Clothing designer honors mother, donates to Lupus Foundation
By Jessica Brown
Rachel Rodriguez knew starting her own business would be trial and error, but creating a brand that made life easier for all women was a calling she couldn’t ignore.
That’s when she decided to start her own line of activewear and is now founder and CEO of Inspira: The Lifestyle Brand. She started studies at Elgin Community College, but then transferred to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City.
“I learned everything from my education at FIT, spending countless hours researching and working directly with manufacturers,” she says.
Her flagship store location opened in Springfield in 2025. “We moved here from South Elgin, Illinois, when my husband accepted the assistant baseball coach position at UIS,” she shares.
Before opening storefront locations, though, she took other avenues to create a business model.
“I have built Inspira through online channels, wholesale, pop-up shops, markets and business-to-business collaborations,” Rodriguez explains. “We designed our store so the center can be cleared for workouts, community events and collaborations.”
The brand is meant to cater to lifestyles of all sorts. “You’ll get high-quality pieces at an affordable price supporting a great cause that you’ll reach for again and again,” she shares.
“Our customers are looking for pieces they can truly live in — whether they’re teaching Pilates, traveling, working from home, chasing kids or grabbing coffee,” Rodriguez says, adding, that Inspira is built for both athleisure and athletic wear.
“Athletic wear is designed primarily for performance, while athleisure is made to transition seamlessly from workouts to everyday life,” she clarifies.
“I’m especially proud of our Empower leggings,” Rodriguez says. “They have no front seam, are squat-proof, sweat-proof and incredibly comfortable; they feel like butter.”
In addition to clothing, the store offers other products. Although customers can find socks, hats, fanny packs — and most recently Teleties hair accessories — the best selling products remain clothing. “Our jackets, joggers, long sleeves, leggings and sports bras are what we’re known for,” Rodriguez emphasizes.
The demographic of Inspira customers is far-reaching, including products for women in every season of life.
“Whether you’re pregnant, postpartum, retired, traveling or simply looking for comfortable clothing, inclusivity is always top of mind,” she stresses. “From granddaughters to grandmothers, I love seeing them find pieces they feel comfortable and confident in.”
The activewear market is successful, if companies like Inspira are any indication. “There’s a reason our products are now sold in 12 locations in nine states. We also boast a return rate of 0.02%,” Rodriguez shares.
Additionally, Rodriguez gives back to meaningful initiatives. “Inspira partners with ‘Purple for Purpose’ with the Lupus Foundation [of America], donating [a percentage] of proceeds from select styles to lupus research and awareness,” she says.
Lupus is a personal cause for her family. Losing her mother, Barb, to the chronic autoimmune disease in 2018 after a 20-year battle with it is what inspired Rodriguez’s vision.
“My mother’s kindness and selflessness shaped the culture that I want Inspira to have,” she shares.
Sales and special offers include discounts off of first orders when signing up for the store’s newsletter, which is honored both in-store and online. And more promotions are in the future.
With discount events during the holidays both in-store and online, she’s looking forward to a “Share the Inspiration” annual campaign in December, which will include three days of promotions.
Of note, November 7 will be the Springfield flagship store’s two-year anniversary celebration, and will feature live music, giveaways, gifts with purchase and more. “If you know Inspira, you know we love events,” Rodriguez adds.
More information about the brand and products can be found at the store, which is located at 3848 Wabash Ave. in Springfield — or visit inspiratlb.com.
