Feminist Founder: Stella Simona of haati chai
Haati Chai was established in 2011 from designer Stella Simona’s desire to fill a void for heirloom jewelry. Inspired by a woman’s beauty and form, her designs incorporate hints of East meets West and pays homage to the past while constantly looking forward. The Haati Chai woman is the epitome of a muse. To her a woman is most beautiful when she is comfortable in her own skin. She lives her life indulging in her passions and self discovery - through travels, philanthropy, and romance. She is always effortlessly accessorized and makes every moment matter by telling her journey and story in her style. Each piece is designed to play a symbolic role in the wearer’s life— everyday heirlooms to be passed down between generations, carrying on the stories of those it has touched. Haati Chai’s influence from different cultures and moments in history is reflected in its design down to the naming of the pieces. Apart from the jewelry, Haati Chai places great importance on partnering with different organizations to consciously shed light on issues close to the designer’s heart.
View more at www.haatichai.com
Q: Three words to describe being a female founder?
Stella:
Resilient,
loving,
brilliant.
Resilient because no matter what is thrown at us we will navigate through it.
Loving because we do everything with love – our hope for a better world, we do what we do because we love our loved ones and want to live more fully for all of us.
Brilliant because our ideas are out of this world. We connect concepts and ideas so beautifully.
Q: Who do you look up to?
Stella: Honestly, other artists, mothers, and creatives – seeing them fearlessly pursue what they are passionate about inspires me to do the same. I'm especially moved by those who took on being the firsts in their space such as Frida Kahlo, Asha Puthli, Venus and Serena Williams to name a few.
Q: What inspired you to create Haati Chai?
Stella: Jewelry was my first love. It was also one of my earliest self care practices, and my way of honoring myself. As a society we are noticing this great shift where more and more individuals desire to seek out the most beneficial lifestyle practices. Age-old practices such as Ayurvedic dieting, yoga, acupuncture - when practiced regularly offer endless long term benefits. Self care is all rooted in rituals. A ritual specifically belonging to East Indians — the art of curating heirloom jewelry, is a practice that transcends the idea of modern fashion - an era when individuals more than ever dress to look good but dismiss their personal identities. Traditionally in Indian culture women wear jewelry to symbolize different life moments. In some regions a specific type of nose ring symbolizes if she is single or married. In other provinces it is said that piercing your nose on a certain part of the nose is said to relieve childbearing and PMS symptoms. Many young women acquire pieces as coming of age gifts or gifts for passing an exam at school. Many women acquire pieces that once belonged to female figures in their family and any time they put on that piece they are reminded of their loved one. I specifically remember my nani’s (grandmother) bangles which she wore everyday that would jingle as she prepared our food for us in the mornings before heading to school. She knew I admired them so much and would remind me that they would be mine one day. Every morning as an Indian woman sits in her dressing area and she indulges in her morning rituals — applying her Kohl eyeliner, immersing her hair and skin in jasmine oils, and finishes with her layers of jewelry she takes these moments to remind herself of her inner and outer beauty. The woman she once was and the woman she is now. For an Indian woman, every piece she will wear in her lifetime serves meaning to her. Every design she owns is as unique as her personal journey. Since its introduction into the culture, jewelry has always been embraced as therapeutic and ritualistic. Self care is very important to me and I wanted to make an impact on others through my love for jewelry design.
Q: How do you use the power of your business to empower your community?
Stella: A big part of my vision was to always create unity between my South Asian and western audience. This was so mething difficult to nail in the beginning because to be honest, this was something that I personally struggled with. As a woman with these two identities, I felt connected with both of these worlds yet found it hard to find my place between the two. Allowing myself patience in the journey of self discovery helped me realize that no matter where you come from, there is this innate ability to appreciate beauty. I want young boys and girls, other entrepreneurs, and individuals from all walks of life to see that they can unapologetically be themselves. And when one doesn't confine who they are to the walls society wants to place them inside, they unlock a greater piece of who themselves.
Q: What motivates you and how do you stay inspired?
Stella: The desire to be the best example I can be to my children and younger generations motivates me. Being able to break barriers for my community also motivates me. In terms of inspiration for my designs I’ve always loved looking into old art and history in eastern cultures and marrying them to western ideas that are functional for day to day wear.
View more at www.haatichai.com
Q: What advice would you give someone starting their own business?
Stella: Always have goals. Set benchmarks and make sure you are achieving them. As a business owner there’s so many ideas we have and always so many things to do. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and think we aren’t growing. Creating a list, organizing them by priority, and then seeing yourself checking off things from your to-do list will show you how much you have already accomplished. Trust your gut, you know yourself more than anyone else.
Q: What does being a feminist mean to you?
Stella: It means lifting up others every chance I get and in every way possible.
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