Happy Saturday! This morning I have the pleasure of sharing an interview with one of my favorite shops: Fablebands! Fablebands is a shop providing people with beautiful bookish headbands and scrunchies! See my interview below with the shop owner, Mylene to learn more.
Q) What inspired you to create your small business, Fablebands?
A) I’ve always liked headbands. When my second child was born, my hair in the front (baby hair) started growing again and I needed something quick to hide those short hairs on days when I didn’t have time to fix it. I also needed some type of distraction, so I sewed my own headband. I had been in bookstagram for a few years and I thought it’d be cute to wear headbands based on books; the rest, you all know it 🙂
Q) What goals do you have for your business?
A) My goal is to grow Fablebands enough that I’m able to run it full time. That will allow me to spend more time with my family at home.
Q) How long has Fablebands been in operation?
A) I officially opened the shop September 2019.
Q) How long have you been sewing/creating?
A) I grew up with my great-grandmother who loved to sew, and I was always very happy to help her since I was able to handle scissors (about 9 y/o?). She used to make me skirts, and with fabric scraps I would hand sew clothes for my dolls. Fast forward many years, I started making my own laundry baskets, a very comfy bed for my dog Max, makeup bags for my friends, bibs and burp cloths for my children, and now Fablebands for you all.
Q) What would you say are some of your biggest achievements?
A) Coming up with the idea of Fablebands while my youngest child was 5 months old, and being focused and committed enough to create and sew while on a crazy sleeping schedule and a full time engineering job.
Q) Who is someone that inspires you?
A) My great grandmother, she would do anything with a grain of sugar. Nothing was challenging enough for her not to do it.
Q) Do you have a favorite design to date?
A) hmmm…. That’s difficult.. But I can say that the Strong Badass Mama is the one I wear the most 🙂
Q) What would you say is your favorite color?
A) Pink!
Q) How do you come up with the designs for your products?
A) The Fablebands community is the number one source of ideas! We have a team of Fablebandits that are always bringing ideas for future designs.
Q) What is your favorite genre to read?
A) Romance!
Q) What inspired the Fablebands Read Along? Will that take place every month moving forward?
A) We are always talking about reading books together, but we didn’t have an organized way of doing it. By creating the Book Club, we have a better opportunity to chat about the books we love. It’s also a great opportunity to promote diverse and latinx authors.
Q) Can you give readers any “sneaks” for future designs yet to be released? Can customers submit ideas they have?
A) Well, I can say we’ll have all the Sailor Scouts scheduled to be released this year!
Q) What is the most rewarding thing about running your own small business?
A) The love that I receive from everyone that tries Fablebands is so rewarding! Having the opportunity to provide for my family while working on what I’m truly passionate about: all things handmade.
Q) What advice would you give someone who wants to open up their own small business?
A) Focus on what you love, on a product that brings you joy. Never compare to other shops that are well established and feel less. Listen to your audience. Accept constructive criticism. Be patient and enjoy the process. Always keep trying! Family always comes first.
Q) Tell us a little about you, the heart and soul of Fablebands (ie. what do you do when you aren’t working? What three words best describe you? What’s your favorite song/movie/animal/etc. — anything you want to share with readers).
A) Mother. Optimistic. Traveler. When I’m not working on Fablebands or doing something for/with my children and husband, you can most certainly find me planning our next vacation. There’s something about that planning stage that makes me really happy. I also love to listen to latinx music (mainly salsa and merengue) and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, there’s so much joy captured there! My favorite animals are butterflies, they’re so delicate, yet so strong and imprescindible! My favorite movies are Amadeus and Pretty Woman. MY favorite books of all times are “La Catedral del Mar” and Pride and Prejudice (also the first book I read in English).
Q) Is there anything else you would like to add?
A) I’d like to thank with all the strength and power of my heart every person that has supported Fablebands in any way! Your support means the world to me and my family and for that I’ll be forever thankful!
Visit Fablebands online here and be sure to follow Fablebands on Instagram here!
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