Dear Mama,

Showing our love and support for mom’s in fashion!

Mother’s Day is upon us. While we are all thinking about how to celebrate the most important mamas in our lives, we wanted to give a shout out to a few moms in fashion that are killing it both in parenthood and business. 

For about 364 days a year, being a mom can be a pretty thankless job. These moms are not only raising strong, determined kids, but also running a business, creating jobs and building brands that both they and their kids can be proud of. Here, they tell us why the started their companies, their biggest challenges and how they manage to keep it all together between home, work and me time. These women are keeping it really real with us because, sometimes, running a business and a household can feel like it may break you. It is so powerful to hear true accounts of how your peers are finding success, realizing areas that need attention, and can honestly speak about the trials and tribulations they, and we, have all faced. Plus, we’ve even got a special coupon code for you to shop! 

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms, moms-to-be, and those who are still pursuing motherhood. We see you. You have our love and support, because moms are seriously awesome! And if anyone is falling short on a gift for a mom in their life, don’t underestimate the power of letting her sleep in!

Michelle Chaplin

Designer + Owner – Ultra Violet Kids

Mother to 6-year-old daughter Violet

Website: www.ultravioletkids.com

Instagram:@ultravioletkids

What was your biggest motivator to start your business?

When Violet was 1 year old I started Ultra Violet Kids with the intention to make clothing that parents would love the look of and kids would love the feeling of. 

What are the biggest challenges that you face uniquely as a mom in business?

I’m a single mom so juggling running a business and raising a compassionate, strong and educated child at the same time can be pretty challenging. Sometimes there doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day. 

How is being a business owner and a mom uniquely rewarding?

The best part of owning my own brand and setting my own schedule is that I get to spend quality time with Violet whenever I want. I set my schedule with hers and really try to cherish the times that we are together. 

Moms have huge jobs to do already, even before starting your day as a badass-business owner. What are some of your most used tools or tricks to keep it all together? 

Juggling a lot is hard sometimes so I like to be organized! Putting everything in my phone calendar is essential. I also need “me” time so setting aside a couple hours a week (yes, even during the work day!) to grab a lunch with a friend/colleague, get a facial or go for a hike! I love to go out on inspiration trips, seeing other stores in different neighborhoods and when I get to, travel. 

Tell us about sacrifices that you must make as a business owner and mom. What are you just not able to fit into your life at this time that you wish you could? 

I wish I had time and the money to take a trip every season for inspiration! Morocco, Thailand, Bali, India, Mexico. There are so many rich in culture, art and fashion places I feel like I would be so inspired by. 

Let’s be real, being a boss and a mom are both awesome. But at times either, or both, can really challenge us. Tell us your most real moment in business or in motherhood that either keeps you going, has given you a reality check, or could help other moms realize they are not alone! 

I’m not gonna lie, sometimes I feel like giving up! I struggle financially by “doing what I love” and sometimes I lose the love and motivation to keep pushing through. My customers and friends usually help me push through and see the light. Since I am going through a divorce life has gotten extra hard. My daughter is 6 and she has been difficult! She has big emotions and has a hard time wrangling them in. I do my best to stay calm in spite of all the tantrums and mayhem, thank goodness for our child therapist!  I also rely on deep breaths, long baths, dance class and girl time whenever I can!

Tell us how you plan to celebrate Mother’s Day this year! 

Mother’s Day is coming! Yay!!! My daughter is at her dad’s Saturday night so I am going to start Sunday with some morning “me” time which includes Dance Church at The Sweat Spot and follow it off with a lovely home cooked linner (lunch/dinner) for my mom and daughter.

Check out Ultra Violet’s newest collection. Plus it’s all made right in Los Angeles!

Maradith Ginsburg

Owner of Little Sleepies

Mother to 5-year-old Sienna and almost 3-year-old Gavin

Website: https://littlesleepies.com

Instagram: @littlesleepies

Facebook: @littlesleepies

Introduce yourself and your company/brand.

Hi! I’m Maradith and I’m the owner of Little Sleepies, a bamboo sleepwear brand for babies and kids.

What was your biggest motivator to start your business?

The biggest motivator to start my business was the combination of seeing a void in the marketplace for a product I was desperately looking for and at the same time, having the desire to scratch my entrepreneurial itch and work for myself! 

What are the biggest challenges that you face uniquely as a mom in business?

