Vania Romoff: This Woman’s Work

Vania Romoff Füglister talks about motherhood, its joys, and how it intertwines with her fast-paced career

“Every time I have interviews, it is all about what I do in my career in fashion. Rarely do I get asked about how it is being a mom,” reveals Vania Romoff Füglister. With the trajectory of her career, her contribution to Philippine fashion, and the impact she has made in so many women’s lives, it is completely understandable why that is. 

“I work full-time. I run a business. I’m a CEO. And I’m also a mom of three (Emilia, Elias, and Leon).” With everything on Vania’s plate on a daily basis, one must wonder how she manages everything. “I try to do it all but I’ve always accepted that I cannot. With this comes the wisdom that I’ve learned that it is very important to delegate,” shares Vania. 

Acknowledging that it takes a village, now more than ever as a mother, Vania knows that she couldn’t run a business full-time by herself. Furthermore, she is aware that there is no such thing as striking a balance between her work and personal life. 

Setting boundaries

“One has to give at certain times. As a mother, I really do try to give one hundred percent but I don’t get to do that all the time. During the times that I am with them, that’s when I give everything. My weekends are sacred. I only work from Mondays to Fridays, regardless of whether a client wants to see on a Saturday. It’s always no and I have a hard cut off of 5pm.”

Recalling the time when she was younger, Vania shared how she would sometimes extend until late at night with her clients. “You know, there was never any clear line between work and rest,” says Vania. Today, she identifies the two sides to her—one that’s a full-time designer and businesswoman and the other one as being a mom.

“Once a shift to being a mom, that’s it. I don’t touch my phone. I won’t be able to reply to your emails. Whatever time I have with my children, it’s complete focus. I feel it’s never about the quantity of time but the quality of it,” shares Vania. 

On motherhood

When asked about her most favorite thing about being a mother, Vania instantly knew the answer—the sense of joy it brings. “In all my years of being single, I would have so much joy, of course, through many things: a curtain call during a show, when a bride sees herself in my wedding dresses, my career, and traveling alone. But it’s a very different kind of joy that motherhood brings.”

“Coming home to my kids is the most amazing feeling in the world,” recounts Vania. “They are still young so they run to me. There are times when I’ve had such hard days at work and things aren’t going the way they’re supposed to go. As soon as I get home, when I see them, everything just melts away. I think the word for it is pure. Pure joy,” adds Vania. 

Aside from joy, Vania shared the inner calm she learned through the contrasting personalities of her children. Likening Emilia to a doll, Vania looked back on the days when her daughter would quietly be with her throughout her work days and activities. The twins, however, are completely the opposite. “I’ve really learned to let them fall. With Emilia, I coddle her. With the twins, I tell them to dust it off and that they’re good. I don’t get rattled easily and it’s mostly because of them,” admits Vania.

Mothering at home

Along with the gifts of motherhood comes the realization that time is fleeting. As much as Vania enjoys the vacations that help build memories with her children, nothing beats the little moments she has with them at home. 

“All of us just eating around the table, spending time running around the lawn, or just being in bed with them telling me stories about their day—it’s those little moments that I really treasure with them. They are always calling for mama. Sometimes, yes, I will admit it can be quite overwhelming but I know that’s not going to last forever,” says Vania. 

Vania also shared she is reveling in the time that her kids are clingy and needy. “I will be lying if I don’t say that I enjoy all of them being mama’s boys and a mama’s girl.” She laughingly shared that for her kids, she is the queen and she can do no wrong. “It’s just pure adoration and admiration from and for my kids,” adds Vania. 

Brand, design, and motherhood

Speaking on how being a mother influences her brand practices and design processes, Vania expounds on her time being more precious than ever. “I have very little room or patience for things that do not matter. I have no time for inefficiency.”

Operationalizing her type A personality, Vania has learned to let go more. “I like to micromanage but I have learned over time that I shouldn’t if I would like to keep a little bit of my sanity intact. I’m a stickler for making sure that things go the way they should and at the most efficient pace,” reveals Vania. 

Reflecting on this change, Vania also sees this perspective of hers as a reality check. In the context of fashion, where appearances and aesthetics are at the heart, Vania goes back to why she started in the first place and what drives her—passion. In doing so, she gets to give herself more space for what matters. 

