French born Jewellery designer Marie Lefebvre reflects on the impact her mum had on her business, from encouraging her creativity to modelling the importance of following your own path.
Was there a mother figure in your life who influenced you learning any of the skills you use in your business?
I started making jewellery very young too, selling it at the front of the house like a mini pop-up. No one pushed, no one judged. My mum made resilience and curiosity feel natural. Her only requirement? “Make sure it’s fun.” And honestly, that’s still how I run my business today.
Did your mother (or Aunt, Grandma, mother figure) inspire you to take the path to starting your business or creative project?
My mum encouraged me in the most powerful way, by making sure I never felt I had to ask permission. She had wanted to become a print designer, but her father at the time gave her no choice but to become an accountant. Her creative dream was quietly packed away. Still, she found a way to work her way up, starting as an accountant in a fashion brand company, transition years after years into the more creative side of that business, until she ultimately became a buyer, she never lost her creative spark.
So when it was my turn, she made sure I was choosing my path.
Art school? She was behind me.
Leaving a secure full-time job to freelance? She supported that too.
Back to school at 33 to learn furniture design? You go girl!
Making jewellery with coffee? Sounds fun!
The older I get, the more I realise the value of that way of doing.
I’ll be forever grateful that, even if she was probably terrified at times, she let me try, fail, succeed… without ever putting too much pressure on the outcome.
She normalised just doing it. And that’s a gift I carry with me every day.
Shop Marie's unique Coffee Jewellery designs here
