New Year, New…Career? Designer Renee Cafaro Proves It’s Never Too Late to Change Your Life – The Village Voice

At the dawn of 2024, while many were penning resolutions, Renee Cafaro, a plus-size designer and body-positive influencer, was charting a different course. Rejecting the typical “new year, new you” mantra that capitalizes on shame and vanity, Cafaro’s message is one of meaningful change.

“In a world bombarded with ‘get skinny quick’ gimmicks, I urge everyone struggling with mental health and eating disorders to resist the weight loss industry’s scheme to profit off our self-hate,” she asserts. Her vision? To forge a “new you” rooted in authenticity and a harmonious work-life balance.

A Renaissance Woman

Renee Cafaro depicts a modern-day “New York It girl” with a twist of purpose. Known in various circles—city politics, social causes, and the arts—since 2005, her life has been a kaleidoscope of experiences. From fronting a rock band at iconic venues to her remarkable political career, Cafaro’s life is a tapestry of hard work and social consciousness.

Cafaro, who turns 40 this year, may be an elder millennial, but she has outspoken Gen Z activist sensibilities as she believes “it’s morally reprehensible to have privilege or power and not use it to help others.” To this end, she has used her platform to raise money and awareness for issues like equality, social justice, mental health, disabilities, and communities in need. 

A Dynamic Career Evolution from Politics to Fashion

Before her foray into fashion, Cafaro had a distinguished background in politics—a former union organizer, campaign fundraiser, high-ranking New York government official, and a political science prodigy at Stanford University at just 16.

Fashion was once a childhood dream Cafaro had to set aside. “I’ve loved fashion my whole life and often made my own clothes, but in the 90s, there wasn’t a place for fat girls in fashion, so I decided to be the smart girl instead,” she admits.

As the body size acceptance movement started trending in the last ten years, her career in fashion also started to take off. In the time of body positivity icons like Ashley Graham and Lizzo, Cafaro became the US Editor of SLINK in 2016, the only global print magazine for plus-size fashion based in London. Her role at SLINK was a testament to her commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity in fashion. 

The Birth of a Fashion Revolution 

As she begins a new era, Cafaro has shifted her focus to fashion, merging her advocacy for equality and workers’ rights with her passion for inclusive fashion.

The inception of Renee Cafaro Atelier and the ready-to-wear brand RCA Public Label traces back to the pandemic’s early days. What began as a collective making masks and hospital gowns donated to New York City hospitals soon evolved into a broader fashion movement.

With 68% of women falling into the plus-size category, Cafaro saw an opportunity to offer “luxury fair wage fashion for all.”

Q&A with Renee Cafaro

As Cafaro was charting an extraordinary political trajectory, many were curious about how and why she shifted career paths. She shares insights about her transition.

Q: What prompted your shift from politics to fashion?

A: People often see these fields as distinct, but they overlap in many ways. Fashion, especially plus-size fashion, is inherently political. It’s about more than designing clothes; it includes advocating for equal access and freedom of expression. Doing my part to improve society drives me, and I found a more creative way to do that while finally accomplishing a childhood dream.

Q: How did you navigate this career transition in your 30s and how would others start?

A: It was about understanding my transferable skills and reframing my experiences.

Keep your resume current and your LinkedIn profiles on stealth “I’m looking” mode so recruiters can find you jobs before you quit and are under pressure. Network, keep yourself open for opportunities you will really love. Before you’re in a rut, preempt it!

Q: What challenges did you face in forging this new path?

A: Me, Myself, and the Sunk Cost Fallacy – it sounds like a great band name actually, but it’s your worst enemy in life worrying over how it looks to leave something you’ve spent so much time on. First, I had to let go of the immense weight of obligation. Stop thinking you “have no choice” and instead freely think about what you want, how you are holding yourself back, and what you really have to do like pay taxes and bills. Not like I “have to do” xyz or someone would be mad. That’s not a requirement. It’s not pretty but the world opens up once you take responsibility for your self-limiting thoughts.

Q: You’ve undergone significant changes in your life. Any advice for others contemplating a major shift?

A: You need to look at how your new career moves will fit in with the rest of your life, but I don’t suggest changing everything hastily. Everyone’s journey will be different, but personally, I blew up my whole life and started over a few times. Once I started to question the status quo in my career, it caused me to examine every other aspect of my life and make some changes.

Q: How important is philanthropy and a mission in your life and career?

A: Very! I do believe that giving back is vital and business should never be done at the expense of human dignity. It’s important to take stock of the impact our choices have on society, so we can improve where we can, but I know there’s only so much any individual can do, so just do your best.

Q: Any final thoughts for those hesitant to make a big change?

A: Embrace the fear and go for it. Life is very short. Overall, my advice is to work hard, network, and be a kind person. If something makes you miserable, keep asking yourself—are you willing to accept it, or is your happiness worth the risk of changing it? Oh, never write an email to a prospective employer that starts with “hey!”

Mastering the Art of Transformation

From the unglamorous world of grassroots organizing to becoming a political powerhouse, then a magazine editor, and finally, a small business owner and designer, Renee Cafaro has mastered the art of the pivot.

Her story is more than a mere career change. It affirms the power of reimagining one’s life at any stage. As she continues breaking barriers in fashion and beyond, Cafaro’s journey inspires self-reflection—Can a new career be the key to a new year and a new life? For Cafaro’s, it’s a resounding “Yes!”