Jana Lacey is the founder, CEO and Chief Sleep Officer of Los Angeles-based sleepwear brand, After Sunset. “We believe in getting our beauty rest, being kind to people and the environment.” Learn about Jana Lacey…
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
First job: Fashion Board at Nordstrom. Such an awesome program for high school students interested in fashion. This was unpaid so my first paid job was retail at Zumiez.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in CA: At the beach at our favorite time, of course: golden hour. Sunset beach bike rides and dog walks. And snowboarding in the winter. We are so lucky to have both.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: Quitting my corporate fashion job to travel the world. Without taking this huge risk to leave safety, I would never be where I am today. It allowed me to not only see the world but helped me get crystal clear on what was important to me and my life vision. Traveling created an awareness of something much bigger than me.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: Surviving a near-death car accident in high school – head injury, broken jaw and all the neck and back problems that come along with it. This quickly put EVERYTHING in perspective and made me so grateful just to be alive and healthy.
Someone who inspires you and why: My mom. The most selfless, kind and giving person I know. She raised me as a single parent with no help from anyone. Taught me what strong women are and that you can’t rely on others.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Just start! Start somewhere, anywhere, one day at a time. The fashion industry is very competitive and a tough business. It’s also very costly so be sure to save or try to raise funding through Kickstarter to help!
Favorite quote: I have so many and couldn’t choose just one. “The people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” –Steve Jobs
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” –Leo Buscaglia
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle.” —Plato/Ian MacLaren
This quote inspired one of our sayings. “Be kind to everyone, you never know how much sleep they got last night.” —After Sunset
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I once pursued being a TV host! You can find me on a travel show in Ireland every blue moon.
What makes someone fabulous: Kindness. How they treat others and give back to mankind, animals and this earth.