There are just not enough hours in the day, and sleep is the first thing that’s sacrificed for me! I have the desire to do it all as both a mom and businesswoman and I wish for the ability to clone myself pretty much on a daily basis.

How is being a business owner and a mom uniquely rewarding?

Having control over my own schedule is huge for me. I love that I never miss a school event or dance class now. 

Moms have huge jobs to do already, even before starting your day as a badass-business owner. What are some of your most used tools or tricks to keep it all together? 

I’m a huge list-maker. I’ve recently discovered Trello and it’s amazing for organizing all parts of my life – personal and business.

Tell us about sacrifices that you must make as a business owner and mom. What are you just not able to fit into your life at this time that you wish you could? 

Sleep! 

Tell us how you plan to celebrate Mother’s Day this year! 

Hopefully my husband will let me sleep in in celebration of Mother’s Day this year. 

Check out Little Sleepies for the coolest printed pajamas for your little ones. 

Judith Andersson

Founder/Creative Director of Askr & Embla

Mother to 4-year-old Sigrid

Website: https://www.askrembla.com

Instagram: @askrembla

Facebook: @askrandembla

Introduce yourself and your company/brand.

Judith made her first Sleepod using her middle school sewing skills while expecting her daughter in 2014. As Scandinavian transplants and parents to be, she and her husband began craving the simplicity of the Scandinavian lifestyle. Co-sleeping is a natural part of parenting in Sweden and after endless research on safe co-sleeping she turned back to the traditional Swedish bed nests—updating the materials to suit her family’s eco-conscious Californian lifestyle. 

What was your biggest motivator to start your business?

I wanted to make a product that would make the fourth trimester as simple as possible to new moms. Integrity of materials was a huge drive for me and we have worked hard to make products that are as clean as possible, inside and out.

What are the biggest challenges that you face uniquely as a mom in business?

Living so far from family has been super tough, finding great childcare and a small, but loyal, group of friends has been key for my wellbeing as a mama. 

How is being a business owner and a mom uniquely rewarding?

It is such a privilege to be able to realize your ideas whilst having the autonomy to adjust your workload and hours to have the time you need for family. 

Moms have huge jobs to do already, even before starting your day as a badass-business owner. What are some of your most used tools or tricks to keep it all together? 

Take any help you can get and afford and be OK with the fact that good things take time. Your energy is your greatest asset so protect it accordingly. 

Tell us about sacrifices that you must make as a business owner and mom. What are you just not able to fit into your life at this time that you wish you could? 

I love the outdoors and have a few bucket list trips like the Pacific Crest Trail and skiing across Greenland that I still want to do but that probably will have to wait a decade or two and that is fine. 

Let’s be real, being a boss and a mom are both awesome. But at times either, or both, can really challenge us. Tell us your most real moment in business or in motherhood that either keeps you going, has given you a reality check, or could help other moms realize they are not alone! 

I got preeclampsia in the end of my pregnancy and had a very traumatic, near death birth experience. It has taken me years to heal my mind and body, and even though I spent so much time educating myself on birth I found that nothing of what I had learned prepared me for what happened. Through my journey with Askr & Embla, I have had the privilege to meet with and listen to so many women and that has been so healing to me. This experience has inspired our upcoming mothers series and I hope that by sharing our stories we might help others heal, too. 

Tell us how you plan to celebrate Mother’s Day this year! 

This Mother’s Day will be spent with a day by the sea with my husband and daughter.

Judith is extending a 10% discount for our readers. Use code MOTHER at Askr & Embla when you make a purchase from now until Sunday, May 19th.  

Pamela Hunter

Founder and Creative Director for Sheltered Co.

Mom to 3-year-old Story, 5-year-old Ransom, and 16-year-old Jordan

Website: https://www.shelteredco.com/

Instagram:@sheltered.co

Introduce yourself and your company/brand.

Hello! I’m Pamela Hunter and I’m the Founder and Creative Director for Sheltered Co. 

What was your biggest motivator to start your business?

Sheltered Co. is a sustainable weighted blanket company that was founded out of desperation to help my middle daughter, Ransom Fae who struggles with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Ransom had so much trouble with body regulation and sleep was near impossible for her. One day while I was attempting to crochet a rag rug out of fabric I found at a garage sale, I realized that my rug was turning out to be a bit of a disaster— it was too thick and waytoo heavy. That’s when I decided to drape the “rug” over my daughter and immediately we saw her entire body relax… it felt very much like a miracle. From there, I reworked the “rug” so that it could be used as a blanket and we’ve never looked back. Our family has been using these weighted blankets ever since to help our children with sleep along with teaching them to use the blankets as a tool to calm their bodies down and take a moment for themselves when they get overwhelmed.  

