Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Hsieh.
Hi Lisa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I started Mien when I was pregnant with my son. Realizing that there was a lack of versatile, well-made clothing in organic fabrics for pregnant people, I launched a collection with four styles that can be worn before, during, and after pregnancy. I worked with a local fabric mill to develop my brand’s signature fabric – a substantial and soft knit jersey that’s made of 100% GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cotton. The collection is then cut, sewn, and dyed in custom colors I designed in Los Angeles by small, family-owned factories.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Growing a brand is never a straightforward and easy path, adding to that the challenges of an unprecedented global pandemic that disrupted our supply chain, I feel fortunate that we are still here. Since customers discovered my designs were great for working from home, we gained a following and were able to grow the business during the pandemic. What I see for the road ahead for Mien, now that the world has mostly come out of the darker days, is bringing more intricate, style-forward pieces to the line. Now that we are celebrating more of life’s moments together with friends and family once again, I’d like to offer styles that help us do just that while keeping to our brand ethos.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
I design a sustainable clothing line, Mien, and currently, with every piece in the line made in Los Angeles – from knitting, cutting, sewing, and dyeing. We’re known for elevated, simple, everyday pieces in an array of beautiful colors that our customers find suitable to wear to even special occasions. The designs are also pregnancy and nursing friendly, made in my brand’s signature fabric that’s able to stretch to accommodate a growing body from pre to postpartum and nursing. Mien is different in that we offer styles as they are ready instead of following a strict fashion calendar. We also offer an extended size range from early on, and I’m proud that we have always stayed connected with our customers even through our growth, some whom have continued to shop with us since the beginning and own multiple colors of their favorite styles. Their loyalty and love for the collection is a great reward and motivates me to work harder. It’s been almost seven years since I started Mien. I feel like my customers are growing alongside me. Going forward, I’m excited to introduce even more style choices, add to our categories, and offer special fabrics sourced from the globe to expand our offerings.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was born and raised in Taiwan until I was sixteen before my family moved to California and settled for good. I’m a blend of two distinct cultures – the East and the West. I’ve always been artistic and creative, with my parents noticing this early on and persisting in enrolling me in art classes even in the highly competitive academic environment in Taiwan. I went on to graduate with a fine art degree from UC San Diego, but since I was young, I always knew I wanted to be a fashion designer, and without a formal clothing design degree, I worked my way up in the L.A. fashion industry. To now having my own clothing brand.
Having to adapt to a new culture as a young person has created a tenacity that I’ve learned to appreciate. I also attribute my entrepreneurial spirit to my hardworking parents, who allowed me to pursue my passions and supported me the entire way. I love learning about new things and have many interests that I now spend more time developing as a form of self-care – I love documentaries, period films, art history, etc. I also enjoy cooking, baking, traveling, gardening as well. I’m definitely type A, with a drive and ability to push through hardship which I suppose is great for building a business from the ground up. As I’m getting older, however, I also realize that being a go-getter means I could easily forget to take care of myself and those around me. I’m a mother of two young children and the pandemic has taught me to find grace and time for myself, my husband, whom I’ve been with for 18 years, my children, and making space in my day-to-day for loved ones. Also, I now have a therapist I speak to regularly – it’s been life-changing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mienstudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mienstudios
Image Credits
Lyndsey Yeomans
Rebekkah Cefai
