Ariana M. Wilder is building much more than a children’s apparel company—she is spearheading a movement rooted in empowerment, accessibility, and culture. As the founder and visionary behind Ready Set Glow LLC, the South Side Chicago native is on a mission to redefine confidence for the next generation, one matching set at a time.
Rarely seen without her four-year-old daughter and brand muse—”Mini CEO” Khloe Wilder—Ariana launched Ready Set Glow in August 2025. The brand delivers fashion-forward, empowering matching sets designed to eliminate the daily stress of dressing growing children. With over 128 sets sold and a recent runway debut at a major New York fashion show, Ready Set Glow is rapidly proving that when children look good, they feel good, and when parents get convenience, everyone wins.
Here, Ariana reflects on her childhood roots, faith-driven entrepreneurship, and the heart behind the brand.
The Origin of the Glow
Growing up on Chicago’s South Side, Ariana recalls how subtle details in clothing impacted her self-image. Raised by parents who prioritized practicality over name brands, she often wore hand-me-downs from her older sister, fitting into Ecko Red tops and K-Swiss sneakers that were sizes away from her own.
“Growing up, I often wore my older sister’s hand-me-downs, and while I was grateful to have them, they didn’t always fit properly,” Ariana shares. “The clothes were usually too small, and I remember feeling uncomfortable and sometimes self-conscious because I wasn’t wearing things that felt like they were truly made for me.”
Those memories directly shaped Ready Set Glow’s flexible silhouettes and expanded sizing approach.
“Those experiences definitely shaped how I think about the styles and sizing we produce within our brand. I pay close attention to how our pieces fit, making sure the materials are comfortable, have the right amount of stretch, and can accommodate growing children. When I first launched Ready Set Glow, my focus was primarily on children ages 3–8. I’ve learned that age doesn’t always determine size… some of my 8-year-olds wear a size 12. Because of that, we’ve expanded our sizing options and will continue to evaluate opportunities to grow with our customers.”
Inspired by a “Mini Powerhouse”
Khloe is far more than a brand model—she is the active spark driving the label’s voice and design philosophy.
“Khloe influences almost everything we do,” Ariana notes. “She’s incredibly fun, confident, and opinionated, and that’s one of the things I love most about her. Her personality is so huge, and it inspires many of our bold designs. For example, our ‘Mini Powerhouse’ piece perfectly captures who she is. Having her involved helps me see the brand through a child’s eyes and reminds me that kids want clothes that are both comfortable and fun. She also keeps our brand voice playful and authentic.”
Solving the Morning Routine
While fashion brands often focus solely on trends, Ariana designed Ready Set Glow to solve real-world parenting pain points.
“I’m not a fashionista,” Ariana explains. “I’m a mom who understands the daily balancing act and wants parents to have one less thing to worry about.”
Addressing the daily rush, she highlights the specific challenge the brand solves:
“The biggest pain point was simply figuring out what goes together. I’m a leggings and T-shirt girl and always have been. I didn’t want that to be Khloe’s story. I’m also a bonus mom of my beautiful 11-year old daughter, but I didn’t have to really own that daily dress-up activity with her. As a busy parent, mornings can already feel rushed, and spending extra time matching tops and bottoms was one more decision I didn’t want to make. I designed Ready Set Glow sets to take the guesswork out of getting dressed so parents can grab a set, get their child ready, and move on with their day knowing they still look great. The same goes for packing for the grandparent’s house or a vacation, just grab a few Ready Set Glow sets and you’re ready to go.”
From Chicago to the New York Runway
Stepping onto the New York fashion stage marked a milestone moment for the Chicago-born brand.
“Honestly, the most surreal part was realizing that something that started as an idea from a mom on the South Side of Chicago was being seen and celebrated on a stage as big as New York. Ready Set Glow was created from a very real need in my own life, and to watch it grow beyond my community and reach new audiences has been incredibly reassuring.”
Reflecting on the spark that started it all, Ariana attributes her journey to divine timing:
“I was riding my bike at 4am listening to a sermon by Dharius Daniels when the idea for this brand first hit me. All my great ideas come in the moments when I’m making space for God to come in. I’m so happy that I listened to God in that moment and trusted his plan. It was one of those moments that reminded me that God can take even the smallest ideas and do something bigger with them than you could have ever imagined.”
Redefining Confidence Through the Culture
Customer response has reinforced that Ready Set Glow is striking a deep chord with families, from playground wear to school picture days.
“One of the biggest confirmations has been the messages I receive from parents telling me that their child loves their For the Kulture jacket so much that they want to wear it to school every day. As a parent, you know kids are very honest about what they like and don’t like, so hearing that means a lot.”
“I’ve also received so many professional school photos featuring children wearing our Never Luck, Always God set. And if there’s one thing parents and kids don’t play about, it’s picture day. Knowing that families chose Ready Set Glow for those special moments tells me we’re creating pieces that make children feel confident, comfortable, and proud of how they look. That’s exactly what the brand was created to do.”
Grounded in Faith & Growth
The brand’s evolution—from hand-pressing garments at home to overseas manufacturing for their upcoming summer collection—is driven by a strong spiritual foundation.
“I know that God told me to do this. I heard him so loudly in that moment that even the name of the brand was crystal clear. I think Dharius Daniels had said Ready Set Go and God’s voice was like no it’s ‘Glow’ for you. So knowing that with him I cannot fail, makes me show up 110% every time. And I have no problem improving overtime.”
“We started out heat pressing every single item ourselves and when I say ourselves it’s me, my cousin, my aunt, and my mom. I had close friends doing quality checks of materials coming in. Now we’re working with a manufacturing company overseas with such incredible quality for our June 20th summer collection release. I know that with prayer and continued learning this cannot fail, and I’m so grateful for what’s to come.”
What It Means to “Glow”
Looking ahead, Ariana remains focused on the broader impact her designs have on young children stepping into their own identity.
“To me, glowing means being unapologetically themselves and not dimming their light for the acceptance of others. I want children to feel confident in who they are and comfortable expressing themselves. Whether they’re joining a new team or on stage in front of our large audience, I want them to know that they belong. Because that translates to knowing who you are and being confident in your own voice, when you become an adult.”
“I want the children who wear Ready Set Glow to know that they are capable, loved, and uniquely made. If our clothing can play even a small part in helping them stand a little taller, smile a little bigger, or believe in themselves a little more, then we’ve done our job.”