mama feature : ALLY, Jaya, jasper + marli

THIS MONTH’S MAMA FEATURE IS ALLY LOPEZ - MAUI NATIVE, MAMA OF 3 & FOUNDER OF @BANDOFMARTIANS.

A KINDRED SOUL AND FELLOW OLD-TRUCK LOVER, I LOVED GETTING TO KNOW ALLY BETTER AND SO GRATEFUL FOR HER SHARING HER STORY.

ALLY & HER GIRLS CLOTHES FROM OUR SHOP @GUSANDWAY.

AS THE YOUNGEST OF 3 GIRLS MYSELF, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON RAISING ALL GIRLS

RAISING GIRLS HAS BEEN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY.

I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM ALL 3 OF THEM AND HAVE LEARNED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR INDIVIDUALITY & THEIR DIFFERENCES. I ALWAYS TELL THEM THAT THEY ARE ALL SUCH A PERFECT BALANCE FOR EACH OTHER.

THEY ARE LEARNING TO APPRECIATE EACH OTHER AND KNOW THAT THEY EACH HAVE THEIR OWN GIFTS AND TO COMMUNICATE TO EACH OTHER EVEN IF THEIR COMMUNICATION STYLES ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AT TIMES.

WHAT’S BEEN SO AMAZING TO WATCH IS HOW THEY ARE EACH WIRED SO DIFFERENTLY. THEY LEARN AND COMPUTE THE WORLD IN SUCH DIFFERENT WAYS AND WHILE THAT’S TOUGH AT TIMES, THEY CAN REALLY LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

TALK TO US ABOUT HOW YOUR SHOWROOM, BAND OF MARTIANS, CAME ABOUT AND WHAT IT’S BEEN LIKE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL

I STARTED BAND OF MARTIANS A LITTLE OVER 10 YEARS AGO WITH ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS JENNA.

THE WHOLESALE WORLD IN REGARDS TO FASHION IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND FROM SEASON TO SEASON THERE ARE NEW CHALLENGES AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES. IT’S BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT TO STAY FLEXIBLE AND OPEN TO CHANGE.

I’M REALLY GRATEFUL TO WORK WITH SOME INCREDIBLE BRANDS THAT ARE RETHINKING FASHION IN HOW THEY APPROACH MANUFACTURING AND IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY. THEY ARE ABOUT LESS BUT BETTER. THESE BRANDS HAVE INFUSED A WHOLE NEW WAVE OF INSPIRATION.

THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL TO PURSUE MY MASTERS IN ARCHITECTURE. IT’S BEEN ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING & FULFILLING JOURNEYS, SECOND ONLY TO RAISING CHILDREN.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REALLY TOUGH TIMES WITH JUGGLING TIME AND LEARNING NEW SKILLS AND FOR THE MOST PART I AM ONE OF THE OLDEST STUDENTS IN THE CLASS. IT’S A VERY LONG TERM GOAL BUT REGARDLESS IT’S GIVEN ME A TON OF SKILLS THAT I CAN APPLY TO MY CURRENT CAREER.

I KNOW YOU’RE A VINTAGE LOVER AND HAVE ACTUALLY GOTTEN A FEW SPECIAL PIECES FROM YOU FOR MYSELF! OUR SHOP SPECIALIZES IN VINTAGE LEVI’S & VINTAGE HAWAII TEEES…WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PERSONAL VINTAGE FAVES?

WHEN IT COMES TO VINTAGE I’M A SUCKER FOR VINTAGE LEVI’S. IT’S LIKE A NEVER ENDING JOURNEY TO FIND THE PERFECT PAIR. AND LATELY THEY ARE HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND.

I’VE LOVED VINTAGE FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, IT’S LIKE AN ADULT TREASURE HUNT WHEN YOU’RE VINTAGE SHOPPING.

MY DAUGHTERS ARE ALL INTO VINTAGE AS WELL. WE ARE REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE SHOPS HERE IN OCEANSIDE & WE ARE REALLY CLOSE TO SOME GREAT FLEA MARKETS UP IN LA.

I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE LOVE OF VINTAGE HAS BEEN FUELED MORE AND MORE BY THE NEED TO SHIFT AWAY FROM FAST FASHION.

IT’S NICE TO REUSE SOMETHING FORMERLY LOVED BY SOMEONE ELSE. THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A PERFECTLY PRELOVED TEE OR SWEATSHIRT.

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