Happy Monday! I hope this weekend gave you everything you needed and more! Here’s the YT video I dropped yesterday. Don’t forget, there’s a new episode every Sunday. Just go ahead and subscribe so you don’t miss anything. 🤷🏽♀️
Thoughts?? Let me know in the comments…
Stay Fearless 💋
The first day of Fall is about 3 weeks away so it’s well past time that I get to work on the Fashion Not Fear fall collection.
I’ve just received two textiles that I ordered and can’t wait to get your feedback on it.
I opened the box and here’s how it went…
Thoughts on the new fabric?? Which one do you like more?? Let me know in the comments…
Stay Fearless 💋
Lynn Power left a successful 30 year advertising career, as CEO of J. Walter Thompson NY, to become an entrepreneur. She launched MASAMI, a clean premium haircare, in February 2020. And hasn’t looked back since.
I wanted to know more about her fearless journey, so I reached out to ask her some questions. Here is what she said…
Tell us what life was like before you began your fearless journey?
I had been working in the advertising industry for my entire career and was running agencies. At the time, I was the CEO of J. Walter Thompson NY. But, I found that I wasn’t enjoying it much anymore. I was dealing with a lot of administrative work (HR issues, legal issues, finance meetings, etc) and had gotten away from what drew me to the industry in the first place — building brands.
What made you want to take the leap and start your company?
I decided it was time to stop building other people’s brands and to start doing it for myself. When I left J. Walter Thompson, I actually started a brand consultancy with a partner. We worked almost exclusively with startups which I really enjoyed. I found it fulfilling to make a direct impact on their business in a very tangible way. But then I met my co-founder James, who had been working on haircare formulations for about 10 years. I loved what he was doing. We decided to partner together to launch MASAMI which we founded in 2018 and haven’t looked back.
What have you learned about yourself during this journey?
I am much more adaptable and entrepreneurial than I realized. I always knew I had an entrepreneurial gene (both my parents were small biz owners) but I wasn’t sure I would like the “grind” of it. But it turns out, I like the flexibility of working when I want and controlling my schedule. And of course, launching during Covid certainly has given me a perspective on how to pivot and not get too caught up in your plans.
What would you do over again before you took the leap? (If anything)
I would take some time to build up my clean beauty network and also a network of peers and advisors. That has been incredibly helpful and I always advise other entrepreneurs to make sure they have a strong network, but there is no reason to wait until you leave your job and start your business to do that. You should always be growing your connections and network — you never know when it might come in handy.
What is life like since you’ve taken the leap into fearless living?
I have crafted my business around my lifestyle — which is super flexible. I like being able to work in Palm Spring, NYC, The Berkshires, wherever. And now with my own business, it’s been great to be able to create my life the way I want it. I like to blend my business and personal lives (for me that works super well), so I work with friends, my kids help out and my husband is our investor. It all comes together in a really fulfilling way.
Tell us about your company.
MASAMI is clean premium haircare with a Japanese ocean botanical that’s all about hydration. Our formulas are high performing but don’t weigh your hair down — which is something our customers really love. We are also gender neutral, vegan and cruelty free. And of course, have no sulfates, parabens or phthalates. We are a DTC+ brand (we have our own e-commerce site but are also sold on Amazon, in stores like Showfields and Verishop and have salon partnerships with Spoke & Weal and DreamDry).
What is one useful tip you would share about entrepreneurship?
Make sure you understand your product and market fit (how scalable is your idea) and spend time nailing your brand proposition and brand values. This is incredibly helpful as you grow, bring new people into the team and launch new products. All too often, I’ve seen founders focus on the product vs. the brand and end up with messy messaging that needs to be reworked later.
What has been the most difficult part of your journey?
Well, launching during Covid has certainly been interesting. It caused us to rethink our salon strategy (as most were closed for most of 2020) and focus on content and e-commerce. So, the unpredictability of it all has been a hard adjustment. But it taught us to go with the flow.
What has been the most rewarding part of your journey?
I’ve really enjoyed getting feedback from our customers about how our products have transformed their hair. And we’ve created a large size ceramic bottle with refills that I love because it enables us to help the beauty industry evolve and become more sustainable which is part of our mission.
How do you stay motivated when things get tough?
I’m lucky that I have an amazing network of supporters, friends and family who have been amazing. It’s easy to be positive when things are going well, but you really see the character of your team when things are tough and we’ve all had each other’s backs, which makes me feel like we’re in it for the long haul.
Share something about your journey that you feel is important that we have not addressed.
Both James and I are “older” founders — MASAMI officially launched in February 2020 at New York Fashion week. We were both 53. You are never too old to do what you love.
Want to follow her journey?!
👉🏾 Masami Hair On IG | Lynn On IG
Thoughts?? Let me know in the comments…
Stay Fearless 💋
2020 has been quite a year! Unfortunately, amongst other things, it led us to not be able to have a runway show. All of the shows that we were scheduled to appear in were cancelled.
But there’s always next year…hopefully!
One thing is for sure, I won’t take for granted being able to participate being in a show. I never realized how much it was missed until the option was no longer there. So, for reminiscing purposes, I wanted to show you the last show we did in 2019.
