Community Magazine May 2019

62 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Please meet Candice Safdieh, the founder of Snoga Athletics. Candice developed the innovative, fashionable, and modest concept of leggings with an attached skirt. Before we dive into Candice’s career, let’s return to her school years, and accompany Candice on her journey to being a wife, mother, fashion designer, innovator, and entrepreneur. Candice, born to Jodi and Richard Shweky, is the oldest of four children. Richard is a women’s clothing manufacturer, based in Manhattan. While Jodi was raising her family in Oakhurst, New Jersey, she worked locally at her parents’ floor covering business, which served the community for over 40 years. “Although my mom worked out of the house, it didn’t feel like she worked full-time. Bothmymother andgrandmother, Bunny Weinstein, a”h , were ALWAYS there for us when we were growing up.” School Years Candice attended Hillel Yeshiva and Ilan High School, both in Ocean Township, NJ. She so enjoyed these esteemed yeshivot but she gives extra credit to Ilan for changing her life forever. “Ilanwas a small high school with a unique and warm feeling. My teachers were like family, and gave me that additional boost of confidence. They were working moms and were incredible role models who inspired me to become more observant. I took on more mitzvot voluntarily; they weren’t forced on me. There was no judgment, and I never would have attained that spiritual connection without their example.” Candice’s closest friends today are the women that she met at Hillel and Ilan. Candice and I connected easily, and on many levels. I found her to be open, self-aware, spiritual, non-judgmental, modest, positive, energetic, communicative, and wise beyond her years. The words Candice used to describe herself were aligned with my impressions: spiritual, funny, reserved but not shy, and loves to laugh. Candice expressed her gratitude for living in the most charitable community: “The women are so giving and diverse; each person has her own spiritual level.” Candice’s father is very involved in Sephardic Bikur Holim, as was his father, Jake Shweky, a”h , before him. Candice’s Creative Spark Candice’s creativity and passion for fashion became evident at a young age. She loved pulling apart her clothes and re-fashioning them. Candice is thankful that her parents supported her artistic and imaginative flair. As a tween, she went to Manhattan in the summer with her Dad and took classes at Parsons School of Design. After graduating Ilan, Candice enrolled at FIT for courses in sewing and fashion design. Candice is especially sensitive to women’s needs and felt equipped to work in the fashion industry. “I learned so much at my Dad’s business! I assisted the fashion designers, approved color swatches, communicated with other manufacturers and suppliers, and so much more.” Candice continued as a designer assistant for close to four years before starting her family. The Snoga is Born Candice and her friends were so spiritually elevated by their Ilan teachers that they made the decision to stop wearing pants after high school. Wearing only skirts posed several challenges: “So many questions popped up. What do I wear to parties? What do I put on to run on the boardwalk in the summer? How can I be fashionable yet dress with tzniut ?” Candice’s short-term solution? She took her trendy Seven jeans to a tailor and converted them into a skirt. That solved her immediate dilemma, but what about others in the community? She saw women on the street and in the gym dressed in leggings and skirt combos that were often mismatched and unattractive. Joyful Activewear was born in 2007 when Candice recognized the need for fashionable, well-made activewear that also met the needs of women who dressed modestly. Candice conferred with a technical designer and said, “Let’s do a mesh trimmed skirt with attached leggings.” She drew a design, looked for quality fabric, and had a local factory produce the first 200 pieces. Candice sold these Snogas to one retail store and from house to house. The first pieces quickly sold out, but rather than maintain production, Candice chose to focus on raising her family for the next several years. Woman Woman to One on One with ELLEN GELLER KAMARAS “During grade school, I was always ripping apart my clothes and putting them back together. My parents allowed me to be creative and dress how I wanted, provided I was modest.” Candice Safdieh - Candice Safdieh