements. As we grow the business, we expand our friendship and shared interests. It’s the greatest opportunity—sharing a journey where we’re together, yet can leverage our strengths and lead each other in new directions.

Every founder faces hurdles, especially in the luxury space. What’s been your biggest challenge in building The Anteros, and how have you navigated that together?

Lisa: The most challenging part is creating a model that’s right for this moment. We started the brand not just to offer clothing, but to do it thoughtfully—shifting from luxury defined by high cost to a model that reconsiders all aspects of the business.

Our core thesis is moving from how things were done to what works for the entire supply chain—beyond just ESG sustainability. We’re asking how to deliver quality while reconstructing distribution in ways that benefit the whole supply chain. This allows both direct-to-consumer models and technology to bring true value to customers and production partners.

Bryn embraced these concepts even though they were challenging to communicate initially. This shift in model has been both our greatest challenge and opportunity. We’re still moving these ideas forward—so stay tuned as we build the business.

Bryn: I 100% agree—at Anteros we’re creating a new luxury fashion model rooted in thoughtfulness: quality, longevity, pricing, and design. We’re building it now, though sometimes wish we could move faster!

There’s such rich history in tailoring. I’m wondering which shirting traditions or techniques you’re most passionate about preserving, and how you’re reimagining them for today’s woman?

Bryn: We’re incredibly fortunate to work with some of the oldest and most respected fabric mills, as well as a heritage production factory that specializes in tailoring and fit. This foundation—rooted in traditional seamstress techniques—is what gives us the freedom to layer in our more nuanced, modern ideas. It’s never about reinventing just to be different; it’s about knowing what to preserve and where we can thoughtfully evolve.

I’m especially passionate about hand-stitching techniques. To me, that’s the essence of luxury shirting—there’s a slowness and intention in that kind of craftsmanship that you simply can’t replicate. Our producers bring over 60 years of generational knowledge to the table, which gives us a deep understanding of what’s worth modernizing and what’s best left untouched. It’s about honoring the integrity of classic shirting while shaping it to reflect how women want to dress—and feel—today.

Lisa: I love that our production partner has been doing shirts for over 60 years! He works closely with us as we bring patterns to life—knowing how to shape collars, fold shirts, and ensure perfect seams and finishing. This is the tailoring I want to maintain—beautifully crafted.

We’re adding little details—such as the double button at the chest. For a woman, this button often falls either too high or too low. We add elements like this to make shirts more modern and wearable—the ones you want to wear daily.

And of course—fabric. The signature of the shirt. We spent hours searching for the right weights and density, ensuring breathability, draping and overall feel.

Lisa, as we’re launching this on Mother’s Day, I have to ask—what’s the most valuable wisdom you’ve passed on to Bryn about entrepreneurship?

Lisa: The most valuable lesson continues to be—make a choice. People often fall into analysis paralysis or let fear overtake them when starting something new where there’s no clear answer. I’ve always said try, and if it’s not the optimal decision, you’ll learn and can choose again. I believe we’re here to experience, and all experiences are valuable. Bryn embodies this—she explores the details and makes choices. When uncertain, she provides input, knowing we can try and she can always change course.

And Bryn, flip side of that question—what’s the most meaningful thing you’ve learned from your mom through building The Anteros?

Bryn: One of the most impactful things my mom has taught me is that life is a mindset. She’s shown me we’re responsible for our own emotions—no one can make us feel a certain way unless we allow it. This perspective shapes how I approach challenges and creativity. When I feel uncertain, I remember what she’s instilled in me: I can shift my energy, trust myself, and create the outcome I desire. It’s about choosing possibility over stress—one of the greatest gifts she’s given me, in business and in life.

When I feel uncertain, I remember what she’s instilled in me: I can shift my energy, trust myself, and create the outcome I desire. It’s about choosing possibility over stress—one of the greatest gifts she’s given me, in business and in life. - Bryn

What’s on the horizon for The Anteros that has you both excited? Where do you see the brand evolving?

Bryn: What’s next for us is simply more—more creation, conversation, and connection. We’re introducing new colorways aligned with our sensibility, while continuing to share not just designs, but the philosophy and business model behind them.

Fashion is at a pivotal moment—systems shifting, old structures being questioned, for good reason. We want to lead that change through thoughtfulness and transparency at The Anteros. We started this brand from love for fashion but also frustration with inflated pricing and lack of lasting quality. We know others share these feelings, and we’re committed to offering something better: beautifully made, honestly priced pieces built to last.

Lisa: We’ll continue creating designs based on our ethos: natural fibers of highest quality, pieces that are timeless yet have flair, while focusing on bringing a new financial model to fashion. We’re developing a community of like-minded people—creating a system where brands are responsible for distributing their products and supporting each other, with brands controlling more of the supply chain and consumers getting stronger value.

Studio Sessions is a monthly column featuring conversations with women entrepreneurs building meaningful creative businesses. To nominate someone for a future feature, respond to this email or DM me on Substack.

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