We recently connected with Melanie Lee and have shared our conversation below.

Melanie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I created MMEL AND ME because of my love for pajamas but mostly to spread positivity, love, and mental health awareness.

Historically throughout society, self-love was never a topic of importance and as a Hmong woman, I was never taught to love or put myself first.
“To be a good daughter you have to do this.”
“To be a good nyab (sister/daughter-in-law in Hmong) you have to do this.”
“The goal in life is to become a good housewife.”
“You must learn how to cook and clean so you can serve your future husband and in-laws well.”
“You must always take care and put family first.”
Those were a lot of the things I heard growing up and the thought of giving myself up to please others was scary. Not only that but I saw many of the women around me feel this pressure. The pressure to do everything right. The pressure to be the perfect daughter, the perfect nyab, or the perfect housewife. The pressure to put everyone above themselves so they could maintain others’ reputations. The pressure to not rest or else they’ll be called lazy. Many of the women around me including my mother experienced this. They couldn’t dedicate time to themselves and that was a huge part of the reason why I created this brand. To remind and help people see how important it is to rest, relax, and take care of their well-being.

I also know that a lot of times when we are going through a hard time, we tend to keep things to ourselves. Everyone expresses their emotions differently however oftentimes, we do it alone at night. And the most special thing about MMEL AND ME’s pajamas is that each set has a secret message within. The purpose of the message is to remind the person wearing them of all kinds of things. For example, “I deserve happiness” “I deserve to heal” “I am worthy of love” and so many more.

A recent experience I could also share would be when I was going through a major life crisis. I was in a place where I questioned my identity, my purpose, and my future and was just very upset at everything. At that time, all I could remember was I was wearing the “I accept all of me” set. After wiping my tears with a few tissues, I was playing around with my shorts and discovered the secret message I had forgotten about. It read “I accept all of me” and after I read that, I cried some more but this time, it was more of a comfort kind of crying. Reading that message really helped me. It reminded me that everything was going to be okay. That it wasn’t the end of the world. It was encouraging.

Also! I believe pajamas are a great tool to help us heal. At the end of the day, changing into a new pair of clothes helps us transform our minds and bodies. And although we cannot predict when we’re going to cry ourselves to sleep, if it happens why not look cute and be reminded of the things that matter right?

We all deserve to heal. <3

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Melanie Lee, I am a first-generation Hmong American, and I am the founder of MMEL AND ME. MMEL AND ME is about empowering others to practice self-love and care through pajamas and sleepwear. The most unique thing about our pajamas is the secret messages. Each set has its own message to help the person wearing them generate positive thoughts. In addition in our packaging, we include various self-love and care exercises for people to practice.

Our Mission:
To build a healing community that empowers individuals to practice self-love and care through our products. A place where everyone can feel comfortable, fully express themselves, and share happiness.

Our Vision:
To normalize self-love and care.

What am I most proud of? Since starting MMEL AND ME, 5% of every transaction has gone towards mental health. Last year in 2021, we raised a total of $401.70 for our partner organization Walk-In. Walk-In is a nonprofit organization located in Minneapolis, Minnesota providing free, easily accessible mental health counseling to people with urgent needs.

We also made contributions totaling up to over $1,000 in donations to other organizations such as OutFront Minnesota, Black Girls Code, Hmong American Women’s Association, Stop APPI Hate, and many more.

And this year in 2022, we’ve raised close to over $100 towards mental health.

Although MMEL AND ME is a small business, I’ve always valued giving back to my communities. I hope MMEL AND ME can also serve as a platform to help and inspired others.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I highly recommend reading the following: • Rich Dad Poor Dad
• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
• The Laws of Power

FUN FACT: I decided to start my business because of a TikTok I saw.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn would definitely be that not everyone has your best interest in mind. When I first started my business, a lot of my relatives questioned me and I’m sure many of them also doubted me. However, that didn’t stop me and it shouldn’t stop you either. Just remember that when it comes to starting or owning a business, many people are going to judge you. Even those closest to you and especially those who you thought would support you.

FUN FACT: About 90% of my support came from strangers.

Before we go, we want to ask – what’s next?

Well, it’s been a year and a half since I started. There’s more to come for sure however I decided to take a pause to rebrand. I actually announced it on October 11th on Facebook and Instagram. Many asked if this was the end and I just want to clarify, it is not. I am in the process of rediscovering my passions and figuring out different ways I can still make a difference. Just know that MMEL AND ME will return and when she does, she will be a bigger and a better version of herself. I sincerely want to thank everyone who has stood by me throughout this journey. It has been incredible and rewarding. I cannot wait to meet you all again. The best is yet to come. <3

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mmelandme.com
• Instagram: @mmelandme
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/mmelandme

Image Credits
Photographers: Nyia Xiong & OnlyDiane Photography Assistants: Samantha Lee, Angel Yang, & Caitlin Yang Parents: Anthony Lee & Vanessa Vang Models: Celina Her, Isabella Matejkam, Jennifer Coronado, Misturat Amode, Narra Moreen, Pa Nhia Moua, Phoua Chang, Rolyne Pritchard, Ruby Wesley, Shalom Sabah, Somatra Thome, and Tu Lor Studio: Her Canvas LLC