I have always loved fashion and used it as a way to express myself. My work and going-out wardrobe was filled with vibrant prints and eye-catching textures. When stay-at-home orders and quarantine hit in 2020, I found myself stuck in drab sweats and old tees because it didn’t make sense to wear those dry-clean-only pieces to sit in the house all day. I lost touch with my sense of self and what I now realize was a major part of my self-care.

The tipping point came when burnout crept in. It manifested as nonstop headaches and irritability. I eventually took a break from my career in HR in tech startups. During some deep introspection, I realized that setting boundaries was key to preventing burnout and reclaiming my well-being.

I founded Melda Moda as a way to bridge my love of beautiful clothing with the desire to maintain the boundaries that I learned I needed during my career break. Just as a new set of workout clothes can motivate you to go to the gym, we want you to look forward to winding down when you put on an item from Melda Moda. Our mission is to provide beautiful, colorful, and comfortable home clothes that represent diverse cultures and serve as a catalyst for nightly self-care rituals. Our pajamas and robes, which we call slumber suits and relax wraps, are designed to promote relaxation and rejuvenation. We want to inspire moments of self-indulgence and mindfulness. We introduced eye masks and silk hair bonnets to the product line late last year.

Many of our prints are inspired by my Caribbean heritage. The handpainted design on our best-selling Sorrel Slumber Suit and Relax wraps is inspired by sorrel, a drink that my mother, who immigrated to the USA from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, would make for family and friends every holiday season. It’s a print and point of view that I didn’t see reflected in any of the popular sleepwear brands. I want to continue to share that point of view in this space, but moreover, when you slip into a Melda Moda slumber suit, it should be your signal to turn off those pesky notifications. Let it be a reminder to unwind, pamper yourself, and embrace the beauty of rest.

A large number of our new customers come from pop-up shops. These events have allowed us to reach people we may not have reached online. It’s a chance for me to share our origin story and talk with women about their self-care practices.

One of the distinct advantages of pop-up shops is the tactile experience they offer. Potential customers have the chance to feel how soft and luxurious the fabrics are. They see the quality and craftsmanship in our construction. I get to share the stories behind our prints and preview items I’m thinking of putting into production.

While not every person who meets me at a pop-up makes a purchase on the spot, many choose to follow the brand on Instagram or join the mailing list. They’ll show up at another pop-up later and say to me, “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about these pajamas since I saw you at the last pop-up.” It’s not the fastest route to growth, but I’m making intentional connections and building a real community with people who are really invested in the brand.

Florian Aigner’s TEDx Talk on the Sunk Cost Fallacy helped me realize instances where I continued down unproductive paths simply because I had invested time, money, or energy into them. It had to reevaluate my approach to product development and business relationships and ask myself, “Am I getting a return on my investment, or am I sticking with this vendor because I’ve developed a rapport with the rep?”

I also really love Bevy Smith’s book Bevelations. Her mantra is, “It gets greater later.” She chose to pursue a creative life in her late 30s after having a successful corporate career. That book gave me the courage to pursue Melda Moda. I encourage everyone who is thinking of making a big leap to read it.