This "oral transcription" article is based on an interview with Enfant, the vice president of 7AM, conducted by Chana Campora. The content has been edited and refined to maintain a proper length and clarity.
My mother is a very fashionable person who also places great emphasis on practicality. When she moved from Paris to New York for my father’s job, she brought along two young children with her. In order to keep my siblings and me warm in the strollers, she needed a way to continue with her daily life as usual.
To this day, she still remembers how she wrapped me in blankets layer after layer back then. But as soon as we entered the store, I would pull them all off, and she had to start over. Mom was very practical, so she designed a stroller blanket with a zipper that made it quick and convenient for the baby to put on and take off.
At that time, she just wanted to lighten her own burden. We had no idea back then that she was actually creating a genius product, which would go on to serve many parents for many years to come.
More than 20 years later, her business has expanded, but we are still using the five types of blanket patterns she originally designed. It's truly amazing to see that these products are still relevant today and that they are still what parents want and need.
I've been helping the company out since I was young, but I'm not sure whether I'll actually join them in the end.
The company is like my mother’s fourth child. As the eldest daughter, I also help take care of it. At first, she sewed her own designs at home; later on, we went to trade fairs together.
Watching my mother work, I learned the value of hard work. Knowing that my siblings and I are the source of her inspiration makes me feel very fulfilled. Her initial intention in founding 7AM Enfant was very simple: to keep us safe and warm, while also allowing her own life to continue. She has been working hard towards that goal ever since.
Although I really like this company, I wasn't sure at first whether I would join them. I spent five years in Los Angeles, studying Spanish and French literature, and I also obtained a master's degree in anthropology. Being the daughter of immigrants—and being able to speak four languages—is a very important part of my identity.
I'm always very happy when I design together with my mom.
When I returned to New York, I was well aware that my mother needed a partner. She had been carrying everything on her own for too long.
I also tried other jobs, but later I realized that I needed to join my mother. This is the company of our family – and it is also the most important thing for both me and my mom – so my future should definitely include 7AM Enfant.
These days, my mother is in charge of the company's major decisions. I am responsible for the daily operations, acting as a link between production and sales. My husband also works here, responsible for shipping the goods.
The most interesting part is when I work on design with my mother. What’s so remarkable about her is that she doesn’t put fashion and functionality in opposition to each other; instead, she manages to create products that combine both. I can utilize the skills of “researcher” that I developed during my master’s studies in anthropology to understand trends and tastes. Since the core of the brand is already very solid, we can freely experiment with colors, prints, and collaborations with other brands.
Watching my parents pursue their dreams shaped me.
My parents truly gave their all for the American Dream, striving to achieve great things for themselves and their children. My father originally came from Italy, and when they moved here from Paris, New York was already a land of opportunities.
I truly admire everything they have accomplished. My mother and I run a company together, while my sister and father work as celebrity hairstylists. My youngest brother is studying acting at school. We are a family of artists.
I have witnessed the highs and lows of immigration and entrepreneurship. When we first arrived in New York, we lived in a single-bedroom apartment. It was my parents who taught me the professional spirit and humility that I still use today. They made me understand that as long as you never stop striving for what you want, you can achieve success in life.
It's truly wonderful to see parents having a dream. Some parents worry that starting a business will disrupt their family, but my experience is quite the opposite: it makes me feel very fulfilled to witness all of it. I cherish those memories of sitting on my mother's lap, watching her design or reply to work emails. It is her example that has inspired me to also pursue my own dreams.
