Sara Naghedi | A Fashion Designer On Passion Projects, Adding Twins & Re-Designing The Village
by Neha Ruch
Sara Naghedi and I first met on the worn blue carpeted floor of a neighborhood preschool. At the same time, our then-18-month-olds attempted to sit still for story-time. We continued to cross paths - literal paths - around the corner from Birch Coffee or in the circle at the center of Madison Square Park. Every time, I was struck by her confidence and poise. She was so present as a parent that I was somewhat surprised to learn she was running Naghedi, a favorite handbag line, that I was seeing popping up everywhere from Bloomingdales to Shopbop. I grew curious about how and finally felt compelled to ask after she added twins to her bunch. She is as open and humble as she is confident. Below, she shares how she tinkered with her schedule over and over to make room for motherhood alongside Naghedi, how Covid forced a healthy decision around what she wanted to invest in, and intentionally creating a village at home and work that works for this season.
1. I'm always in awe of people who take an idea and make it a physical product and put it out in the world. I feel like I'm seeing Naghedi everywhere these days - can you share how it started and the path to get here?
It's been a bit of a journey to get where I am today. I have always gravitated towards all things creative, and after graduating law school, and feeling like I had lived up to my familial, educational expectations, let's say, I set out to work in fashion and never looked back. I started my first line about 15 years ago, and it grew into something I never expected. In 2015, I became pregnant with my daughter, Noor, and I felt a shift in myself and where I wanted my career to go. I started a small passion project on the side focused more on a clean aesthetic, sustainability, and a move away from fast fashion. That project turned into Naghedi. Naghedi is a culmination of everything I had learned over the years and the business I had always envisioned having, even while building my previous company.
2. You launched Naghedi before having your first daughter and I always admired how present you were as a parent. What shifts did you make in your work life to make room for motherhood?
Thank you! There was definitely a learning curve after having Noor. I struggled to find balance, and I don't think that is something I will ever have completely figured out. I feel like I'm constantly readjusting, reprioritizing, and making changes. I have always strived to be very present for my children. Being in the unique position to run my own business afforded me some flexibility when setting a schedule and allowing for that. After Noor turned 6 months old, I set aside 2 full workdays to be at the office, and the rest of the time, I would work from home and go in as needed. I even had a small crib set up in my office for the first year, so I could bring her in, and buyers had gotten accustomed to seeing her in meetings.
3. I found I had to recalibrate on balance after having my second. Did you have to redefine rhythms both, at home and with the business, after having your twins?
Absolutely! I think as mothers, we always strive to give our second (and third, in my case) children the same amount of time, energy, and experiences as we did our first, and that's not always realistic. I really had to let go of the standard I was setting for myself and know that each child would have their own unique upbringing. After having the twins, I also had to make some tough decisions about my career. Running a big operation was something I was no longer enjoying, in fact, most days, I dreaded opening my inbox because 90% of my work was no longer in the creative sphere. The product I was creating was also not something I was passionate about either; buyers' demands and trends in the market had resulted in a watered-down version of my vision. Most nights after we would put the children to sleep, my husband would listen to me talk through all the things I would change it I could do it all over again. Fast forward to three months after Niko and Shaya turned one, the world turned upside-down. Covid-related order cancelations and a business downturn helped to force my hand, and I shuttered the business. I was finally able to put all of my energy and passion into Naghedi. It was like a new awakening for me. It was a much smaller scale business, which helped me be more present with my children. Still, I was also excited about the product we were putting out and the mission behind it, which helped me reconnect with a part of myself that had gotten lost.
4. I try to be transparent about "the village" to empower more women in the grey area to grow comfortable asking for help if they are able to. Can you share a bit on what's worked for your family?
To say that I have tried it all is no exaggeration. I have shared a nanny, I have had a mother's helper, I have used babysitters, and I have relied heavily on my family, and I can honestly say there is no wrong or right way, it's just a matter of figuring out a formula that works for you.
