Meet Regan Gleason | CEO & Cofounder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Regan Gleason and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Regan, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Skin Cancer is the most common cancer and affects people of all races and ethnicities. One in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by 70 and the majority is caused by sun exposure. Not to mention, the sun is also the leading cause of aging skin.

Soteria was crafted for sun protection and designed to elevate your everyday wardrobe. The sun-protective element of our clothing comes with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating, which measures the effectiveness of a fabric blocking UV rays – think of it as SPF in sunscreen but for clothing. While all clothing has a UPF rating, you may not realize the average white t-shirt is only UPF 5. Meanwhile, clothing with UPF 50 blocks all but 1/50th (or 2%) of rays. Said differently, UPF 50 blocks 98% of the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. And the best part – no reapplication or greasy sunscreens required!

But you have tan lines and have never burnt under your clothes, right? That may be true but there are two types of UV rays to be mindful of, both cause cancer and age skin. UVB rays Burns your skin, leaving a physical and immediate reminder of their presence. However, UVA rays are sneaky. They leave no immediate indication you’re exposed, penetrate deeper layers of skin, and are significantly more abundant in the atmosphere, even penetrating clouds and windows.

As your largest organ, it’s important to protect your entire body from the sun’s harmful rays during high UV index periods and dermatologists recommend UPF clothing as the most effective defense.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The idea of Soteria came from my own shopping frustrations, which uncovered a gap in the market. With a family history rich in skin cancer, I sought modern and fashion-forward sun-protective clothing yet consistently came up short. UPF clothing options were limited to specific activities like hiking, fishing, golfing, tennis and swimming, leaving me without stylish sun-protective outfits for vacations, commuting to work, brunches, afternoons in the park or simply navigating city life.

The name ‘Soteria’ came later but perfectly encapsulates our mission. Soteria, the Greek Goddess of safety and preservation, symbolizes safety from the sun’s harmful, cancer-causing rays and the preservation of youthful skin.

Navigating the designs and production presented our greatest challenges. Neither my cofounder nor I had backgrounds in clothing design, manufacturing or traditional retail so we were learning and navigating unfamiliar territory at each turn. And did we have a lot of twists, turns and hiccups along the way – my most commonly used phrase throughout development became, “I don’t even know what I don’t know yet,” reflecting a scary and uncertain baseline. I attribute our ability to persevere through unknown waters to two factors: Our ability to apply processes from parallel industries and recognize when we need outside help.

In October, we launched 37 women’s pieces, 25 men’s pieces and 1 unisex item, all rated UPF 35-50+. Despite encountering many setbacks, the satisfaction of hands-on developing of our first collection from concept to completion and the thrill of a satisfied customer are my most rewarding career achievements. With Soteria, you never have to choose between fashion and function – Explore confidently beyond the shades and shadows, knowing you’re protected and styled by Soteria.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Thursday we enjoy happy hour with the best waterfront views from Klaw’s rooftop bar, then pop down to Casa Dona for a drink on the patio and a late dinner.
Before diving into weekend shenanigans, we get snatched at Tremble Pilates and recover by the pool under an umbrella, of course! Around 5pm, we migrate to the rooftop hot tub for a drink. After showers and maybe a little nap, we feast and dance the night away at a supper club-style dinner, like Delaliah’s in Brickell or Hasalon on the beach.

A lazy Saturday morning is followed by a stroll through Coconut Grove to grab lunch and shopping. We ease into Saturday night with a sunset boat cruise and then head to Living Room at Faena for the best live music in Miami.

Sunday requires Cuban sandwiches from Sanguich on Calle Ocho and a farewell to friends.

Website: www.soteriastyle.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soteriastyle and https://www.instagram.com/rage_me

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/regangleason/

Other: TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@soteriastyle and https://www.tiktok.com/@regangleason 

Image Credits
Ro Enecoiz, R.E.V Photography