Meet Haley Byfield

We were lucky to catch up with Haley Byfield recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Haley , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

In elementary school, I was always making something; friendship bracelets, jewelry, duct-taped shoes, anything I could get my hands on, I was changing it from its original form to make something I could wear. I wasn’t particularly book-smart, so school didn’t always feel like the place where I shined.

But when I made something, people noticed. They’d ask, ‘Where did you get that?’ and I got to say, ‘I made it.’ This was an incredible feeling. Being seen and validated for something I made with my own two hands, became the foundation of my confidence.

In sixth grade I taught myself how to knit from a Klutz book, and I immediately became obsessed. By ninth grade I knitted my first sweater, it was bright, and rainbow, like nothing I had seen before, and I wore it Every. Single. Day. Friends, teachers, strangers, young and old, stopped me everywhere I went asking where they could get one, and they loved it. That sweater honestly became my source of self-esteem. From then, I always had a project going, and I was very intentional about getting really, really good at it, knitting nearly everyday for years.

There’s something incredibly powerful about creating something physical from nothing—taking an idea in your head and bringing it into the real world. Even today, seeing something I imagined in my brain become real, and watching other people connect with it, love it, and validate it… there’s no better confidence builder than that.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Haley Byfield is the founder and designer behind Wear & Roam, a line of elevated basics for travel. Our clothing self-irons, it’s anti-stink, and it’s all mix & match, making it easy to pack light for any trip.

Inspired by over 500,000 miles traveled, Wear & Roam was born out of the need for more packable beautiful clothing.

“A decade as a fashion entrepreneur & over 100,000 garments sewn by my own hands led me to Kenya; where I had the honor to be part of building a sustainable production facility from the ground up.

From hand-selecting every machine, even assembling them without instructions, to interviewing & training each team member in sewing, starting with the very basics like threading a machine to troubleshooting a laser cutter, this experience was a good ol’ fashioned adventure.

This journey took me across the world, and through it, I realized how much we needed to reimagine how we travel, beginning with the clothing we wear & pack.”

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

For me, the three qualities that impacted my story the most were not waiting to be “ready”, commitment, and grit. And I needed to have all three.

Taking the first step before you’re ready is about momentum.
It’s choosing action over waiting for confidence or permission. I learned by doing, by making imperfect things, putting them out into the world, and letting the process teach me how to make it better. People are always surprised to hear I started my first company when I was 20, I definitely was not ready at 20. But over the next 10 years I learned more about running my own business than I ever would have just waiting around to feel “ready.” You aren’t going to ever have it all figured out, especially not before you even start, so you gotta just put it out and start getting feedback as soon as possible.

Commitment is a decision.
Once you come up with a concept you are excited about, you need to choose that idea every single day. And unlike a relationship, you don’t really get the chance to date your idea before investing your time, money and other resources into it. It’s staying loyal to that idea without getting sidetracked. It’s saying yes over and over again, even when it would be easier to pivot or quit.

Which brings me to the most important skill, grit.
Grit is what kicks in when commitment gets uncomfortable.
It’s the resilience to push through a failure, a missed deadline, or what feels like invisible progress.
Grit is wearing your mistakes, picking yourself up when something didn’t work and trying again.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’m always open to collaborations and partnerships, especially with travelers, adventurers, and creators who genuinely love exploring the world and want to be part of building a community around that lifestyle. If you’re someone who’s excited to rep Wear & Roam, share how you travel, and connect with other like-minded women, I’d love to hear from you.

Email me at [email protected] and tell me a little about you, your audience (if you have one), and what kind of collaboration you have in mind.

Contact Info:

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