Tags: children's fashion Edge Davao kids fashion Laurel & Co. Meg Hernandez Meghann Hernandez Metro Mom Mommy blogger Mommy blogger in Manila Philippines Mommy Finds mompreneur Philippine products Tinkertoes by Laurel
Every business starts with baby steps. In the case of Davao-based children’s clothing brand, Laurel & Co., business just grew with its baby boss.
“My daughter, Laurel Marianna, is the inspiration behind this fashion venture,” shares Mia Tiongson. “Laurel & Co. was born out of a simple need of finding a headband that could tame my baby’s thick, unruly hair. My search led me to the cutest headwraps sold online, and there was nothing like them available in the local market. They were perfect and looked very nice on Laurel. I tried my luck, bought a batch to sell, just to see if other moms will like them too. And they did!”
Mia used to be a Montessori teacher in Marrakech, Dubai and Guangzhou prior to settling down with family in Davao. With her special affinity with children, it’s no wonder their interests and joys rubbed off on her as well — more so now with her new role as a mom. “My first few products were named Satine, Poppy and Maddy. They were all headwraps named after Trolls (in the animated movie),” she quips.
“Each small batch I released got sold out very fast, and that’s when I realized I found a good product. They’re actually so good that new stores kept popping up, copying the business, which, in turn made me hustle more. When baby Laurel started walking, I decided to add shoes to my product lineup. Since then, I make sure I always have something fresh and new to offer to my customers.”
Mia’s plans for business expansion led her to launch a byproduct under Laurel & Co. “A clothing line made sense since the ‘parent’ brand already carries accessories. I was aiming for a specific aesthetic — hence, the new line, Tinkertoes by Laurel.”
“For this first collection, I worked with a number of people from Europe and Asia. With my past work and previous travels, I’ve seen how different each culture takes fashion as a reflection of traditions and present-day norms. That’s what I’m trying to achieve with Tinkertoes. I’m always drawn to classic styles and silhouettes, but I want our styles to be fun and easy to wear, created for little girls in our tropical locale.”
Mia reveals how she involves her daughter in quality check. “All my products, I have them personally used by Laurel to test wearability, quality, and comfort.”
Asked what she finds most fulfilling about her business, she simply answered, “I love connecting with other mommies, especially new ones like me. Some of my customers have been loyal to the brand since their babies were newborns, and it makes my heart happy whenever they keep in touch — updating me on their baby’s milestones and showing me photos of the little ones wearing our dresses and accessories at any occasion.”
Check out the debut collection of Tinkertoes, now available via www.shoplaurel.co. Follow @tinkertoes.byLaurel and @shoplaurel.co on Instagram for product updates and featured styles.
Photos courtesy of Mia Tiongson.
Story also published on my Metro Mom column in Edge Davao newspaper.
