5 Minutes With... Shilpa Shah
CO FOUNDER AND CXO OF CUYANA
On Rue Daily, our digital destination for stylish living, we have a popular column called “5 Minutes With.” Here, industry leaders and talented newcomers alike offer a glimpse into their routines, reveal their favorite products, and share how they de ne success. We’re excited to bring it to the pages of the magazine with none other than Shilpa Shah. With more than 15 years of experience designing web and mobile interfaces for Fortune 500 companies, Shah brought her expertise to Cuyana, a global design house known for its “fewer, better” approach. Cuyana, which means “to love” in Quechua (an indigenous language of the Inca Empire), creates timeless pieces for the modern woman and encourages less mindless consumption. What’s not to love about that?!
My light bulb moment...
Getting pregnant with my rst child! I remember thinking, If my body can make a human, what else am I capable of? I started pushing my boundaries every which way and never looked back.
I can’t start my day until...
Water, Coffee, Vitamins. Rinse and repeat.
Success is...
When you can say you’ve lived life without regret.
You’ll never see me without...
My Apple AirPods ! I am obsessed with listening to podcasts, digital books, and Clubhouse discussions. With life being so hectic, the only way I can consistently continue to learn is by multitasking diaper changes with audio streams.
My dream collaboration...
NASA! We would do the perfect downtime collection for the female astronauts—comfortable, versatile, elegant, and sustainable. They could live in our pieces and still look puttogether for their live shuttle video appearance after they take steps on the moon. It doesn’t get more “fewer, better” than that.
My must-have beauty product...
The Live Tinted Hue Stick . As a brown skinned lady, I am often dealing with dark spots. The Hue Stick helps color correct on days I need a more photo- nish face.
The item that makes my life easier...
My Kinto Tumbler . It allows me to drink slowly when I am able to sit still or to travel with my coffee when I’m moving around from place to place. It’s truly the small things that help me on my full, busy days.
My favorite room in my house...
The kitchen . It is the place where we spend the majority of our time—cooking, eating, drinking, dancing, laughing, and talking. I love how Form and Field designed the kitchen to be the center of our home.
Advice I wish I had 5 years ago...
Try to bring your whole self to each day. If you do that successfully, there is no room for stress or self-doubt.
In 5 years, find me...
At the beach, on a mountain, or at home—hopefully in a bear hug with all of my boys.
What I’m excited about in 2021...
Hugs (after vaccination of course).
When I feel uninspired...
I make ice cream! I need activities that are creative, slow, repetitious and also still require attention. It feels like meditation and gives me energy. Taking a long shower can also lead me to a similar result.