COOL MOMS, MEET SAYAKA AND VITTORIA DRAGO
TWO MOMS WITH INSPIRING STORIES
The path of motherhood is a fascinating, complicated, inspiring, challenging and full of contradictions... Every mother is a great inspiration for us and today we want to introduce you to two very special moms with real and beautiful stories. The artists Sayaka and Vittoria reflect on motherhood and their daily lives while standing alongside their little models from our Fall Winter 2023 collection .
SAYAKA
Sayaka from @kira_nails_barcelona is a nail artist and mom to Unoka (8) and Miwa (6). On her Instagram page she shows us her work and her collaborations with artists of the stature of Shakira. This family of Asian origin opens the doors to us about their daily life, their personality and their parenting style.
HOW HAS MOTHERHOOD CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
It has taught me what my priority and my motivation in life is. It has also given me the strength to work hard and be able to give everything to my daughters.
WHAT IS YOUR DAY TO DAY LIKE AS A WORKING MOTHER?
Not having my family in Spain, without the help of a babysitter it is impossible to combine life as a mother with work and social life. I am an entrepreneur, therefore, in my daily life I multitask - between traveling to shootings, running my nail salon and developing my nail professional agency. But above all, I am a mother and I really enjoy the moments we spend together with my daughters.
WHAT VALUES WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRANSMIT TO YOUR DAUGHTERS?
I would like them to be independent. Children are capable of drawing out a lot of potential from their parents and making us much stronger and believing in ourselves. Self-esteem is very important. I tell the same thing to my daughters and my workers. You also have to learn to say “thank you” and “sorry.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD CHANGE IN SOCIETY TO FACILITATE CONCILIATION?
Children are national treasures. Children are the future of the country. They must be taught the basics of finance, economics and technology. Teach them the importance of paying attention to the world.
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR STYLE WHEN DRESSING YOUR LITTLE ones?
I would say that I try to adapt it to the time, place and occasion. And activity that the girls have. But most of the time they choose the clothes themselves. And we go shopping together.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU ABOUT THE FANTASTIC COMPANY AND FANTASTIC COMPANY MINI COLLECTION?
There are many collections today that allow mother and daughter to wear the same. The most typical thing that is made are pajamas. But your collection has a great variety of clothes - the coats really caught my attention. The fact of being able to go out on the street with the same look.
WHAT IS THE BEST AND HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A MOM?
Of course “anger management” – that is, knowing how to control your emotions in critical moments. You have to have a lot of patience... Of course mothers are not angels and sometimes they lose it. There are many factors: sleeping little, working a lot, cleaning, cooking. Sometimes you seem more like a butler...
IF YOU COULD TALK TO YOUR BEFORE YOU WAS A MOTHER, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL HER?
I would like to teach myself the concept of “postpartum depression.” My mother died when I was 21 years old, I started living alone in Spain when I was 24 years old, I had my daughters in Spain. And I didn't have people to ask many things. I didn't even realize I was depressed. Hormones went up and down, I slept little, I ended the day crying over nothing. There was a time when I was throwing the plates into the garden of the house, breaking them. Now I explain it laughing, but at that time I did need someone to tell me: “These things happen. It will pass, calm down “
IN THE FUTURE, I WOULD LIKE MY DAUGHTERS...
Simply let them be happy. I also want you to know that it takes effort to be happy. Happiness doesn't come to you alone...
Thank you Sayaka for your sincerity and generosity!
VITTORIA
Vittoria is a teacher of Contemporary Art for children. He transmits his passion to the little ones in the house, being able to offer another vision of life through them. Since she became a mother, her perspective has changed and she tells us about it in her colorful studio in Bergamo, Italy.
HOW HAS MOTHERHOOD CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
Motherhood has improved many aspects of my life.
During pregnancy, which has been very good for me, I have found and experienced inner peace like never before. At no time have I felt bad about myself or my changing body. I have never felt alone or far from my partner. Quite the opposite! I have received a lot of love and affection from everyone around me and not only... and when Timoti arrived even more! It really is the most magical and loving trip of my life and if anything has changed it has been for the better. Then on the practical side, time management is more complex, rhythms and routines have changed, but for the better! The focus is on taking much more care of what really matters to me. I love building my family!
WHAT IS YOUR DAY TO DAY LIKE AS A WORKING ARTIST MOTHER?
Well, there are days where everything flows and days where it is chaos. Especially if something unexpected happens or if my child gets sick. I have always been a very flexible and adaptable person, but since I became a mother, I fear that I am not up to the task of the many changes that can occur during a day. Sometimes it is very stressful! As a self-employed worker I am lucky to be able to manage my time, however, there are days and weeks where I work on many different projects at the same time that are a great challenge. Like this time, for example!
WHAT VALUES WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRANSMIT TO YOUR CHILD?
Kindness, empathy and respect. The value of creativity and imagination so that you develop self-confidence and a lot of self-esteem.
WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD CHANGE IN SOCIETY TO FACILITATE CONCILIATION?
My son Timoti was born in Barcelona in 2021, there I and my partner were sick for 4 months. We feel privileged, thinking that in our country (Italy) parents, for example, only have 10 days. It makes me very angry. The state of many European countries has to do something now! Allow much longer maternity and paternity leaves, which are a right, and give real help to families to increase birth rates.
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR STYLE WHEN DRESSING YOUR LITTLE ONE?
I would define it as playful and colorful! Of course I love prints with geometric patterns and illustrations.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU ABOUT THE FANTASTIC COMPANY AND FANTASTIC COMPANY MINI COLLECTION?
A fantastic world!
WHAT IS THE BEST AND HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A MOM?
The best thing is to feel that bond, that vital and unique connection with your child. It is an overwhelming bond that for me surpasses any other human feeling. The most difficult thing is that it exposes you to unknown aspects of yourself and many fears. I strive every day to overcome them and to give the best version of myself to my son.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO YOUR BEFORE YOU WAS A MOTHER, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL HER?
If she could talk to me, I would tell her: “Vicky, don't wait until you're 40 to be a mom!!” A few months ago I read a beautiful phrase on Laura Calderola's Ig account in which I identified greatly.
“What I know is that since I became a mother, I would never not be one again.”
IN THE FUTURE, I WOULD LIKE MY SON...
Be happy being true to yourself, always-always-always following your instinct and intuition.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU WHEN YOU PAINT?
I love architecture, design, decoration, patterns and prints. Children's parks, the experimental pedagogy of the Bauhaus, philosophy and the beauty of the mind. Above all, the minds of children, who lately are my greatest source of inspiration when creating.
WHAT RELATIONSHIP DO YOU HAVE WITH COLOR IN YOUR LIFE?
Color for me is light. I love bright colors because they are bold, happy, fresh and express an air flooded with sun. They resonate with the little girl in me!
Thank you Vittoria for letting us enter your magical world of color!