My husband is truly a partner in raising our children. He is incredibly hands-on. I've always been grateful for his prioritizing of our family and his support of my decisions when it came to our childcare approach.
Initially, when Noor was 6 months old, I started sharing a wonderful nanny 2 days a week with a friend, which allowed me to work two full days at the office. I did that for about a year and a half, and I just realized that it just didn't work for me and I hated missing entire days with her. However, when she turned two, we enrolled her in a full-time Montessori pre-school, which gave me the balance I craved. I knew my daughter would be in a wonderful, nurturing environment for most of the day while allowing me to have a defined window of productivity each day.
Once we found out about the twins, I knew we would need more help. When I was about 7 months pregnant, my mom came to stay with us for the first year and never really left. Her help was immeasurable but, even then, my husband and I knew we still would need an extra set of hands. My experience with Noor taught me that I just wanted to be with my children, so a nanny wasn't right for me this time. I needed help with the things that were taking my time away from being with the children and work, things such as laundry, ironing (I love to iron every single thing that comes out of the wash, crazy, I know), cleaning up after meals and generally helping to keep a tidy home. That's when my husband suggested a mother's helper. We found a lovely woman who came everyday, and it was perfect. That's when I finally felt like I had found a formula that worked for us. Just as I finally fell into a good rhythm, COVID hit, and I had to figure it all out all over again.
We joke that my mom was held hostage by us in our Connecticut home during the pandemic, but I truly do not know how we would have survived having 3 children under 4 by ourselves while both working from home for the past year. We are forever grateful that we had her help during that time, and we realize just how lucky we were. Now that all the children are back in school full time, we have once again found our balance. I do occasionally have a babysitter 2-3 days a week after school to help with pick and play dates in the park to have a spare set of eyes and hands to chase after the occasional errant child.
I should also mention that I have been incredibly fortunate to have someone on my team at work who has been my right hand throughout all of these years. She and I have been working together for about 10 years now. Being able to rely on her has allowed me the flexibility to focus on being a mother. We always view our village as the people in our home or with our children, but the people we work with and who fill in the gaps when we can't be there are just as important to acknowledge.
5. You have such a beautiful style and way about you, how and when do you take care of yourself?
What a compliment, thank you so much. I try to carve out time for a bit of self-care every day because I realize that I am a much better mother and partner when I am not running myself ragged. I usually exercise 4-5 times a week in the mornings, mixing it up with yoga, pilates, and cardio. Pre-COVID, I absolutely loved my monthly facial. Still, now I focus on my nightly skincare routine that I have really come to enjoy. I try to connect daily with my close girlfriends, even if it's just a quick text. COVID made me realize how much our close friendships feed our souls, and I am really looking forward to getting back to my weekly girls' dinners. I also absolutely love to cook; it is almost meditative to me. And if I'm not working or with the kids, you'll find me in the kitchen. And whether or not I've made dinner, every evening in our household ends with a glass of wine with my husband as we catch up about the day, look at pictures of the kids, and toast to surviving another day of parenthood.
Quick Chit Chat
A product you'd gift to every mother:
Breville Milk Frother - creates the perfect cup of warm milk for when your children start drinking and it's even better for parents who love a frothy morning cafe au lait.
Best marriage advice:
Try to get away once a year without the kids for a weekend. We have been fortunate enough to be able to leave the kids with our family and travel somewhere together for a long weekend every year. We have come to cherish those little weekend getaways so much. It allows us to reconnect as a couple, talk about the future, relax a bit and of course sleep in!
Family travel destination you loved:
We love Bermuda as a family destination. It's a quick and painless flight, the beaches are beautiful, and the hotels are all family friendly.
3 Instagram accounts you're inspired by:
My second love after fashion is food and cooking. My entire Instagram feed is filled with beautiful pictures of food! Being Iranian, I of course have extra love for Persian and Middle Eastern food.
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