Take a look at time Fashion Not Fear was put on a runway! You will notice something about their face accessories. Am I a fortune teller or what?? Plus, wait til the end to get all of the outfit details.
Which was your favorite look?? Let me know in the comments…
Stay Fearless 💋
Some Fashion Not Fear pieces come from a sketched idea. But do they ever come out looking like what was sketched?? I will let you be the judge of that. Take a look at some of the sketches dropped before the item was made…
Sooooo, do they look like their sketch or nawl?! Which are your favorites from the collection?? Let me know in the comments…
Stay Fearless 💋
(P.S…you can shop the full collection here.)
As you might already know, I became a mom to my first baby in May. Having my baby boy has truly been one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I completely understand now, what a mothers love really is. His happiness consumes me. It’s one of my main goals in life. I never thought I’d be the type of mom to pull out my phone and shows his pictures to any and everyone. Im that Mom times 10. The bad part of it since we are in quarantine is that I only come in contact with the same group of people. My mom, brother, 2 nieces, and nephew. Which means they are the lucky ones who get to view 100 new pics a day!
Although, Im loving motherhood. I must admit that it presents some challenges when it comes to being an entrepreneur. Right now, Im literally holding him while he sleeps on my left arm and typing this on my laptop with my right hand.
Before my son arrived, I didn’t feel pressure like I do now. In my mind, I had an endless amount of time to post, blog, sew, do pop ups…whatever. I was (and still am) a night owl so burning the midnight oil hustling was nothing to me. But now. Oh, hell no…Mama had to make some serious changes. Here is what I’ve learned and how I maneuver since going from entrepreneur to mompreneur.
Take advantage of nap time.
One piece of advice I heard more often than others was, “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” This sounds like great advice. But since Ive never been one to nap in the middle of the day. I found it super, difficult to take a full on nap at 2 in the afternoon. I make his nap time, my hustling time. My baby is a lil’ over 3 months so I hold him…alot. Which means I don’t have much free arm time. So, while I’m holding him, I do as much as I can that requires me to sit in one position. From writing as many blog posts as possible, creating content for newsletters and social media, shopping online for new fabric, etc.
Patience really is a virtue.
Baby boy doesn’t care what I want to accomplish for the day. He could care less if I’m on a business or Zoom call. Not to mention how much sewing I have to do. I throw any frustration out of the window when he needs to be fed, changed, or wants to eat or play when I’m working. I always remember he will only be this small for a short amount of time. Be patient and take full advantage of the precious moments we can share.
Don’t be afraid to ask for an extra hand.
Like most mothers, I want to do it all. Run a business, change every diaper, do every feeding, and not miss one moment. But asking for a helping hand doesn’t mean you aren’t killing it at motherhood. I mean…I just realized that its okay for my husband to take care of him while I’m sewing. He loves him too!
Don’t forget about you.
Speaking of asking for an extra hand. Don’t forget about your own self care. This doesn’t mean you have to leave the house without the baby for hours. I’m certainly not there. Self-care could be having Dad sit with him while you take a bath or do a face mask. Such a small act can reap big benefits in making you feel like you!
Strategize as much as possible.
Create a list of your goals for the day, week, or month. Then knock the items off your list as you get free time. All of your tasks will be accomplished before you know it.
Set realistic goals.
This has been a huge one for me! Before the baby, I could cut fabric and completely sew a dress within 2 days. Now?! Well, it takes about that long to gather the fabric and cut the pieces. Maybe a day or two longer?? Two days to complete a look is no longer realistic. Its a joke really. Now, I set a more realistic timeframe to finish a garment. And I adjust the time, if needed. No use in putting extra stress in myself.
Invest in a blanket carrier.
When all else fails, put your baby in the carrier to keep him/her close to you and keep it moving. I received one during my baby shower. But only planned on using it while we were out. Until one day, I ran across thread in a Facebook group where the women were talking about how they were able to get so much done while their baby was in a carrier. I finally decided to give it a try and let me tell you…it’s a life saver!
I recently read an article about a mother who was successfully running her own business. She despised being labeled as Mompreneur. She felt like it discredited her as a business women. I feel the exact opposite. I find that being a Mom while running a business is a great accomplishment. Back in the day, it was thought that once you become a Mom, you pretty much gave up on your dream. Being a mom while running a business is such a great way to show everyone that this idea is soooo far from the truth. We can do it all now!
Are you juggling motherhood and entrepreneurship? Thoughts on the tips or using the term mompreneur?? Drop your thoughts in the comments…
Stay Fearless 💋
Nowadays, it’s essential that we keep our masks and sanitizer on deck when leaving the house.
To be honest, I never really go out. I let my husband do all of the store runs while the baby and I wait for him in the car. But when I absolutely must go out not only do I want to be stylish but I also want to make sure that I have my PPE on hand. Rummaging through my purse to find these essentials is not my ideal way of being prepared.
Here is a stylish way to keep your mask and sanitizer on you.
The Hands Off Belt is the perfect accessory! It keeps you hands free while still being safe. Put your sanitizer, mask, and a couple of dollars in there or your credit card. You’re good to go!
