Raising Kids, Running a Business, A Mother's Day Celebration of Women Who Do Both

Motherhood changes everything. The hours, the priorities, the way you see yourself. And for women in business, it changes the game entirely, in the most unexpected, sometimes brutal, often beautiful ways. This Mother's Day, we're sitting down with Virgie from @studiopfeiffer and our own founder Marissa to explore what it really looks like when motherhood and ambition share the same house.

There's no clean line between being a mother and running a business when you're living both at once. The 6am emails written before the school run. The creative ideas that strike in the middle of bath time. The way your children become your most honest critics, and your greatest cheerleaders.

VIRGIE, STUDIO PFEIFFER

Virgie is one half of the duo behind Studio pfeiffer, a Bondi-born Australian women's label she has built with her co-founder since 2015. She is a mother, a designer, and someone who has a lot to say about what happens to your creative instincts when time gets tight.

The label, known for its signature twists, drapes and statement pieces, made in Australia is the kind of brand that looks effortless because the work behind it is anything but.

She is also a mother. And it turns out the two things are more connected than you might expect.

What she's building right now

Footwear. And she is visibly excited about it.

"It's our second instalment, and we've spent the last year perfecting it, so many samples, so much back and forth to get it just right. We're obsessed with footwear, and we've always loved styling other brands' shoes with Pfeiffer, so to now have our own and create a full head-to-toe Pfeiffer look feels next level."

After that? Swimwear. A capsule they haven't touched in a long time, and one they're genuinely ready to rebuild. There's a momentum in how she talks about the brand right now, a label that knows exactly where it's going and is enjoying the journey.

What motherhood unexpectedly taught her about business?

This is the answer we keep returning to.

"Motherhood forced clarity. Before kids, we were more influenced by industry opinions and found ourselves designing to please others, drifting away from our original vision. After kids, time became limited, so we stripped it back, if we were going to design something, it had to be what we liked, not what others thought it should look like. It pushed us to take the lead again and be confident in our own design direction."

The constraint became the creative direction. Less time, less noise, less designing for the room — and a brand that finally sounded like itself again. That's not a small thing. That's everything.

What she's most proud of?

"Honestly, our friendship. We're navigating the highs and lows of both business and motherhood, and we've still managed to build and protect this incredible relationship. We respect each other's differences, genuinely love spending time together, and have become each other's support system. No matter how the day unfolds, we still find a way to have fun at work — and we've built this brand together from nothing."

Built from nothing. Still having fun. That is the whole thing.

And the most important question

Does she hide snacks from her kids?
Absolutely. Chocolate. Always Twirls. "I hate sharing so will often buy a bag for myself and then get something else for the boys."

Her ideal Mother's Day

"My ideal Mother's Day is pretty simple, eggs benedict, a mimosa, and then a day trip into the city with my boys to a museum. It's become our tradition. The kids never want to go, but my husband makes them come, and somehow it always ends up being a great day for all of us. I get to watch them take it all in, question things, and make sense of the art, while I feel completely inspired. It's also where Andy proposed to me, so it's a really special place for me to keep creating memories."

A ritual that began as her wish and has become a family tradition. She watches her boys move through the galleries, questioning, interpreting, making sense of things, while she comes away filled up by it too. And underneath everything: it's the place where Andy proposed. Every year, she goes back and adds another layer to the story.

Happy Mother's Day, Virgie. Thank you for sharing your world with ours.
Explore the full collection at @studiopfeiffer

Meet Marissa (Co-founder of Joyrolla)

Marissa is a mother of boys, a creative with a sharp eye, and someone who finds beauty in the details most people walk past.

Her ideal Mother's Day

"Big cuddles in the morning from my boys, coffee and pancakes made by the boys. Get outside into nature and explore a waterfall, have lunch somewhere along the way, explore some boutique stores, homemade burgers and some wine by the fire and a movie."

What's inspiring her right now?

When it comes to creative inspiration, Marissa casts a wide net, and she's drawn to brands and people who have a clear point of view and the courage to live in it.

She's been following The Cord (@cord.in), an Indian brand whose recent campaign blew her away, particularly the way they shared the behind-the-scenes alongside the final images. "The texture, colour and traditional yet modern senses are amazing," she says. It's a reminder that the process is part of the story.

@songforthemute caught her eye when she came across their stores in person. "Their website and store is like a moodboard," she says, "and they really show the world they live in." That coherence, the sense that every touchpoint is one continuous, considered world, is something she clearly responds to deeply.

She's also inspired by the playful, creative universe of @MG&Co, the effortless cool of @roccofridge, and the one-of-a-kind style of @pariswycherley. "She's so damn cool," Marissa says. "Her style is so fun and interesting."

Her signature dish

"It would have to be my spaghetti bolognese _My boys favourite) or my banana bread. I have been making my own pasta, which is a fun activity and adds so much flavour to the bolognese."

Last minute gifting, shop our E-GIft Cards.