Q&A with Aimee Kestenberg Elan

How did you start your company?

The company started with a product. A great backpack named the Tamitha that I designed while at Parsons The New School for Design out of a need to find a backpack that was functional, fashionable and a ordable. It was the first bag sold and loved by all, it quickly became a favorite on the New York fashion scene. From there, I built the first Aimee Kestenberg Collection that was presented at market and picked up immediately by buyers across the country. As the brand grew, my partner and I realized that we had a bigger vision and decided to focus on building a larger company that nurtured creative talent and harnessed expertise in building authentic accessory brands in areas that filled white space in the market. Today, our portfolio includes Aimee Kestenberg, American Leather Co. and House of Want. www.a ordableluxurygroup.com

What is your daily mantra?

It’s easy to get caught up in a busy start to the day…the second we open our eyes, we so often either pick up our phones or jump right into the many demands of the day. As a busy working mother of three, it’s for this reason that I like to take 9 minutes everyday before I do anything else to breathe, meditate and manifest how I want my day to go. I divide that 9 minutes into three stages, 3 minutes of meditative breathing work (Pranayama), this stabilizes my nervous system… I then move on to 3 minutes of meditation… I practice gratefulness (reminding myself how grateful I am yo wake up, all the simple blessings in my life like health and family and food, key disciplines I’d like to uphold such as operating with compassion and lastly I do a 3 minute morning stretch, mild vinyasa to wake up my body and get blood flowing before I start the day. 9 minutes may not seem like much, but this simple step first thing in the morning will change your life.

What has been your greatest accomplishment or most memorable moment since starting your business?

I’d have to say the inner-confidence that came with overcoming significant hurdles or challenges along the way. My greatest accomplishment was finding strength to keep going in some of the darkest times.

The most memorable moment to date was being presented the 2019 NPD Growth Driver Award by the esteemed Accessories Council at the Design Excellence Awards, held at the world famous Plaza Hotel in New York City, a landmark I’ve loved since I was a young girl.

What has been your hardest obstacle and how did you overcome it?

I’d have to say learning how to balance life between three young children and a fast growing company all while trying to take care of myself. The demands of it all can be intense. Learning how to exercise healthy boundaries in all areas of my life required a lot of growth work and discipline. It’s a journey not a destination.

What advice do you have for women or young girls in general or about starting their own company?

It starts with you. Learning to love yourself and prioritize yourself unapologetically will give you the foundation you need to succeed. I always encourage people to start o on someone else’s dime, get a job in the areas in which you want to learn before starting your own business. Absorb every little bit of information and immerse yourself in as many experiences that you can. When I started my company, I had a basic foundation of how to do it because I had learnt so much by watching how things were done at the companies I worked for, also observing how they could have been done better, how I wanted to be treated di erently… All of these experiences made me a stronger businesswoman and better manager. I’m always happy to answer questions @aimeekestenberg across all social media outlets.