This article was originally published on March 14, 2021, in 60 Seconds Magazine. As of June 3, 2023, 60 Seconds Magazine‘s website is no longer active.
It’s March, and that means it’s Women’s History Month! While we should celebrate the women in our lives everyday, I also wanted to take this opportunity to give a shoutout to some of my favorite local female-owned businesses in Los Angeles!
I’ve been a big fan of Republique for many years now! It’s the perfect spot for brunch, and the decor makes the experience of dining at Republique seem like a little getaway from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. Walter and Margarita Manzke own Republique and also serve as the chefs for the renowned restaurant, which is currently open for takeout and patio dining!
Nong La’s take on traditional Vietnamese cuisine always makes me miss my grandma’s cooking! Siblings Elain and Victor Phuong opened the restaurant to honor their mother’s recipes, and all of the delicious dishes served at Nong La are reminiscent of the food found on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City!
If you’re in the mood for dessert, don’t forget to check out Salt & Straw, which is owned by Kim Malek. Salt & Straw has a very large presence in Los Angeles, since they have very unique flavors like Lemon Cheesecake Crumble and Cinnatopia Cinnamon Bun. The best part–the ice cream is sourced from family-owned Scott Brothers Dairy where cows are grass-fed and never given hormones or antibiotics.
I love coffee, and one of my favorite female owned coffee shops is Lavender & Honey in Pasadena. Charlie and Melanie Porter started Lavender & Honey due to their love for cafe culture, and they have used their coffee shop as a way to make a difference in the community by sourcing their ingredients from local vendors.
What are some of your favorite female-owned businesses?
This article was originally published on February 14, 2021, in 60 Seconds Magazine. As of June 3, 2023, 60 Seconds Magazine‘s website is no longer active.
February is Black History Month, and I wanted to use this time to learn more about African American heritage and traditions! In my research, I saw a lack of Black representation in a majority of companies in the United States and around the world. This is why I want to dedicate this article to all of the amazing ethical and sustainable businesses that are Black-owned. Let’s use this month to celebrate all of their achievements and highlight the very important roles that these businesses play in the lifestyle, home, fashion, and beauty industries!
One of the companies that I was so excited to learn about was A.Au. The brand offers thoughtfully handcrafted pieces that are made by skilled ateliers in Nigeria. The best part – A.Au aims to empower women to embrace their history, culture, and identity by allocating 10% of sales towards education for Abua youths.
Another black-owned company that I admired was msichana. The brand focuses on beautifully bold clothing made by women artisans earning fair wages. I love how msichana combines their efforts to create connections and cultural experiences, empower women through fair wages and education, and reduce their carbon footprint by ethically making their clothing.
I’m also a big fan of the vibrant home goods produced by Bolé Road Textiles. Their selection of products which include pillows, towels, rugs, curtains, wall hangings, and table linens. All of Bolé Road textiles are handwoven in Ethiopia, and I love how their owner, Hana Getachew, is using her brand to support other small woman-owned businesses in Ethiopia.
There are so many more amazing Black-owned businesses that offer a wide array of sustainable and ethical products, while making a difference in the community! Check out this list here!
This article was originally published on November 15, 2020, in 60 Seconds Magazine. As of June 3, 2023, 60 Seconds Magazine‘s website is no longer active.
I recently had the pleasure to speak with Ms. Jennet Chow, the founder, co-CEO, and head of design at Evolution Design Lab. Jennet is a first-generation Asian American business owner, and she has successfully launched multiple private labels, as well as her own brand, Jellypop Shoes, which specializes in designing and creating women and girls’ shoes for customers in the United States and Canada.
Aside from her successful business ventures, Jennet is also an active member of the community, lending her support to local food banks, small business owners, and homeless shelters. With the help of her team, Evolution Design Labs. has been able to make a significant difference during this global pandemic by donating sneakers, essential items, and masks to those in need.
As a first-generation Asian American with a background in business, fashion, and the creative industry, Jennet’s accomplishments are truly inspirational, and I was able to speak to her about the various experiences that have shaped her as a businesswoman and philanthropist.
(Elizabeth will be shortened to “E”, and Jennet will be shortened to “J” from this point forward.)
E: How did you start your business?
J: I started my business while transitioning from working at my parents’ company, Prima Royale Enterprises. I worked at their shoe company Prima Royale Enterprises for about 10 years, building up their team in the Design Department and working in many roles: in Production, Design and Marketing. My parents established their company when I was around 5 years old, so I grew up in their world of footwear. Throughout their career, my parents had a lot of rough days. However, it wasn’t until their partner passed away due to cancer that they seriously thought about retiring due to their own health. It was a difficult time for all of us. However, there were many employees and people involved and it would have been too devastating to close the company completely.
I wanted to help continue the business with my husband, who also had experience helping with my parents’ operations. Therefore, I named the company Evolution Design Lab (EDL), to place emphasis on how a company can evolve to adapt to the times. Our time working at Prima Royale helped us maintain a lot of the same customers and buyers in the US, and we continued the relationships with manufacturers in China. I couldn’t have started without my family’s support, experience working, and the relationships developed at Prima Royale Enterprises. Today we are just what the name of our company states. Within the 11 years at EDL, we have evolved so much as a company, and we have adapted faster than any other footwear company in technology, operations, and 3D design.
