Today’s style feature and winner of our “Mom Crush Monday” contest is fabulous momprenuer Aaryn West, owner and designer for Watermelon Moon. The L.A. based designer creates kids clothing that is uniquely adorable, comfortable and environmentally friendly. Not only is her creativity inspirational, but also her words of wisdom when it comes to balancing work and mommyhood. I love what she says about “managing expectations”. This is something every mom can relate to! It seems there is never enough time in a day… except for when it comes to online shopping;) There is always time for that, especially when you get an awesome discount code for a super stylish company. Thank you, Aaryn, for giving us 20% off, making it easier to dress our littles in style. Use the code ‘mommychic’ at checkout to receive your discount now through May 8th. xx
MCbJ: When did you start Watermelon Moon and what was your inspiration behind the line?
AN: The online shop officially opened in February of this year, but the inspiration began soon after the birth of my daughter in 2013. I had dreams of applying my textile designs to something I could share directly with Persephone. I started by picking out the kind of funky, colorful prints I would choose for myself, and found a way to print them on super comfy organic cotton. The goal was to produce a line that was whimsical yet sophisticated, made with organic materials and produced locally.
MCbJ: What were the first items (or item) that you created? How has that influenced future designs?
AN: I knew from the start that I wanted harem pants in the collection – that was definitely one of my starting points. Picking out prints has been a little more challenging than designing the bodies, mainly because I have so many to choose from and I love them all. I have gotten the best feedback on our medallion print, I think for a few reasons. For one, black prints can be harder to find in children’s clothing so it’s somewhat of a unique offering. The colors in the print also disguise dirt and stains better than lighter designs, so that is a major plus. It’s also really gender neutral, so I managed not to exclude half of my audience by appealing to both boys and girls.
MCbJ: You have 1 child. Has it been difficult juggling work and being an available mom?
AN: Incredibly. Working from home has been one of my very biggest blessings as a parent because it gives me flexibility and accessibility, but the number of hours of work I can do in a day has been drastically reduced. The best phrase I’ve heard about a transition such as this is that I’ve learned to “manage my expectations”. Completing 10 hours of actual work in a day is just no longer realistic, and I’ve learned to not be so hard on myself for not being able to get more done. At the same time I have become much more efficient with the time I do have. Being able to prioritize is possibly the most important element in my overall productivity, and somehow I manage to do more with less.
MCbJ: Since becoming a mom what are some of your most noticeable changes?
AN: Weekends. Before becoming parents, my husband and I would often spend our weekends glued to our computers, working on professional and personal projects non-stop. We could spend days on end without even leaving the house, and often flaked on social events in order to just get a little more work done. Oddly enough, having a baby has done worlds for our social lives! We now cherish the weekend as family-time, making sure to get out of the house to experience our community and spend time with our friends. I had always heard you never see your friends again once they start having babies, but for us the opposite has proven to be true.
MCbJ: What advice do you have for new moms with dreams of having their own business?
AN: I would always encourage someone to follow their dreams! Of course you need to do your homework, and there will inevitably be some bumps along the way, but it can be done. Networking with other like-minded makers, business owners and moms can get you a long way – it’s how I ended up with the opportunity to answer these questions today.
MCbJ: What do you love about your job?
AN: The very best thing about being a designer or maker of any kind is seeing your work come to life. Creating new artwork has it’s own intrinsic value, and many of the designs I make never end up seeing the light of day. Being able to put tangible items out into the world, and in return, seeing photos from happy customers of their beautiful kids wearing something I’ve put so much love into gives me an incredible feeling. The idea that a cherished snapshot from someone’s childhood photo album might include a Watermelon Moon piece is such a neat idea to me.
MCbJ: How would you describe your own personal style?
My style is equal parts color and comfort. As a textile designer, you will find my closet filled with brightly colored vintage frocks in dizzyingly psychedelic prints; they are my weakness. But on a daily basis I am 100% a jeans and tee shirt kind of girl. I am currently obsessed with the vintage aesthetic and buttery-soft fabrics by LA based tee company, Daydreamer. I have been practically living in their Jimi Hendrix tee for the last few months.
Watermelon Moon is offering an exclusive discount for MCbJ followers. Enter code ‘mommychic‘ for 20% off your purchase from May 4th – 8th.
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