Inspirational Mom :: Camilla Olson

There are certain clothing items that I really can’t have enough of (coats being the main item – though I live in sunny California) and I refrain only due to my budget.   Scarves are one of those items I would spend too much on if I could.  You can have the most simple outfit on but if you throw on a nice scarf around your neck – it just adds the finishing touches!  While living abroad in Japan, I came across some beautiful scarves as the Japanese have a real knack for beautiful textiles as you probably know.  Recently though,  I was given one of the most beautiful scarves’ I have seen in a long time – from the color to fabric – it will surely be a new staple in my wardrobe.  I just had to find out who was behind this gorgeous scarf that will be adored for years.  Camilla Olson started her company years ago and I just love how her journey to start a clothing line was destined to be – though she didn’t even realize it until it fell in her lap while trying to convince her own daughter to not become a fashion designer.   Read more about Camilla has to say about her journey to become a fashion designer.

 IT WAS AN ACCIDENT. YOUR MOM READERS MIGHT RELATE TO THIS STORY. MY DAUGHTER WANTED TO BE A FASHION DESIGNER WHEN SHE GREW UP. BUT I KNEW THAT WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA. I TRIED TO TALK HER OUT OF IT, BUT SHE WOULDN’T BUDGE. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD PLAY ALONG, HOPING SHE WOULD CHANGE HER MIND. BUT SHE DIDN’T. I SIGNED HER UP TO GO TO AN OPEN HOUSE AT A SAN FRANCISCO ART SCHOOL. I THOUGHT SHE WOULD GO, AND IMMEDIATELY SEE WHY IT WAS A BAD IDEA. BUT THE JOKE WAS ON ME. I LOVED IT AND ENROLLED WITHIN THE MONTH.  THE BACKGROUND IS THAT I GREW UP SEWING AS A NEEDED SKILL AND MADE MUCH OF MY OWN CLOTHING. I WAS ALWAYS FRUSTRATED THAT MY GARMENTS WOULD NOT REFLECT THE BEAUTY THAT I HAD IN MY MIND. ONCE I SAW THERE WAS A PLACE TO LEARN TO DESIGN AND TO SEW, I WAS SMITTEN AND HAD TO BE THERE.

 I GET GREAT JOY OUT OF EMPLOYING CLASSMATES, SEEING MY DAUGHTER WEAR MY CLOTHING AND HAVE MY ADULT CHILDREN HELP ME WITH ACCOUNTING OR MARKET RESEARCH. MY FAMILY HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS IN HELPING  THIS COMPANY. I FEEL IT HAS BROUGHT US CLOSER TOGETHER, AND HAS BEEN A GOOD ROLE MODEL FOR MY CHILDREN.

HERE ARE SOME SELECTED IMAGES FROM OUR PHOTO SHOOT LAST WEEK WITH ACTRESS TANNA FREDERICK WHO IS A STAGE AND INDEPENDENT FILM ACTRESS. THESE ARE FEATURING OUR NEW SHIRT GROUPING. ALL ARE MADE IN EITHER SUPERSOFT RAYON OR GEORGETTE SILK. EACH SHIRT HAS A PERSONALITY AND YOU CAN SEE WE HAD FUN CAPTURING THEM.

For more information about Camilla Olson and her gorgeous clothes go to: www.CamillaOlson.com