THE SUN BEAT DOWN OUTSIDE , STRONG PIERCING RAYS , NEARLY BLINDING IN THEIR INTENSITY . BUT INSIDE WHERE I SAT ON THE DIRT FLOOR , IT WAS DARK , AND EVERYTHING WAS A BLUR AROUND ME . A RAGGED CHICKEN PECKED AT THE EARTH NEAR MY LEGS , STRUTTED BACK AND FORTH , THEN WALKED BACK OUTSIDE . EVEN THE CHICKENS WERE FREE , UNLIKE ME . NIGHT FELL , AND THE MORNING SUN ROSE AGAIN , AND STILL NO ONE CAME FOR ME .
I WAS A STREET CHILD IN ONE OF BRAZIL ’ S MANY FAVELAS .
Photographer Analicia Herrmann , too , grew up in Brazil . Like me , Analicia now lives in the United States with her husband and kids , a world away from these simple roots . While I work on a farmhouse fixer-upper and manage Babiekins Magazine , she works alongside designers Tammy Barnett and Kristen Dascal to photograph the ever-evolving twicemonthly collections from Bijou Sauvage ( www . bijousauvageclothier . com ).
Last year , Analicia returned to Brazil with armfuls of Bijou dresses . The unusual science- and literary-inspired patterns , stripes and abundant florals were an abrupt contrast to the ragged community built on a landfill in rural Curitiba , Brazil . The trip -- which also included a monetary donation from Bijou Sauvage to improve the Amigos do Caximba children ’ s shelter founded by Curitiba native Edilaine Lima -- was a landmark for the brand .
Curitiba native Edilaine Lima -- was a landmark for the brand .“ Our children have more than they could ever need ,” Bijou Sauvage designer Kristen told me , referring to her own four children and fellow designer Tammy ’ s daughter . “ They have access to the best schools and education , they are loved , happy and safe , and never have to worry about going hungry …. We want to ensure they [ the children of Curitiba ] not only have access to an
In an industry like this , drowning in excess with a spotlight on fashion and decor , it ’ s easy to lose perspective .
But my own background as an abandoned street child -- adopted at age five to an American family -- is never far from my mind . It ’ s the loudest reminder of beauty from ashes I have , and my constant song of redemption . I ’ m thankful for even the pain in my past , and for the determination and grit of my mother who showed up at an airport when I was five , waiting for me with open arms even though she ’ d never met me before .
Designers Tammy and Kristen are no strangers to a world filled with determined , independent , make-things-happen women , either . Like Amigos do Caximba ’ s founder Edilaine Lima , they simply do not give up .
{ Q } AS WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE , WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR DAUGHTERS SEE FROM YOUR PERSISTENCE ?
{ A } We both are very independent , strong-willed women . We don ’ t consider “ quitting ” anything , anytime , [ as ] an option . We are fortunate enough to have a huge support system in our partners and tribe of friends , and this business is never easy . We have struggles , we have moments of doubt . We have days we are tired . We don ’ t sleep much and constantly strive to make Bijou better , new , fresh . At the end of the day , we both are proud of what we have built in a short time . We will never be satisfied or complacent with where we are , and we hope our drive and passion for our business makes our kiddos proud , too .
{ Q } WERE THERE WOMEN IN YOUR LIVES WHO MODELED THIS FOR YOU ?
{ A } We both came from households where both of our parents worked outside the home . A woman in the workforce , in whatever capacity , wasn ’ t foreign to us .
{ Q } RUNNING A BUSINESS IS ALMOST ALL-CONSUMING -- BUT SO IS PARENTING . HAS WHAT YOU ’ VE LEARNED AS A BUSINESS OWNER CROSSED OVER INTO YOUR DAY-TO-DAY PARENTING ? HOW DO YOU FIND BALANCE , CARVE OUT SPACE FOR YOURSELVES , MAKE TIME FOR YOUR FAMILY , AND STILL RUN THE BUSINESS ?
{ A } We have had to learn how to be super organized and to prioritize our tasks every day . Finding the balance is still something we work on constantly . We definitely drop the ball occasionally , and have to remind ourselves we are human , and sometimes , everything just doesn ’ t get done . We are both pretty consistent in keeping our kids the focus , Bijou comes second . Honestly , I don ’ t expect us to ever perfect this art , because our families and business are both dynamic and ever-changing .
{ Q } TAMMY , YOU ’ VE BEEN VERY OPEN ABOUT YOUR DAUGHTER SCOUT ’ S AUDITORY NEUROPATHY DIAGNOSIS WHEN SHE WAS EIGHTEEN MONTHS OLD . HOW HAVE HER STRUGGLES IMPACTED THE WAY YOU VIEW YOUR OWN LIFE ?
{ A } I definitely had to educate myself in a hurry . It ’ s not a common condition , so I reached out to a friend who was the director at a speech and hearing center . My daughter started speech therapy there right away , and I learned about the option of a cochlear implant . They explained my daughter could hear sound , but it was all static to her . The surgery [ to prepare her for the cochlear implant ] would render her entirely deaf in that ear . What a difficult choice to make ! It was a struggle to have my crying baby taken from my arms , to be sedated for an MRI , and to have the surgery -- it was terrifying . Results were fifty-fifty on how successful the surgery would be for a child with her condition . Fortunately , it went well ! After the implant , it only took her six months for her language skills to catch up with her hearing peers . Now at age five , she tests in the ninety-eighth percentile for vocabulary , the same as most seven-yearolds .
{ Q } FANS OF BIJOU SAUVAGE WILL RECOGNIZE SCOUT FROM HER REGULAR APPEARANCES IN BIJOU LOOKBOOKS , AND KRIS , YOUR DAUGHTER MONROE MODELS FOR BIJOU AS WELL . THIS FAMILY APPROACH BRINGS TO MIND THE EXAMPLE YOUR OWN HARD- WORKING MOTHERS SHOWED EACH OF YOU .
{ A } We have always used our daughters to model for Bijou , because it was obviously the easiest solution . Now , our customers and “ fan-base ” expect to see them . They have watched them grow up , and are attached to them . They know their stats and body types , and use their campaign images to gauge their own sizing in new styles . Scout and Monroe are our direct mirrors . Their physical appearances , behavior , personalities are little mini versions of us . They love each other , they are best friends , and they occasionally fight like sisters .
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