“When I was younger, I thought that to be relevant, I needed to be seen. It’s the same with fashion that it has to be relevant and current. You have to be in the moment. But over the years and doing this for almost two decades now, I’ve managed to reach that point where people know the brand already. I’m settled but that’s not to say I’m not growing. I’ve reached that point where I’m capable of declining things, especially if the scales tip more towards my children and my time with them,” shares Vania. 

On dressing women

“How I dress myself is a reflection of how I design for other women,” says Vania. With motherhood helping her develop a clearer and deeper appreciation of a woman’s self-introspection, Vania designs for women with their different life phases in mind. 

“I have become more self-assured on how I see myself and that translates into confidence in designing. The years of designing has given me a more defined idea of what the brand is but motherhood has made me question myself less—the nonsense part of it trickles,” explains Vania. 

In translation to specific design choices, Vania now avoids a lot of fuss in her pieces and she gives a bigger weight on comfort. “My designs are still romantic, yes, but it’s less about flamboyance and trying to make the world see you. It’s less about ‘look at me’ and more ‘I feel good’,” shares Vania. 

In addition, Vania talked about witnessing the evolution of women through her loyal clients, whom she dressed from their prom years to their weddings. “I see the shift of what they prefer to wear now and I’ve grown with that also. While I show the range of my work and my aesthetic, it’s more about the range of women that I have dressed.” 

For the children 

Aware that her children, especially her daughter, are always watching, Vania takes solace in the fact that they get to see the variations in her work and how she dresses up. “She gets to see that mama’s not perfect. I’m tired but I’m still there. I’m tired but I’m still having fun. It’s always the resilience after—that at the end of the day, even if mama’s tired, the following morning, you’ll see mama put together because life is like that,” recounts Vania. 

Given the ups and downs with work and how she works, Vania wants her kids to know that she always tries to do her best. Admitting that there are times when she forgets things, Vania maintains open communication with them. “I always try not to sugarcoat the reality of things. I hope they see both the good and bad stuff so they know that in every step of the way, there is always room for improvement and change.”

“I want them to remember me as a cool mom. I want to be remembered as someone who is unafraid and genuine. I want them to remember that at the end of the day, mama was theirs. At the end of the day, I come home to them and I am always there for them.”

As a matter of fact, Vania shared a recent milestone—both for her and Emilia—and it was one that she had to keep private for over a month. For the World Tour Spectacular of Les Misérables, Emilia was cast as Little Cosette. Guiding Emilia in balancing school and theater, Vania proudly took to Instagram to celebrate her daughter’s achievement and professional debut, calling it her opening act. 

Relating values to breathing life into her sketches, Vania wants her kids—and to an extent, her clients and everyone—to see the amount of work and the passion that goes into her pieces. “It’s a very emotional thing for me. I know it’s just a product or service but it’s something I value. I hope that when they see my clothes, they see me,” shares Vania. 

For fellow moms

“I think the words ‘successfully manage’ is very unrealistic. There are so many expectations for women in general and so much more for mothers. There will be days that you will give more to your work and that the kids will go to sleep without seeing you the entire day. That’s fine.” 

Emphasizing the importance of giving one’s self grace and being attuned with reality, Vania proceeds, “You just have to be very real about what you’re going through and be extra patient with yourself. You’re not going to be able to do it all but when you do, give yourself a pat on the back. Sometimes no one else will.”

Honoring the growth women go through and celebrating the fact that women can experience having both motherhood and a career, Vania closes, “You are capable of so much. You just don’t know it yet. That doesn’t mean you have to push yourself to the point of meeting everyone’s expectations. You just have to know what’s enough for yourself and know where your priorities are. It can be your work one day; it can be your children the next. You’re just going to have to choose and know that that’s enough.” 

Words FIRAS ABBOUD
Photography KIM MONTES
Make-up ANGELINE DELA CRUZ
Hairstyling MIGGY CARBONILLA
Sitting Editor MARGA TUPAZ
Styling ROSHNI MIRPURI and SIYA DARYANI of THE CLOSET CULTURE
Shoot Coordination TONI MENDOZA

In partnership with ANKO PHILIPPINES

Shot on location at NEWPORT WORLD RESORTS

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