E: What does a typical day look like for you?
J: I start off checking emails and messages in the early morning before the kids wake up. Then, I spend time with our dog and feed him. I have 3 kids, so I make sure they have food ready to eat between their breaks for online school in the morning. Once that’s done, I read what’s happening on the news, check out social media – Instagram / Facebook – for what the trends are in everything, not just clothes, but also what people are thinking, what foods people are loving, what’s bothering people, what’s exciting others, what’s making people tick, etc. I am always curious what people are thinking. Then I continue checking emails / projects that have to be done in design. I go on Discord, WeChat, and Stylemanager, which is a system Mike, my husband, built for the company. I communicate with China, throughout the US, and work with the designers on an hourly basis. If I don’t check communication regularly, I can fall far behind, so I am always reading updates.
On a usual workday, I do have meetings on Zoom, Discord, or over the phone. I have 2-6 meetings throughout the day about various topics – website development, new programs, prototype corrections, ecommerce status, selling, trend boards, etc. This job is perfect for those who love multiple projects all at once. I would be very bored doing the same thing every day! When I’m done with all my work I go back to “mommy mode.” I cook a lot. After Dinner I either help my youngest do his homework or I’m cleaning. We don’t have any help now due to COVID-19 precautions, and I like to be clean, so I am constantly cleaning or doing the laundry on my free time. An exciting day for me these days is going to the grocery store!
During the summer I took some executive online classes at Yale’s School of Management, so my evenings consisted of reading case studies and learning about business and leadership. I love to constantly learn about what I find useful, so I’m always learning and reading. I just received my certificate for the Yale program on Women Leadership and plan on continuing my education in the future. You can never be too old. I also love listening to podcasts in between, in particular “How I Built This” by Guy Raz. I can relate to a lot of the founders and business owners – it’s very therapeutic, enlightening, and encouraging to listen to.
E: What is the most challenging and most rewarding thing about having your own business?
J: One of the most challenging things about having my own business is the fact that not everyone understands what I am going through, nor do I expect them to. People think it is very glamorous to own a business, but it is very stressful, and there are a lot of things employees do not see, a lot of hardships. While at a workplace people have co-workers to talk to, but being a leader can sometimes be quite lonely. There are also rarely any breaks, and the business is always on my husband’s and my mind. I have learned to stay calm about most situations and maintain optimism. I have also improved a lot with my delegation and hiring the right people. That has really helped me with my work-life balance, which had been a struggle the last 10 years. I used to miss some of my kids’ birthdays and important events, and I also didn’t sleep enough at one point due to traveling too much.
Today, I feel like working from home has helped me maintain a work-life balance more than ever before. When I had to travel all the time, it was definitely so terribly difficult. In contrast, I am now able to spend more time with my kids, feed them, have meals with them – this has been a dream come true. I am not wasting my time driving and flying from place to place. I am present.
My kids are quite independent, so it helps that when I’m working, they are working too. When they need me, everything else can wait. I do put family first, especially in the evenings. This is the rewarding part. Being able to go through my struggles and learning to adapt to them and make it work positively.
I am also most proud of the fact that I was able to start Evolution Design Lab (EDL) when I was 29 years old. This is the 11th year running. I am also proud that we have become more of a tech company and have pivoted quickly because we have Stylemanager and Segovia, a customized online supply-chain platform no one was really open-minded to 15 years ago. I am also proud that we were able to prove our success to people who were skeptics. When we first started, we had a lot of naysayers in my parents’ generation. They said that we would probably fail and discouraged us. But I realized that today, they accomplished nothing by saying those hurtful words while we kept working hard. Today, I thank them because they became a chip on my shoulder and motivated me to prove them wrong.
E: To conclude the interview, do you have any advice for students who are hoping to start their own creative ventures / businesses in the future?
J: Yes, my advice is to always be prepared and be kind, but tough when needed. It is always important to know what is happening in the world. It is also important to be ready to work extremely hard for a long period of time. It is like running a marathon, and you need a lot of endurance and support to run your own company. I would also say it is so important to evolve and stay calm every step of the way.
We have a WYDcommunity, where we give advice to Gen Z. Here is my advice from one of my posts there:
My advice to Gen Z females is to work hard, be ambitious, and you must have a positive attitude. Also, it’s so important to work extremely hard, especially in the beginning. Nothing comes easily, so don’t expect anything to be easy! Grow a tough skin and keep a positive mindset. Don’t compare yourself or your timeline with others, especially on social media. That is all a facade! If you are not working hard and are unreliable, people will notice right away. Be mindful of your reputation as you grow your career.
Sources:
Interview conducted through email with Jennet Chow
Images courtesy of Jennet Chow and Evolution Design Lab
Elizabeth N. Tran | L.A. Based Writer 