When my mom Helen first approached me about her idea to create a travel bag brand, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. But she had the belief and the courage to start a business at the age of 65, and enlist the help of my older brother Jan and myself. Some called her crazy, and perhaps she was. But it's the crazy ones that sometimes do amazing things. She had no prior entrepreneurial or bag design experience. She had no business school background, or connections in the finance world or investment community. She didn't even have a fully fleshed out business plan. But she had passion, courage, grit, and a belief that we could make something out of nothing.
Not many people know her journey, but she immigrated to the US with no money and no home of her own. Despite having all the odds stacked against her, she got into University of Massachusetts and worked her way through college, and then went on to get her PhD at Brandeis University in social welfare administration. She had aspirations of going to DC and changing the world by helping shape government policy. But after she married my father, she gave up her career path to follow him and his career as an astronomer. We moved all over the world for my father's job, and she always worked to help support our family. It was super difficult for her, but she always found a way to switch careers/jobs and continue to build an amazing career while still being the best mother anybody could ask for. So for her, starting Lo & Sons was in some ways the first time she chose her own career path.
My mom has never wanted to be the face of the brand or business, and she has no idea I'm even writing this. But in honor of Women's History Month and International Women's Day, I wanted to celebrate her story because she's been such an inspiration to me not just because of her professional accomplishments, but also for her personal ones. Hopefully she can be an inspiration for you too!
It's also why we've decided to donate 5% of our proceeds from today to March 19th, to the non-profit Dress for Success. Dress for Success aims to help unemployed and underemployed women achieve economic independence by providing no-fee programs, development tools and professional attire to thrive in work and in life. At one point, my mom was in the same position as the women Dress for Success aims to help. And so we felt like it would make a lot of sense to continue to support their mission during this amazing month.
Regards,
Derek Lo
CEO and Co-Founder
