In France we call our Aunties: “Tata”. It is a short and cute way of the traditional “Tante”.
For a lot of people, the aunty is the second mum. She is the one backing up the mother and taking care of the children when needed.
This is the spirit of “Tata Rachel”: Helping the future mum to take care of their new born with the first needs in a maternity Suitcase.
Interview of Julie, the founder of Tata Rachel.
Tell us more about you. Where are you from? What is your Background?
My name is Julie Lecuyer, I’m French from Paris. I worked for 6 years as journalist for several french TV channels.
At the age of 25 years old, I have been promoted Coordinator & Artistique Collaborator on a Wedding TV Show. I kept this role until my 26th. At this point I realised I needed a new challenge in my life.
I grew up in a family working in the textile industry for more than 40 years. I knew that at some point one I would take this path.
So I decided to quit my job and I created my own company of baby clothing. But Something more to help future mums before and after the baby delivery : « Tata Rachel ».
Where does the brand name come from?
The brand name “Tata Rachel”, is a nod to my grand-mother.
There was a story about a woman named « Rachel » that she used to tell me about in order to remind me to never give up and keep believing in my dreams.
Who is being the brand Tata Rachel? When did you get the idea to create a Maternity suitcase? How did you create the Brand?
In the office there were 3 pregnant journalists in the team and they used to spend all their free time buying baby clothes online.
So I eventually asked them why they didn’t buy a Maternity Suitcase with everything in it. The answer was : ‘it doesn’t exist !’
From that point I started checking magazines and on internet to realise that the current offer of maternity suitcases was neither functional nor elegant. And it was obvioulsy not properly studied to meet all the requirements for new borns’ needs and to provide full satisfaction to future mums!
I created the brand during my spare time. I started to design the suitcase and the baby clothes that have evolved extensively since.
In 2015, while being in Hong Kong, I took the plunge to launch a first production with the help of my brother Jonathan.
Being close to suppliers and workshops helped me to adjust my ideas and technical requirements.
What is the spirit of the Brand? How do you position your brand?
Tata Rachel is a Luxury/Premium baby clothing brand. Our know-how makes the satisfaction of the mothers.
“Quality, Comfort and Safety” are the priority!
What did inspire you or influence your design?
I have always been a huge fan of luxury hat boxes and decided to start my sketch from these types of items. I was willing to keep their elegant shapes while adapting to the needs of a case that would work for today’s mothers.
Where do you make your clothes and suitcases? How do you source your products?
I’m working with several suppliers in different countries: Switzerland, France, Germany, Hong Kong and China.
I design and follow all the production chain.
How would you define being a woman entrepreneur?
I can’t say it better than Reid Hoffman :
“someone who will jump off a cliff and assemble an airplane on the way down.”
What was your biggest challenge so far?
Everyday being an entrepreneur is a challenge. But if I have to pick one, I would say quite my comfortable life in France and move to Hong Kong for something unknown and unsecure. I think it has been one of the hardest choices I made. After that, All new challenges become a necessity to move forward and you have no choice than accept them if you don’t want to fail.
What I can say today is that I have no regrets about the decision I made few years ago. I am a free and happy woman. Every morning I know that I will learn something new during the day. My days are never the same. Entrepreneurship is a fantastic adventure. The most difficult part is to accept to move away from your comfort zone.
Where can we buy your products?
You can find all collections on the online shop.
For now the suitcase is exclusively sell online with a worldwide delivery in 3 – 5 working days.
All maternity suitcases are prepared in our workshop. There is no suitcase made in advance.
Talking about baby clothes, Is there anything you would recommend worth checking?
Baby’s skin is really sensitive so it’s always better to check the conditions of the baby-clothing brand. The baby clothes must be tested and approved by a certificate.
Babies are safe with Tata Rachel. All our products are hypoallergenic, certified to European standards, made in excellent quality and specially designed to bring, softness, comfort and safety to the baby.