We’re celebrating mums this week, and as a team pioneered by a working mum we have the utmost respect for these multi-tasking ladies! Meet 5 glamorous entrepreneurs who not only deal with the ins and outs of the business world, but also have playdates marked out in their calendars.
First up – meet Angie Lai-Tay, the hardworking and always well-heeled mama who’s also the lady behind Curated Editions. Angie has one daughter who turns 4 this September.
So Angie, tell us more about Curated Editions.
Curated Editions is an online store started by Tjin Lee and myself. Having bonded over a shared love of fashion and shiny things, we decided to start a business offering handpicked fashion accessories scoured from hard-to-find labels such as Venna, Noir, Toton, Elizabeth Cole, and Klutched. I personally have now expanded our business to include Curated Bags, which retails brand new designer bags from brands like Celine and Chanel, at discounted prices. You can find us on Instagram at @curatededitions and @curatedbags.
And why did you decide to start Curated Editions?
The push factor was really that fateful day shopping around in BKK while Tjin and I were there for Bangkok Fashion Week. It was utter madness, Audi Fashion Fest was coming up, we were up to our necks in things to do, and here was Tjin insisting that I start a business with her.
I’ve always loved accessories – I have so many – and people would always ask where I got this or bought that. It was hard to explain that I don’t buy everything from one place, and it’s really a kind of treasure hunt for the best pieces even in the jewellery equivalent of a rubbish dump.
With Tjin’s encouragement, I decided, hey why not? I enjoy this, other people want what I want, so why not turn this into an endless shopping spree? And so we started Curated Editions.
How do you manage your work-life balance?
I think it’s always important to make time for your family. I’m now making a conscious effort to stop all emails and Whatsapp messaging when I’m with my daughter, just to set a good example! I’m also very lucky to work flexible hours so I’m always working like crazy in the mornings with meetings, emails, and calls. But once 4pm rolls around, I become my daughter’s driver and playmate!
It also helps that I have a super supportive husband who just wants me to do whatever makes me smile!
What’s the hardest part about being a working mum?
Finding time – which I try hard to carve out from nowhere! Its such a cliché but time really is never enough and time flies. I try to remember and take a video of the silly things she does and says for our future reference. The hardest part is obviously making sure I spend enough time with her to set a good example, or travel with her as much as I can to expose her to different cultures and experiences. It’s never just about the working mum though; a good family unit ensures that my daughter gets all the help and love from her grandparents, father, aunts etc. I’m really grateful for that.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from being a working mum?
There’s nothing groundbreaking about my lessons; I feel it’s about loving and treasuring what you have. As long as you love what you do, you will find a way to make it work. Sacrifices then seem like they’re worth it. I’ve also learnt to prioritise what’s important. I might miss a meeting/sale/opportunity but nothing beats reading her a book before bedtime or laughing at silly noises with her.
Any golden words for mums out there?
I read somewhere that 15 mins of quality time with them, be it reading, hugging, or laughing with them is enough to “center” them. So let’s not feel that bad about missing moments!
Thanks, Angie!