Shop Conscious With Womn.

Photographer: Carmen Chan

INTRODUCTION BY SARAH KIM

When I met Sophia, I wasn’t aware of just how large her IRL following and fans were. I had come into friendship with someone who had a real audience and people who looked to her for at first make-up vlogs helping those Asian-American women with help (not having a crease in our eyelids is a thing! I struggled with my make up during dance team all throughout high school and college, I wish I would’ve met Soph earlier to gain skill and confidence in this).

Now as a full blown lifestyle muse to so many young women, I too asked Sophia, “What’s next for you?” When she shared about her and Weylie’s line and brand (with her very knowledgeable sister Robin), it really did and does make so much sense. A champion for people, a person who practices thoughtfulness, and even in our small conversations about the amount of waste in packaging from generous brand gifts, Sophia has always been someone who is pursues a mindfulness for herself, for her surroundings, for her context of her work and now for Womn.

I’m OVER THE MOON to be able to have her and Weylie for their first pop-up at The (Eco)Friendly Market on Nov. 16 & 17.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves and your brand so we can get to know you both better? 

S+W: We are Weylie and Sophia, two best friends who met in Los Angeles back in 2012 while attending the same college. Fast forward to a year ago and a couple conversations with Sophia’s sister, Robin, about “what’s next?” and Womn. was born. 

W: We both have grown a lot since we met and have become much more mindful of what we wear and use. So, neither of us were surprised when we both got excited about starting a conscious clothing company that celebrates women. 

S: Yeah, Womn. was created to give young women a modern, sustainably sourced and ethically produced wardrobe. Something that’s accessible, easy to style and something they can feel confident in.

What’s the inspiration behind Womn, and what aspirations do you have for your company moving forward?

W: We became inspired by things going on right now that we feel are important. On one hand, women are getting more and more chances to be empowered, but we still have a ways to go. On the other hand, how we are treating our planet should be a huge concern for everyone right now. So, Womn. is all about giving this next generation of empowered women, conscious clothes and a community to support them. 

S: And we say “conscious clothes” because to us, it’s more than just sustainability. Clothing is a form of expression and is something very important to both of us, so “conscious clothes” brings together style, taste, quality and sustainability. Because women shouldn’t have to compromise any of those things.

Do you practice a sustainable/low impact/zero-waste lifestyle? If so, how do you practice it and what are your motivators?

S: Sustainability is important to us and both of us have implemented it in our daily lives to lower our carbon footprint. It’s also something that is important to our brand and therefore all of our employees as well. We really try to be as least wasteful as we can with things around the office and look for greener options when it comes to supplies.

W: We are motivated by wanting a better future. The best way to do so is inspiring the change we want to see in our communities. 

What’s one small change humans can do to show a little love to Mother Earth that they may not realize? 

S: I always try to think about how things can be reused. Whether it’s a reusable cup at your desk that replaces hundreds of plastic cups a year, or simply finding a way to reuse a plastic bag to get two uses out of it. I think if we can turn those little things into habits, then the impact won’t be so little.

W: Some small changes we can all make in our lives is using reusable products, trying plant-based options, conserving energy at home, and recycling to name a few.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? What’s the greatest piece of encouragement?

W: When we were in college, one of the professors asked our class, who was the most important person in our lives. Everyone responded with parents, spouses, best friends, etc. But our professor went on to tell us, “You’re all wrong”, and that we needed to be the most important person in our own lives, because if we don’t take care of ourselves, then we won’t be able to care for others. That’s something that has stayed with both of us, and is something we try to infuse into our brand and community. 

S: Totally, transitional periods in our lives can be tough and entering young womanhood is no different. We want the community we are building with Womn. to know that it’s okay to not feel okay, it doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. Our goal with Womn. is to empower women to love themselves and embrace who they are.

What are you excited about? Is there anything fun coming up for you? 

S: Even though our first release launched in September, everything is still very new and exciting for us, and we’re even more excited for everyone to see our next release (Dec. 5th!!). 

W: We’re still a very new company, so the initial excitement is still flowing. But, it’s also very exciting to think about how things will grow with each capsule launch we do. And totally agree with Sophia, December’s launch will introduce so many fun styles, all made of natural fibers, and the perfect pieces to layer during wintertime!