Nurturing Ambition

Motherhood did not deter Tory Burch from owning up to her power as an entrepreneur and she believes it shouldn’t be in the way of any woman, writes Lily Ong

Inside the new Tory Burch boutique in Landmark Alexandra Hong Kong, there were many dynamic women in attendance for a private cocktail party, such as K-pop sensation CL and gorgeous Chinese actress Li Bing Bing. And, amid the crowd of beautiful people in the room, Tory Burch herself stood out (not only because she was the hostess) as she simply had that commanding presence that draws you in and make you want to stop and talk to her. Tory, who has built a global apparel and accessories empire since the early 2000s, may be a tough-as-nails businesswoman, but there is a maternal air about her as well. She is a woman in charge, but she is also not afraid to embrace the essence of her gender despite the position she holds. After thriving as a media, communications and advertising professional in the business of fashion, Tory decided to become an entrepreneur at a time when her three sons were all under the age of four—she was ready to nurture a company after her years nurturing her boys. “Being a mother will always be the greatest adventure and joy of my life. It makes me appreciate everything my mother did (and still does) for me and my brothers,” she asserts. Motherhood also made her realise the importance of time management and striking a balance, which she practises today. “My boys come first, no matter what. It all boils down to setting clear priorities,” she adds. The company launched in 2004 with a small boutique in Manhattan’s Nolita neighbourhood. Known for its colour, print and eclectic details on its ready-to-wear range, shoes, handbags, accessories and more, Tory Burch’s products reflect the design sensibilities of its founder. Art, music, travel, interiors and the designer’s own stylish parents are often the muse for her collections. “My parents are avid collectors, they would leave us for six weeks every summer to travel to Europe and bring things home from everywhere they visited. I’m a bit more pared down. I like to mix old with new and to merge unexpected things,” relates Tory about her own decorating style. It might be close to a decade since she decided to strike out on her own, but her passion for what she does never wanes. In 2018 itself she has had a productive year— activating projects around Asia, in Seoul and Hong Kong, plus promoting her spring collection, comprising bold, fearless colours with graphic multicoloured striped highlights. Inspired by interior decorator David Hicks, Tory, who is also passionate about home styling, was excited to draw ideas from the legendary talent to create this collection. To date, the brand has been recognised by the fashion industry with several awards, including the CFDA for Accessory Designer of the Year; Accessory Brand Launch of the Year from Accessories Council of Excellence; and Rising Star award from Fashion Group International. Tory was even named one of Forbes’s Most Powerful Women in the World. Social responsibility is an integral part of the company too, thus in 2009, the Tory Burch Foundation was launched to support and empower women entrepreneurs and their families in the US. Through providing loans,