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Babiekins Magazine

A Trendsetting Magazine & Online Community For The Trendsetting Child + Parent

Momkins // Interview with Angela O’Brien of Cleobella

By Leslie Schor, Senior Fashion Editor Leave a Comment

Babiekins Magazine|Momkins//Interview with Angela O'Brien of Cleobella

The Cleobella brand embraces an exotic bohemian feel fused with a laid back Cali vibe. With a boutique located in Sunset Beach, California and an online shop, the vast variety of Cleobella goods are readily available. Ranging from leather goods to kimonos to itty bitty harem pants, Cleobella products are designed with the globe trotting mama in mind. Let’s chat with the designer and founder, Angela O’Brien, and get a better feel for the brand, it’s inspirations and the lady that started it all.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up? Do you come from a big family? How many kids do you have?

I grew up in Huntington Beach, CA. I come from a super big family – a big Irish family and we all live within 5 miles of each other. My childhood was all about all of the cousins getting together – we celebrated every special occasion together. I have 2 kids now – a little boy Keenan Case O’Brien who just turned 4 and a sweet baby girl Indigo Skye who is 4 months.

How did Cleobella come about?

Cleobella started a few years ago when my husband and I decided to leave our jobs in Southern California and travel around the world for a year. The trip was designed around the waves, because my husband is a surfer. It was probably the most liberating adventure we’d ever taken. It was great to step away from our everyday norms into a new headspace where we were open to change and new ideas. It was on the island of Bali where I designed my very first signature Mexicana clutch.

What would you say influences your aesthetic the most?

Travel and 1960s-1970s vintage. Seasonally our direction is inspired by a location and we build a story around it. Most recently my husband and I went on a baby moon to Morocco where I concepted our Spring 2015 collection.

What is your design process like for Cleobella?

It’s pretty raw and hands on. I’m not very technical, it’s more about hand drawing styles and working with our pattern makers to bring our sketches to life.

How do you balance motherhood and running your business? What is a typical workday like?

To be honest, it’s a daily struggle because to me motherhood is my #1 priority and Cleobella is my “first baby” in some ways. We’re still a small business. The beauty of running your own company is you can create your own schedule, which right now is a 24/7 schedule and I’m still nursing and my baby girl can be with me daily! A typical workday involves dropping my son off at preschool (2 doors down from the boutique). Then, stopping at the boutique to say “Hi” and check on happenings then drive over to the office (7 minute drive) for all kinds of meetings. We’re a small brands and have so many departments so I’m working closely with our team in all areas of the business, specifically design which is what I’m most passionate about.

Has your personal style changed since becoming a mother?

Yes! It’s more about comfort and having an outfit on that I can run around town in. And if Indigo spits up on my shoulder, I can always grab a sample and have a totally different look. Cleobella and my office are kind of like my own amazing walk-in closet!

What are some must-have items for on-the-go moms that want to look stylish and put together?

The Indi Mama bag is an update of one of our best-selling bags – we got a lot of feedback from moms who were carrying our weekenders as diaper bags so we went ahead and made a diaper bag! Also, our Mexicana clutch is also great if you don’t want to lug your giant bag into a grocery story – this holds your iPhone, chapstick, money etc – all your daily essentials!

Babiekins Magazine|Momkins//Interview with Angela O'Brien of Cleobella

What is your favorite…

Time of Day: It used to be nighttime because I’m such a night owl, but now that I have babies it’s first thing in the morning when there all in bed with me. We put on Spofity and have dance parties in bed!

Beauty essential: I’m a Chanel lipgloss girl. I also have this gardenia scented rollerball perfume that I love – I keep one in the car, my bag – anytime I need a little pick me up!

Fall treat: Pumpkin carob chip pancakes on Sundays – I make them every weekend with my son. Also fresh mint tea was something we discovered in Morocco and we’re having it a lot now that it’s colder – with a little honey, yum!

Children’s label: Our Bella Baby line! The line was born because I wanted my kids to be able to wear a little piece of Cleobella. I did baby harem pants for my son and ruffled bloomers for my daughter and then started giving them to girlfriends etc as baby shower gifts – and now we sell them online. They’ve been a big hit so far!

Travel destination: India – what I love about India is that they are not influenced by our Western norms – their culture is all their own an you can’t help but be inspired by it. The food, bollywood, colors, fashion, architecture, etc are so different and beautiful!

Family Activity: We like to go watch the sunset together – we do that every night in Bali and are trying to do it every night here in California. Going down to the beach and watching the sunset finishes off the day right. I love that its getting dark earlier now. It’s such a great way to end the day. Jim surfs, keenan runs around on the beach, and then we eat dinner together!

Babiekins Magazine|Momkins//Interview with Angela O'Brien of Cleobella

Babiekins Magazine|Momkins//Interview with Angela O'Brien of Cleobella

Babiekins Magazine|Momkins//Interview with Angela O'Brien of Cleobella

Babiekins Magazine|Momkins//Interview with Angela O'Brien of Cleobella

Babiekins Magazine|Momkins//Interview with Angela O'Brien of Cleobella

Babiekins Magazine|Momkins//Interview with Angela O'Brien of Cleobella

Photography:Taryn Kent
Instagram: @taryn_kent

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: #babiekinsmag, angela o'brien, Babiekins, Babiekins Magazine, cleobella, designer, Fashion, fashion kids, inspiration, interview, kids fashion magazine, kids trends, leslie schor Posted By: Leslie Schor, Senior Fashion Editor

About Leslie Schor, Senior Fashion Editor

The daughter of Cuban exiles, Leslie Schor is a first-generation American with degrees in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Miami. Leslie has an innate interest in learning about what motivates and inspires creativity, and how it affects our reality and society. Leaving a career in academic research, she is now exploring the creative world which surrounds her. Through film classes at the University of Miami, Leslie discovered a passion for storytelling and imagery. She is inspired by her colorful upbringing in Miami, Florida. Leslie works as a freelance Creative Director and Fashion Stylist creating campaigns for large corporate brands and small independent brands. Her creative work has been published in domestic and international publications, and she currently serves as Senior Fashion Editor at Babiekins Magazine. With a keen eye and discerning taste, Leslie has a natural ability to source unique and talented artists and designers. You can find her on Instagram @leslieschor, or at leslieschorcreative.com.

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Copyright © 2019 · Babiekins Magazine | A Trendsetting Kids' Fashion Magazine and Online Community for Parents and Children Alike · Since the Southern California birth of Babiekins in 2010, the magazine has grown from into an internationally-recognized print publication with a global circulation and now a thriving online community. We are more than a kids’ fashion magazine. We search everywhere for inspiration, and go beyond trends to bring you fashion, style, decor, design, books, DIY, parties, and playthings. Our readers look to us to keep up with the best and most up-to-date concepts in the children’s market worldwide. We have an eye for quirk. We’re high-fashion, but we value whimsy over tradition. Playful childhood is more important to us than making kids into copycat adults. We believe life is beautiful, life is valuable, and life changes when you see it through the eyes of a child. We seek to transcend skin color, language and zip codes and bring out the real, wild, magical creativity inherent in every child. And behind Babiekins is an optimistic team of mothers-turned-editors, working from home, often with our own little babiekins climbing on, under and around the desks. We want to encourage you, and challenge you to see something different — something special — in yourself and in this world we all share. Welcome to Babiekins!

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