Rad Habits co-founders Emily Daskas and Taylor Gorski (pictured left to right, respectively) designed their brand with sustainability and coastal living in mind. While the first two collections were made of 100 percent organic cotton, the next two expanded into linen with matching button-up tops and shorts. The linen products feature elements such as 1960s vintage lace around the cuffs and down the sides of the shorts. “As we grow, I see us continuing to expand into new styles while keeping that same effortless vibe, but adding in some more surprising and unexpected details,” Daskas says.
How did you come up with the idea for Rad Habits?
ED: Taylor and I are cousins and best friends, and we’ve been dreaming up brand ideas since we were 6 years old. Our Easters and Thanksgivings were filled with making art, putting on performances, and selling whatever we created to our big family. Sometimes we’d plan months in advance for a holiday, so building something together was truly in our DNA. We wanted to fill our closets with clothes we genuinely loved—easy to style, timeless, comfortable, but still unique enough to show off our personal styles.
What role did the Newport Beach lifestyle play in creating the brand’s identity?
TG: We wanted Rad Habits to have a coastal aesthetic that felt like a new, cool, fashion-forward approach to a California surf brand. Living in Newport Beach, we set out to create clothes that we could wear no matter what we were doing that day.
ED: Our designs incorporate refined details like French seams, natural materials, and subtle vintage elements while still feeling effortless and lived in.
Tell us about the name.
ED: Growing up, my mom and my grandpa, my Papa, had a sort of motto: “Life’s a habit, baby!” Some habits are obvious, but others are more subtle and maybe even more important—how you talk to yourself, how you treat people, where you choose to put your focus, what you consume, and how you respond to the simple or the unexpected.
What inspires you when coming up with new pieces?
TG: I like to think we inspire each other! We both love New York City, which is where we both now live, which is a total dream come true. I’m constantly inspired by traveling, architecture and design, nature and our beautiful world, and seeing how people express themselves through fashion in everyday life.
ED: I’m inspired by so many things. I pay attention to fashion in movies and TV, anything that evokes nostalgia, the overall feel of different cities, and even patterns or textures in nature, furniture, food—you name it! We want to build Rad Habits for people who are actively going after life, so we want pieces that can move well and feel like you while still looking cool.
Why is sustainability important to you, and how have you incorporated it into the brand?
TG: We wanted to know exactly where our clothing was being made, who was making it, and where the fabric was coming from while ensuring high quality. Our fabric is 100 percent organic cotton and linen that we purchase in Los Angeles. We also use deadstock fabric whenever possible, which is fabric that would otherwise be thrown into a landfill.
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