Mamas' Stories

Julia Teresani

Paola

Paola is from Italy, Treviso. She graduated with a degree in economics and worked in the fashion industry. While working for Benetton, she had the opportunity to relocate to China.  They decided to move with her husband, who followed her. As Paola’s contract was nearing its end, she chose to extend her stay in China. Following that idea, she resigned from Benetton and started her journey with Burberry in the kids’ division. Paola successfully established 20 stores for kids from the ground up in China.

She spent nearly 18 years in this Asian part of the world. Also there, her daughter, Olivia, was born. Shanghai is home to Paola’s family now, and they want to stay there for the upcoming years. She notes that the city offers a safe and convenient living environment for them. “Shanghai allows children to remain children for longer. It is a safe place where they are not afraid to stay home alone. Our daughter can walk the streets with her friends, knowing it is safe.”

Becoming a mom inspired her to start her blog, “Pink Dumpling,” where Paola wrote about kids’ fashion and travel with her family. Later, she established her fashion consulting agency called “The Pink Dumpling.”

Her brand “C’era una volta”

It is fair to call Paola a true mompreneur. She is a partner and Brand Director of the clothing brand “C’era una volta.” C’era una volta means “once upon a time” in Italian. Their pieces are truly divine and gorgeous, reminiscent of fairy tale themes. 

Paola shares a story about how she met the designer and the soul of the brand, Emanuella. “One day, I had coffee at Baker and Spice, a popular coffee shop in Shanghai. I heard a woman across the table talking about the clothes she designed for children. I jumped into the conversation with her. Emanuella invited me home to show me the collection. I immediately fell in love with all the pieces and bought an entire collection for my 1.5-year-old daughter.” After their meeting, Paola became the brain of the brand, helping to develop and bring it on a larger scale.

Paola says the brand DNA goes to the personal history, to their childhood. “In Italy, our mothers dressed us in classic pieces handed down through the family. They were authentic, high quality, and timeless. That’s what we try to do in C’era una volta. We aim to create timeless pieces that people can pass down through generations.” They create clothing for children who embrace their childhood. “Most brands try to dress kids like adults. That is not what we want to do. We value the genuine way of being a kid.  We want to show the innocence of childhood through our clothes. Celebrate the sweetness of being a child.”

Together with Emanuella, they create a fairy tale story through their clothing. They are writers in the realm of fashion.

Motherhood

Her daughter, Olivia, is 11 years old, a creative, kind, independent girl. 

Paola shares that Olivia was always an easy-going child. She slept through the night at a very early stage. She would always be cooperative and never cause them any trouble. 

Now Olivia is entering the teenage era, where she starts to be more independent, which is reflected in her style and her hobbies. She loves music, especially collecting CDs. She studied kung fu for four years under a skilled master.  Paola explains that kung fu embodies beautiful values extending beyond the physical. Training begins with a powerful mantra rooted in respect for elders and emphasizes discipline and humility. Kung fu is more than a martial art. It is a way of life that shapes character. Eventually, it will have a significant impact on the character of her daughter.

Paola believes that creativity plays a significant role in child development, which is why she tries to keep Olivia away from the digital world. For instance, her daughter doesn’t have a mobile phone. Her focus is more rooted in the real things rather than the online world.

She notes that guilt is a common feeling among working mothers when discussing the challenges of motherhood. Paola expresses that balancing work and motherhood was one of the most tricky parts of being a mother. According to her, she was concerned about not spending enough time with her daughter, worrying that it could affect their relationship. “Our worries continue to be similar even now. We constantly ask ourselves if we are good parents and we spend enough time with her.” 

With her passion for the fashion world, Paola is not demanding that her daughter pursue her path. “Olivia has the power to be anyone she wants, as long as it brings her happiness.”

Letting your child be a child, celebrating her creativity, and staying true to oneself seems to be grounded in Paola’s way of parenting. It is also beautifully reflected in the values of her brand.

Life Advice

If she could share her advice for living with Olivia, it would be: “Make the most of life and opportunities. Explore the world while still being connected to your family. Stay gentle, remain true to yourself.”