Thoughts on the Hands Off Belt Bag?? Drop them in the comments…
Stay Fearless 💋
(P.S…you can see a video of the belt bag on my IG page!)
Last year, I told you about an invite I received to make a dress that will be put in an art exhibit from October 2019 through February 2020.
Destined By Design: A Celebration Of African American Fashion was the name of the exhibit. How could I say no? It was one of my first times making a dress that was for special occasions. And it was definitely the first time I ever had something that I created in an art display. It was such an honor!
If you didn’t get a chance to visit, you truly missed out. The talent made by other black dress and jewelry designers was amazing. Here is a look back at the process of making the dress and how it turned out.
Thanks to the curator who invited me to put a dress on display along with family, friends, and everyone who came out to check it out! It means the world!!
I was thinking about having a contest to give the dress away to one lucky winner. What are your thoughts on that and the dress?? Let me know in the comments…
Stay Fearless 💋
A few weeks ago, I started working on a new collection for the annual SPIRIT Fashion Show that I’ve been showcasing at for the past few years.
Unfortunately, this years’ show was cancelled due to the pandemic. But it is on for next year, so no worries.
I had already sketched out the 8 looks that I was going to be making for the show. One style was completely finished and I was putting the final touches on the second look when I got the notice about it being cancelled.
No biggie, it was time to make a pivot to my designs! Not really so much the styles but the fabrics. It was no longer going to necessary for me to create 8 looks that had fabrics that coordinated.
The new handmade pieces being added to the collection have the feminine details FNF is known for but I wanted to add some dramatic sleeves in there too. I just love a good sleeve, I can’t help myself.
Here are some of the details you will see in the first two pieces set to be released this week!
This rack will be full of new designs soon. Stay tuned for these two new releases that will be coming out this week.
What do you think of what you’ve seen so far?? Let me know in the comments…
Stay Fearless 💋
Happy Fearless Woman Friday 💙
This week we are doing something a lil’ bit different. On this episode, we are updating you on one of our fearless women that was previously featured. About 2 years ago, we introduced you to Rosh Govindaraj. You can check out her full episode here.
Rosh is creator of Issara, a company that creates ethically made luxury leather goods.
We recently caught up with her to get the latest on fearless living, her company and more. Here is what she said:
Tell us about the idea behind Issara…
I got the idea when I was on a dive boat in Indonesia (June 2014) and spotted a bag on a guy sitting next to me. It was beautiful, and looked like it could withstand anything. So I asked where he got it and ended up accompanying him on a trip to a leather workshop where I had my own sketches made into a gorgeous bag for daily use. I was hooked – it was so much more special than just picking up something from the nearest store. I figured that I could use the power of the internet to bring that joy to people from my part of the world too. That was my bingo moment. I quit my job 3 weeks after that.
What has been the most difficult task about building this business?
The struggles I faced mostly related to cultural and generational differences. As a relatively young woman in a male-dominated, traditional industry I faced some unique challenges:
– Older male artisans would either flat out refuse to deal with me, or deride my decision to travel alone in a language they thought I did not understand (I could).
– Having almost every decision or request challenged by male artisans while witnessing the same requests being quickly fulfilled if a male colleague makes them
– Being blackmailed and almost extorted (twice!).
These experiences make the wins particularly exhilarating though!
What has been the biggest payoff?
Being able to run a business that support artisans, produces beautiful, lasting and ethically made products for consumers, and having the flexibility of working from anywhere in the world!
What makes Issara different from other leather goods companies?
Our artisans are paid over three times the minimum wage, receive health insurance for themselves and their families and are enrolled in an interest-yielding savings program. Every aspect of the process is considered – our packaging is eco-friendly, tanneries are compliant with international environmental standards, and we’re working towards B-corporation certification. All these things constitute higher expenses that naturally impact the profit line. But being a social business, we measure Issara’s success not only in terms of dollars but also the social impact achieved. I think this dual-focus (on product quality as well as ethical production) will pay off in the long term as people start to appreciate the social gains.
What has changed since the last time we talked to you?
Keeping in line with the desire to create long lasting, luxury quality items that simplify your life, we launched a second collection, a tech-enabled collection, this time on Kickstarter. Technology has positively impacted so many aspects of our lives that it simply made sense to combine it with the items we carry every day. So I reached out to every reputable tracking technology company I could find (around 7 of them) and tested devices from each one. We chose to partner with the world leader in tracking technology (Trackr) due to the superior functionality of their tracking device, mobile app usability, ultra slim profile, anodized steel case and easy replaceability of the batteries (this was very important in keeping with our sustainable ethos – there are popular trackers out there where the entire tracker has to be replaced and this doesn’t sit well with us).
So, we heard about your Kickstarter campaign, how did it go?
The campaign was successful and we received amazing press from Forbes, Huffpost and various other publications. Even Guy Kawasaki tweeted our campaign, which was super exciting!
What can we expect next from Issara?
I’m working on another line of minimalist goods to simplify your daily life (though not just leather this time around!).
Follow Rosh and all things Issara on social media @issarahq. Leave your thoughts in the comments…
Stay Fearless 💋