I was recently interviewed by a business student, and I thought I’d share my answers here as a sort of “get to know me” segment.
1. What business are you in and when did you start it?
I design, manufacture, and sell women’s clothing. My focus is on making garments that feel beautiful and meaningful to wear—using the best fabrics and construction I can find. I started the business in 2010, and it’s evolved slowly and intentionally over time.
2. What roles and responsibilities do you have?
Pretty much everything. I design the pieces, source fabrics (often from India and Bangladesh), manage production with my workshop partners, handle customer communication, photograph the products, write the copy, update the website, and take care of all the marketing and packaging. I also manage the behind-the-scenes work like budgeting and inventory. It’s a lot of hats, but I enjoy the variety.
3. What is your typical day like?
No two days are exactly the same, which I like. Some days I’m sketching new designs or reviewing fabric samples; others I’m packing orders or emailing with manufacturers. I spend a lot of time writing—whether it’s newsletters, product descriptions, or connecting with customers. Since I’m also a homemaker and a mom, my work has to flex around my family’s needs.
4. What is the best thing about owning your own business?
The freedom. I get to build something aligned with my values—no sales gimmicks, no cutting corners in production. I can work at a pace that fits the season I’m in, and I can focus on making something that feels meaningful, both to me and to my client.
5. What is the hardest thing about owning your own business?
The emotional weight. It can feel lonely. There’s no one else to take responsibility when things go wrong, and the business often feels deeply tied to my identity. Also, I don’t currently take a paycheck—even though the business covers its costs—which can be hard to explain or justify, even to myself at times.
In 2010, my sewing machine was on a microwave cart in a corner of our NYC apartment.
2025, my studio is in our home in Illinois.
6. How long did it take for your business to start making money?
It took about 10 years for the business to consistently cover its costs. I’ve reinvested every dollar back into improving quality and scaling production. Growth has been slow but steady, and very much tied to the integrity of the product.
7. What advice would you give to someone who is starting a business? What do you know now that you wish you had known when you started?
There’s no single “right” way to run a business. You can build something slowly, imperfectly, and with deep integrity—and still create something meaningful and lasting. I’ve made many different products in many different ways, and I needed every twist and turn to figure out what I truly wanted to make and how I wanted to make it.
You don’t have to wait for everything to be perfect—just begin, and learn as you go. That means staying humble and open to growth. Focus on the product or service itself, not just the marketing. And most importantly, don’t sacrifice your health or your life to serve the business. If you want it to last, keep tinkering until you find a way to build a business that supports you—not one that drains you.
Thanks for reading.
If you're building something of your own—or dreaming about starting—I’d love to hear what part of this resonated most. You can send me a note here or on IG or FB. We’re all figuring it out as we go.