Meet IRENE WEI: Designer, Doll Maker and Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with IRENE WEI and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi IRENE, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My background is in fashion design. Since I was 10 years old, I have known that I wanted to be a fashion designer. My grades in school were not good, and it took me two years to get into fashion school. I never gave up on my dream, so that failure was not an option. I was fashion designer in Taiwan for many years, eventually becoming a designer director. I was never famous, but was very successful. I immigrated to USA in 2003, and could not land a designer job, so I worked as technical designer for sweaters for many years. During those years working as a technical designer for American companies, I was not happy, as I could not express the creative thoughts in my head. I was always working on someone else’s designs. At that time, I also had two young kids, so having a flexible schedule was very important to me. I worked my day job and then ran my business at night and on the weekends for a couple of years. As you might imagine, I went through some rough times. I was constantly trying to find my business niche; I also had to oversee quality control; I has to research sustainable, ethical sources for materials and manufacture. Eventually, I became tired of relying on outsourcing. It was difficult to find suppliers and manufacturers that met my expectations. During this time, I made many mistakes and learned many new lessons. As my children were growing, so was la Lovie.
Today, la Lovie represents the growth I have undergone. I have made a shift towards sustainable living, slow crafted artistry and functional aesthetics. Now, I slowly hand craft la Lovie products in my studio in Claremont.
I’d be lying if I said that giving up hadn’t crossed my mind over the years. Actually, I thought about giving up many times, especially when I struggle with finances or when sales do not turn out as expected. Even today, I have times when I doubt myself. But creating and doll making are something I am truly passionate about, and that passion keeps me going.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am most proud of finding my artistic voice through my collection. In 2016, I decided to change the direction of my company. I made a commitment to hand crafting all the products in my line. I first started hand crafting dolls and accessories only to complement other products in my line, but I became tired of relying on outsourcing. It was difficult to find suppliers and manufacturers that met my expectations. During this time, I made many mistakes. When I decided to hand craft all my products myself, I discovered a freedom in creating the objects exactly as I wanted to create them. I can now proudly say that every stitch, every print, and every design has my creative, personal, je ne sais quoi touch to it that can not be replicated. I even screen print la Lovie products’ muslin bag packaging and hand tags myself!

One of the most important lessons I have learned is that I must do what I love. Another lesson is that I must remain true to my vision, and have faith in myself and what I am doing. I thought about giving up many times, especially when I struggle with finances or when sales do not turn out as expected. Even today, I have times when I doubt myself. But creating and doll making are something I am truly passionate about, and that passion keeps me going.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ummm. I don’t get out much these days, but these I some of the activities that I remember enjoying:

Downtown Arts Tour: Begin at the Broad Museum, Central Market for Lunch, then Arts District in the afternoon.

A trip to Newport Beach/Newport Beach Harbor

3 Day camping trip to Joshua Tree or Sequoia. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I must give a shout out to my husband. He always supports what I do. In the first couple of years of la Lovie, he used his fine art background to help me design blankets, and build la Lovie’s first websites. He encourages me when I am down. I also have to give a shout out to my family back in Taiwan, who believed in me when I first started the business. They helped me out by giving me a loan when I first started la Lovie.

Website: https://lalovie.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laloviekids/

Image Credits
Courtnay Robbins Arianna Tettamanzi Susan Pang Irene Wei