Dona Lim: Designing a Balancing Act Between Fashion and Family

Fashion designer Dona Lim talks about balancing life as a fashion designer, entrepreneur, and mother in these exciting but challenging times.

This story first came out in Modern Parenting’s 2022 print edition.

Dona Lim knows what it feels like to juggle work and family. A mom of two kids, Dona, who released her Unpaused: Dopamine Effect collection in August, continues to focus her energies on creating empowering maximalist pieces that exude comfortable confidence, made with sustainable materials that allow movement for today’s young and stylish moms.

Creating a sustainable collection for savvy moms

Dona describes this generation’s mothers as savvy, elements that figure heavily in her collections.

“They know who they are, what they want, and they know what is good. I give them what they want – beauty, quality, comfort, and uniqueness. [This does not apply to] just this generation but across generations; it’s what every woman intimately wants. I’m fortunate enough to be dressing them. Their strength, resilience, and spirit inspire me,” she shares.

Speaking of design inspirations, Dona explains that her designs are an expression of what she feels on the inside. “I’m always inspired by my emotions. After all, fashion is my medium of artistic expression. Then I look at the world around me. I’m inspired by streetwear. I watch people. I talk to people. It’s almost always connected. How I see the world and how the world makes me feel. Every collection has to mean something, convey something thought-provoking at the very least.”

Catering to the savvy moms who want a change of pace

Aside from her collections, Dona Lim caters to the whims of her clientele who frequently approach her with custom requests. When it comes to pieces that moms look for, Dona shares that many of them look for ensembles that are comfortable yet glamorous, a change of pace after being stuck in the house for close to three years.

“After being holed up for years wearing jammies, women are ready to party. They want to feel glamorous again. They want dresses. Feathers. Bold colors. Just anything fun. Work clothes that are fun, yet still comfortable. After wearing PJs for years, women have rediscovered what being unrestricted feels like and they like it. Comfort has now become a prerequisite for most when buying clothes,” she explains.

Part of creating collections for a savvy clientele is ensuring high-quality pieces made of sustainable fabrics — the designer’s own way of combatting the global waste the fashion industry usually makes. From natural fibers to sustainable hybrids, Dona ensures that the materials are not harmful to the environment.

“One of my non-negotiables for my designs is that the material I use has to be all-natural or sustainable or recyclable pet bottles but blended with natural fibers,” she shares. “It can be challenging but we only create products that are worthy. We make sure we do not just make clothes for the sake of making clothes. We want to make beautiful clothes that don’t destroy the planet.”

This includes creating beautiful and long-lasting pieces that go against the grain of fast fashion. “We design them to last. They’re unique, timeless, and handcrafted with love. We design them so you will not want to throw them out,” she adds.

On revolving work around family life

As Unpaused celebrates the return of women in the workplace in full force, for Dona Lim, the pieces also reflect the need for her to have an efficient schedule that allows her to balance family and career. For the designer, her children always come first.

“It’s always been very clear to me what my priorities are. I love my work but family comes first, so it’s not difficult to make choices. What works for me though is efficiently revolving my work around my family’s schedule. It’s all about planning it efficiently,” she explains.

To elaborate, the designer shares a day in her life. “I drop the kids off at school so I can pray with them in the car, and intentionally teach character development. Sometimes, I use the traffic jam to my advantage since I get their full attention and they can’t run off and play games. I also try to set up meetings around the school grounds so I can conveniently pick them up and ask them about their highs and lows that day. I constantly find myself doing my work while watching my kids play soccer. Flexibility is key.”

Despite juggling duties between being a mom and a designer, Dona makes sure she has time to unwind from her busy schedule as well.

“I love having my quiet time at my favorite cafe after I drop the kids off. Good coffee is a must. No matter how busy it gets, I always make time for brunch with my girlfriends. Having a good laugh is good for the soul. A drink or two with good music is the best way to end the day. On weekends, I pull out weeds at my organic farm if I’m not on the beach reading a book.”

How Dona Lim views working mom fashion in 2023

After celebrating the exuberance of returning outdoors through Unpaused, Dona Lim envisions a natural progression for this set of modern working moms that will translate in their style choices for the upcoming year.

“Modern working moms are very busy. They need clothes that can take them from dusk until dawn. From dropping the kids off at school to the office for meetings and maybe a cocktail dinner afterwork. It must be versatile, comfortable, and effortlessly chic.”

Meanwhile, it seems that 2023 could be a sign of the new times for Dona, too, who plans on expanding beyond her clothing line her clients love.

 “I’m addicted to innovation and progress. So every year I plot out something new. For next year, I would like to add an accessory line or an apothecary line. I’ve been making my own natural perfume and handmade soaps for years now. It would make perfect sense for me to share this with rest of the world as well.”

With Dona’s uncanny approach to work and family, who says she can’t have it all?

More about trendy moms:

25 Stylish Moms Who Inspire Us to Up Our Fashion Game
Elevate Mom Fashion To Red Carpet Level With Mark Bumgarner’s Latest Collab
5 Outfits by Ira Denise Oyco That Redefine Pregnancy Fashion