In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, we sat down with our team and took the time to reflect on what it means to be a woman. As a female-founded and operated business, we love celebrating the beauty and strength that is womankind. We invite you to meet the wonderful women behind the brand and learn what inspires and empowers us through this intimate interview.

Sharon, Nieves Lavi Founder & Creative Director

What does being a woman mean to you?
Whether you are born into the gender or identify yourself with it, women are a force of nature. They are powerful and resilient.

If you could have dinner with three inspirational women, dead or alive, who would they be and why?
Marie Curie, Amelia Erhard and Jane Goodall. These amazing women have made great achievements and discoveries, all while breaking the glass ceiling for women in their fields. They changed the world!

What makes you feel empowered?
My family and the right clothes! It’s how I express myself and protect myself. Clothes are a necessity such as food and shelter and a means for self expression: it's my canvas.

What piece of advice would you pass on to the next generation of women?
You can do anything and be anything. You are as good as anybody, just push forward and work hard as nothing will be handed to you. And don't forget to help others along the way!

Anne-Charlotte, Operations Director

What does being a woman mean to you?
Tough question, and one that I haven’t pondered often! In general, I feel more connected to other women and am fully aware that life is more difficult for them than most men.

If you could have dinner with three inspirational women, dead or alive, who would they be and why?
For a fun dinner Phoebe Waller-Bridge or Jennifer Lawrence. To be mentored for leadership, Christine Lagarde or Simone Weil. And Mary Magdalene.

What makes you feel empowered?
Feeling that people trust me more than I do, and listening to charismatic women.

What piece of advice would you pass on to the next generation of women?
You can have everything, you deserve it. Ask for help and mentorship. But do not forget to have babies, many of them, family is the most precious thing that can happen in your life!

Mathilde, Operations Manager

What does being a woman mean to you?
I see us women as a full force of creativity, creating life and the environment around it. Being a woman for me is joyful, caring, loving, bright and strong. As women we have to fight more for what we believe in and for what we are worth.

If you could have dinner with three inspirational women, dead or alive, who would they be and why?
My 2 grandmothers and Amma.

One of my grandmother passed away and she had an extraordinary life. She was a French resistance fighter in WWII as a teenager and a model in her later years in Paris. She was a big source of inspiration and I would love to be able to talk with her again. My other grandmother is alive and I love to talk to her as much as I can. Lately she has been talking about WWII and what she witnessed. She was a teacher for a long time and she is so bright and inspiring.

Finally, Amma is on the list of the people I want to meet one day. Amma is an Indian Hindu spiritual leader, guru and humanitarian. I truly believe she is a saint in our world and her energy is healing all of us. If you have never heard of her, movies and documentaries have been made about her.

What makes you feel empowered?
Being authentic, being in the moment present as much as possible and reminding myself that as a woman living the life I have and being in this country, I have the freedom to do anything I want. We need to remind ourselves how lucky we are.

What piece of advice would you pass on to the next generation of women?
Don’t let society decide for you what you should be or not. No one can define who you are, only yourself can decide it. It is advice that we often need to hear, and at any age.

Kate, Web-Designer

What does being a woman mean to you?
Strength in adversity.

If you could have dinner with three inspirational women, dead or alive, who would they be and why?
My maternal grandmother because she died before I could learn from her and she was an extraordinary woman and healer. My paternal grandmother because she had a brilliant mind and was a codebreaker in WWII. I never really got to know her as an adult. Queen Boudica, because she is part of the history and mythology of the place I grew up in. She was a queen of the British Iceni tribe who led an uprising against the conquering forces of the Roman Empire in AD 60 or 61. She is considered a British folk hero. It would be an odd dinner but no doubt memorable…

What makes you feel empowered?
My work. Bringing my skills to bear across a range of different industries and media. Motherhood is something that I feel has empowered me to advocate better both for myself and for my children.

What piece of advice would you pass on to the next generation of women?
Don’t allow yourself to be defined by anybody else’s notions of womanhood. Create your own and make no apology for it. Fear is the mind killer. (I know that’s a quote but I read that book when I was young and it’s always stuck with me).

Charlotte, Marketing Manager

Being whoever you want to be! There are no limits.
Strength in adversity.

If you could have dinner with three inspirational women, dead or alive, who would they be and why?
My sister because she taught me the value of self-love and hard work. And then I would invite Yeonmi Park, a woman with an incredible story who never ceases to be brave. She escaped North Korea with her family and now dedicates her life to shining a light on the horrors of the regime. Finally, Deepica Mutyala, an amazing entrepreneur with a purpose-driven business. I’m sure the conversations would be so interesting!

What makes you feel empowered?
Knowing that every day, I have the opportunity to create the life I want. It’s a privilege that I never take for granted!

What piece of advice would you pass on to the next generation of women?
Own who you are. Don’t be defined by anyone else’s version of you. Embrace your uniqueness, and never cease to be the best version of yourself you can be.