What are the biggest challenges that you face uniquely as a mom in business?

Raising children while starting and running a business and also finding time to keep up with a marriage has been so challenging. Learning to keep everyone’s schedule and keep all these plates spinning can sometimes make you feel like your going crazy. I often have guilt that I’m not able to be there for my kids or my husband when work is crazy and then when I decide to take some extra time off to spend with family something inevitably goes wrong at work, and then when I return my job feels 10x harder. But, I love a challenge and I believe wholeheartedly that my kids see me working hard and not giving up and it’s setting a great example for them. I would say in a nutshell, the hardest part has been giving myself grace and forgiving myself for not doing everything perfectly the first time.  

How is being a business owner and a mom uniquely rewarding?

Being a mother and a business owner has so many challenges, but it’s also equally rewarding! My company feels very much like another child that I need to nurture and the rewards are potentially endless. I get to provide jobs for people in Los Angeles, I receive emails daily from people telling me all about how our blankets have changed their lives, and as much as I work— I get to choose my hours and work from home whenever I like. The freedom and watching our product change people’s lives is something I never imagined and I feel so grateful that this hard work is paying off. 

Moms have huge jobs to do already, even before starting your day as a badass-business owner. What are some of your most used tools or tricks to keep it all together? 

Hmmmm, I feel like I’m still “winging it” in so many ways and I’m sure there’s a ton of tips I can pick up from more seasoned mama business owners. One thing that has been invaluable was having my husband take over much of the morning routine. When I felt like I was doing everything and carrying the entire mental load for the family I wasn’t able to thrive as a mother or business owner… let alone as a wife! Learning to ask for help before things get really overwhelming has been crucial. Also, long hot baths at night, scheduling therapy sessions and coffee dates with friends has been my lifeline. Oh, and taking time to just sit alone for a few minutes a day… even if it’s parked in front of daycare and I can just close my eyes for 5 minutes before getting my kids. 

Tell us about sacrifices that you must make as a business owner and mom. What are you just not able to fit into your life at this time that you wish you could? 

Oh dear… this is really making me want to fix this. My marriage has really suffered and any one-on-one time with my teenager. Those are both issues that I’ve been attempting to start scheduling time for, but with babysitters being so expensive and everyone being exhausted once the littlest kids go down there’s just not enough time. My hope is that things will take off just a bit more so that we can have the extra funds for some help. I wish I had a better answer, but with as many things as we have going on I’ve definitely had to sacrifice some time with my husband and my teenager. I’m positive that things will turn around, but that’s been a very difficult reality. 

Let’s be real, being a boss and a mom are both awesome. But at times either, or both, can really challenge us. Tell us your most real moment in business or in motherhood that either keeps you going, has given you a reality check, or could help other moms realize they are not alone! 

Right as I was starting the company I had a complete breakdown and literally tried to check myself into a mental hospital. Unfortunately, there was literally NO ONE who could step in and watch my children so I ended up having a therapist come to my house and help me out until I could feel like I could breathe on my own again. I ended up taking medication to help my panic attacks until I could get on my feet again and manage my children, the beginning of my company, and at least let my husband know that, even if we couldn’t make things “great” in the moment, we could promise to be partners and work on the romance once the kids were older. That was a very sobering time… I’ve never felt so overwhelmed and hopeless, yet here I am! I survived and that realization that I CAN do hard things has stuck with me…it gives me hope and courage to keep moving forward. 

Tell us how you plan to celebrate Mother’s Day this year! 

In true mama business owner fashion, I will be spending Mother’s Day WORKING (ha) our booth at the Echo Park Craft Fair. I probably won’t see my family until the next day, but maybe we will find time to celebrate the following weekend. I was a single mama for 8 years so working on Mother’s Day is something I’m very well acquainted with. I also believe that we should celebrate mamas daily! 

What a story that we business-owning mamas can all relate to! Check out Sheltered Co’s beautiful weighted blankets for some relaxing snuggle time. 

At Suite Creative Studio, we love supporting fashion brands. Reach out through our website if you would like your brand featured in an upcoming blog!