mama feature : sam + MAKAIO

THIS MONTH’S MAMA FEATURE IS OAHU PHOTOGRAPHER @SAMANTHEEYO, MAMA & FOUNDER OF VINTAGE HOMEWARES SHOP @TWINURCHINSSUPERETTE.

HER SON’S OUTFITS FROM OUR SHOP @GUSANDWAY.

YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY HAS A NOSTALGIA AND TIMELESSNESS THAT I ADORE..

I THINK THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE MY “AESTHETIC” IS THAT I WORK WITHOUT ONE IN MIND.

I’VE ALWAYS LIKE TO DESCRIBE MY PHOTOGRAPHY WORK AS HAVING THAT '“FOREVER HONEYMOON” FEELING.

YOU HAVE A GORGEOUS VINTAGE HOMEWARES SHOP, TWIN URCHINS SUPERETTE, CHAT WITH US A BIT ABOUT YOUR LOVE OF VINTAGE & SUSTAINABILITY

I’VE ALWAYS HAD THIS KARMIC SENSE ABOUT EVERYTHING IN LIFE.

I GREW UP BUDDHIST AND ALL I’VE KNOWN IS KARMA AND REINCARNATION. THE THOUGHT THAT THERE ISN’T JUST ONE SINGLE LIFE. THAT’S THE SAME WITH INANIMATE OBJECTS.

WHY IS IT THAT IT SERVES ONLY ONE PURPOSE? WHY NOT HAVE MANY LIVES AFTER? HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THAT?

WHEN I COME ACROSS PIECES DURING MY CURATION I CAN’T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT WHAT ITS PREVIOUS LIFE MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE - HOW THEY WERE ONCE SOMEONE’S FAVORITE THING OR AN HEIRLOOM OF MEMORIES.

AND HERE I AM AS THE BRIDGE FOR IT TO HAVE ANOTHER LIFE.

LIFE AS A MAMA AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER

GOSH, WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION, ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS GIVING UP MY CAREER AND MY BUSINESS. I COULDN’T FATHOM A LIFE WHERE I COULD DO IT ALL.

ONCE THAT PPD FOG DISSIPATED, IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT THE ONLY PERSON SAYING I COULDN’T DO IT WAS MYSELF.

I BEGAN TO BRING HIM ON MY PHOTOSHOOTS - HE DID GREAT, WAS ABLE TO BE OUTSIDE AND EXPLORE. I BROUGHT HIM TO THRIFT STORES AND DEEMED HIM MY LUCKY BABY. EVERYWHERE I BROUGHT HIM, I FOUND THE MOST INCREDIBLE VINTAGE!

I BEGAN TO BRING HIM ON MOST OF MY JOBS AND THOUGH NOT ALL OF IT WAS EASY, THEY WERE NOT IMPOSSIBLE AND ALL OF THE GOOD AND BAD MADE ME A BETTER MOM.

YOUR VIEW OF SUSTAINABILITY AS A NEW MAMA

WHEN I FIRST FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY I WAS BOMBARDED WITH “OH YOU SHOULD GET THIS” OR “YOU NEED THAT” AND I FELL VICTIM TO THE PRESSURE BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE THE BEST MAMA AND GIVE MY BABY WHATEVER HE NEEDED.

NEW MOM GUILT OF NOT GIVING YOUR BABY THE LATEST AND GREATEST IS VERY REAL!

WHAT I WISH I KNEW WAS THAT I DIDN’T NEED ALL OF THESE NEW THINGS. AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY WERE JUNK. THINGS THAT COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN SECONDHAND.

AFTER THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF HIS LIFE I SAW HOW MUCH WASTE I WAS PRODUCING. HOW MANY CLOTHES THAT WERE GIFTS THAT NEVER EVEN MADE IT ONTO HIS BODY BECAUSE HE WAS GROWING SO FAST. MAN OH MAN THE CLOTHES WE WERE WASTING.

WHY DIDN’T WE JUST DO ALL SECONDHAND? WHY DIDN’T WE JUST DO ALL VINTAGE?

ANY MAMA WISDOM YOU WANNA SHARE?

FORGIVE YOURSELF. YOU ARE DOING YOUR BEST.

YOU ARE THE BEST MAMA IN THE WORLD FOR YOUR BABY.

YOU ARE THE BEST MAMA IN THE WORLD FOR YOUR BABY.

ALL IMAGES BY @SAMANTHEEYO

©GUSANDWAY 2024