What is the name of your brand?
RollBliss KimonosWhen & where was it founded, and where is it currently headquartered?
RollBliss Kimonos was founded in 2015 and is currently headquartered in Kyle,Texas.Who are the founders/current owners?
Mo Siddiqui.Is there any significance behind the name of the brand or its logo?
At RollBliss we don't just sell Kimonos. We live, breath, and embody the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu spirit. That spirit, along with our personal philosophy, is exemplified in our very name;RollBliss.--Roll-(Rolling): Represents free sparring which is an active part of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu practice.
-- Bliss: Refers to the perfect state of happiness also known as oblivion.
RollBliss is the happiness you gain from training jiu-jitsu.
What was the driving force (or forces) behind the founding of the brand?
One day after coming home from training jiu-jitsu my wife was looking at my gi and thought it would be fun to design one for me. My wife was already in the beginning stages of starting her own business with a friend where they were going to design clothing and sell it online. After she made me my own gi I thought it was so great I encouraged her to do it full time. My wife being as cool as she is didn’t hesitate to push full steam ahead and shortly thereafter RollBliss was founded. She has the coolest the job in the world and I’m happy to work for her. She pays me in gis!What are your strengths / the strengths of your brand?
I remember a time when the customer was king. I want to bring that philosophy back. At RollBliss customer satisfaction is our priority. I think it’s a big deal when a customer takes their hard earned money and spends it in your business when they could of gone anywhere else. We want to let our customers know that we realize and appreciate that by doing everything we can to provide them the best product possible along with unmatched customer service.What was your first product produced (prototype or otherwise)?
The RollBliss Original BJJ Gi. It’s our top of the line 450gsm pearl weave.In that first year or so, what were your first struggles in getting the brand off the ground?
Getting people to know we exist! You can have the greatest product in the world but if people don’t know you exist it does no good.What would you consider to be your signature or keystone item(s) to date?
Our “Brazillion” 100% rip stop gi. It’s one of the lightest bjj kimonos on the planet and it’s super comfortable.What items do you also sell that people may not be aware of?
We also sell premium rash guards.Do you have anything exciting coming up in the next few months or so that you can share with us?
We have a few ideas for belts, competition gis, and we’ve been receiving lots of requests to design a gi specifically for women.
Geographically speaking, where is your primary customer base?
United States and Canada.A common question/concern among our members is the issue of shipping. We have found that some brands will not ship worldwide or have carved out certain countries from their territory. So if you would, please explain your shipping policy, pricing and any geographic restrictions that you have with regard to the sale of your goods.
Currently we are only shipping in the U.S. and Canada. Shipping anywhere in the U.S. is always free. However, if we have a customer on the other side of the globe that really wants one of gis we will find a way to get it to them!Do you have any sponsored athletes? If so, do you have specific criteria for selecting such athletes?
We do have a couple sponsored athletes. We like our sponsored athletes to be a genuine fan of our products before they are actually sponsored by us. We like our athletes also to be active on social media and have a large following so that they can help promote our products.We currently don’t offer financial sponsorship, but we try to get our athletes the best gear we have in stock for training and competition.
Where do you get the inspiration from in designing new gear for your brand?
Our gis are designed with BJJ athletes in mind. To us a BJJ athlete is not just someone who competes, but anyone who religiously trains BJJ and puts a lot of time in on the mat. Our gis are designed with those people in mind. We want to give them the most comfortable gear possible, because if you are comfortable you will perform better. In addition, BJJ is a physical martial art. So we design our gis with this in mind and try to produce gis that will withstand the toughest training environments.What differentiates you and your brand from other BJJ brands?
That’s hard to say because I’m not too familiar with the other brands out there. What I can say is that at RollBliss it’s not all about selling gis and making money. We are currently producing BJJ specific blogs and high definition training videos to the BJJ community, and all that stuff costs us time and money to make but we provide it for free to the BJJ community on our website and on our social media. Our goal is to help all BJJ practitioners along their journey. Perhaps they will read one of our blogs or see one of our training videos, and if this helps them on the mats in someway I would consider our company successful.What other brands are out there that you admire? And why?
To be honest, there are a lot of good gi companies out there and we admire anyone who takes the plunge to start their own company and tries to turn a dream into a reality!Is your company direct sales only? Or do you have distributors?
Currently we are direct sales only.Do or have you participated in tournament booths or sponsorship's of tournaments?
No.Any plans for future expansion?
Yes.Please tell us a little about yourself, where you grew up, your BJJ experience, home life, education, military service, etc. Anything that might help our members get to know you a little better.
I grew up in the central Texas area. I attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with a degree in government and a minor in philosophy. I was a nationally ranked amateur boxer but hung the gloves up after graduating from college. I still had the warrior spirit inside me and I was looking for another outlet to release it without getting punched in the head! That’s when I stumbled upon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and never looked back. I’ve been training BJJ for two years and I am a blue belt studying under Ryan Shinto, who received his black belt from master Cleber Luciano.What hobbies do you enjoy?
Jiu-Jitsu! What else is there? I also like to read…about jiu-jitsu.Do you have any pets?
No.Where did you grow up and attend school (University/College)?
I grew up in the central Texas area and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin.
Quick Fire
These questions are designed to allow for short, one or two word answers. Oftentimes just yes or no, and from a personal perspective.
Rash Guard – Short or long sleeve?
Long sleeve.Preferred gi colorway?
White, blue and black. I like variety.Rash under your gi?
Absolutely!Spats under your gi?
Haven't tried that yet. Perhaps when RollBliss comes out with a line of spats I'll give it a go!Gi Pants – Rip Stop, Cotton Twill/Drill Cotton, or Cotton/Poly Blend?
Rip stop all day everyday.Gi jacket weave?
Rip stop and pearl weave…I go back and forth.First gi that you owned?
The first gi I owned was a Gameness.Favorite submission?
Anyone I can get!Last stamp on your passport?
London.Beer or wine?
No alcohol.Tea or coffee?
Coffee for sure.Do you wash your belt or not?
Always wash.Regular knot or superlock knot in belt?
Regular knot. Unless I’m in the middle of a hard roll and I need to take a breather…then we go with the old superlock!Isle or window seat?
Window seat.What social media do you participate in and what are those addresses?
Website: http://www.rollblissgi.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Roll-Bliss-BJJ-Kimonos-938303166182758/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/rollblissgi
Instagram: @rollblissgi www.instagram.com/rollblissgi
YouTube: RollBliss Kimonos
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