Let’s Hear It for the Moms!
For Mother’s Day, we reached out to some of our favorite boutique owner and designer moms to tell us about their favorite fashion memories with their little ones and what it means to be a parent and run a brand. They also shared some of their Mother’s Day wishlist items. Looking for a last-minute gift? Thank these moms for their great ideas.
Sonja Nesse from NERANESE
What’s one of your favorite memories with your child as it relates to fashion? My daughter is two and a half and has so much fun "accessorizing" her looks. Socks always go on the hands, and everything can be a hat. She recently went through a phase where we couldn't even leave the house unless the socks were on.
What does it mean to you to be a mother and a business owner? Oh it definitely gives me extra motivation to work hard at what I do (and within the time I have available to work!), but also the purpose behind the eco-conscious mission of my brand.
Mother’s day wish-list item. Just give me the day off :) Or, if it's something from my collection, then the Freya Dress. It's inspired by a vintage piece I wore nonstop while pregnant with my daughter and is named after her.
Angelina Beklina from BEKLINA
What’s one of your favorite memories with your children as it relates to fashion? My two daughters, Carmella and Paloma, did a photoshoot together with music blaring while wearing Rachel Comey's spring 2014 collection. Everything was oversized and over-the-top, and they looked fabulous. It was super fun, and I still have a photo from the shoot hanging in my kitchen.
What does it mean to you to be a mother and a business owner? I think including my children and balancing my time, as well as including them in my work, has always been a struggle. I continue to work at it. Over the years they have gotten more involved; now at 17 and 20, they actually work at the business.
Mother’s day wish-list item. Silk pajamas, exotic jams and spices, a thoughtful hand-written card, and dramatic sunglasses or reading glasses. That's a good wish list for me.
Eva Karayiannis from CARAMEL
What’s one of your favorite memories with your children as it relates to fashion? Definitely having to create or curate costumes for them. We've covered hand-stitched donkey suits, pirates with beaded plats, and Transformers (or whatever Ari, Eva's son, dresses as).
What does it mean to you to be a mother and a business owner? That your kids are a part of your business in a way, since they've grown up with it and with the people that work in your business. When grown-up daughters are around they drop in and say hello in etc. You get to hear children's impressions and comments on the clothing, which makes it very personal.
Mother’s day wish-list item. I have to have the Caramel hand-smocked Mars Dress in Biscuit. I love the color and the Japanese fabric.
A silver and gold Gorgo ring by my daughter’s brand vasiliki.studio
And a leather blazer by Prada, which I will pair with my gold Caramel A-line skirt and some slingback heels.
Moa Miro-Quesada from GRANELITO
What’s one of your favorite memories with your children as it relates to fashion? My husband and I showed our collection at Playtime NY with our daughter when she was only five weeks old. I was running so high on happiness (and hormones) just having become a mom. I don’t recommend doing a trade show so soon after your child is born, but being a small business owner you do what you have to do to keep your business going. However, there was something magical about combining things you literally made from the ground up and then joining a larger community.
What does it mean to you to be a mother and a business owner? I am blessed to have just become a mother to a second child. For me, nothing comes close to that experience. However, while not the same thing, both being a business owner and a mother feel like a calling to me. Every waking moment I live as a mother and as a business owner.
I’ve definitely become a better kidswear designer since having kids. I’ve learned so much more about what kids like and don’t like to wear while watching mine play. I’ve also matured as a business owner and know what I want and don’t want. I feel more secure about my designs and decisions I make for my company.
Mother’s day wish-list item. Having given birth just a week ago (April 30th), I’d love comfortable nice looking summer shoes that I can run around in again with my two-year-old daughter.
