Balance with Laura Choi

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart”

Confucius

Balance. The very essence of sustainability is finding balance between the human footprint and the earth. In our interview with Fashion for Conservation’s (FFC) co-founder Ava J. Holmes, we experienced her lifelong challenge of finding balance between the barefoot vs. the stiletto, and in co-founder Samantha Zwicker’s, the balance of passion vs. home. 

FFC’s CEO, Laura Choi, is journeying through the wild creativity that started Fashion for Conservation in a different vein: stability. Through her discipline between her primary work, community work, and personal wellness, she brings to FFC the organization and structure to keep it functional for us all to appreciate. 

After a long day of WFH, Laura still set aside time to answer questions for me before turning in for the night, and that’s just a sneak peek of her dedication. Let’s learn more about it.

On Her Role in FFC

“Sustainability was perceived as dowdy and uncool”

Laura Choi

Suzi: Hi Laura! You’ve been busy busy busy breathing a second life into this company with its latest branch, ARC (Artisan Realized Craft). But I realized I’ve never asked you: how did you get started with FFC in the first place? 

Laura: Hi Suzi! So, I met Ava at a masked ball when I was Vice Chair of a philanthropy committee. Ava has the capacity to attract people like nothing I have ever seen, before or since. It’s not magnetism like some leaders or politicians have. It’s more like a supernatural force. The world she shared with me was not one I was familiar with at all.

Also, our backgrounds could not be more dissimilar. But I grew more and more invested in fashion for conservation as a movement when I saw how passionate others were about both sustainable fashion and sustainable living. They inspired me to keep its momentum. 

Suzi: Looks like FFC pushed your boundaries a lot. How has it changed your mindset, such as how you view sustainability and the fashion world?

Laura: Significantly, but it took a while. My fashion background was previously in luxury retail when sustainability was perceived to be dowdy and uncool. Ava and Samantha set a precedent to smash that misconception to shreds. They are the absolute opposite of dowdy and uncool, and on top of that, also tireless advocates, compassionate, articulate, and probably do more in a day than others can do in a week. They inspired me to think on a macro level about far reaching global initiatives, dragged me out of my comfort zone, and gave me a voice in this space.

On Maintaining Balance

“When you’re a race horse, the reason they put blinders on these things is because if you look at the horse on the left or the right, you’re going to miss a step…And that’s what people should have. When you’re running after something, you should not look left or right — what does this person think, what does that person think? No. Go”

Jimmy Iovine

Suzi: This is a question I asked our co-founders as well, since the life of the fashion world seems so sparkly, but so crazy. How would you describe the whirlwind of a “high fashion life”, with the chaos, drama, and your (probably) lack of sleep? 

Laura: Through my eyes it’s never as glamorous as the paparazzi, social media, and editorials make it seem.

I believe in a simple life characterized by routine and constancy, and fashion weeks are the entire opposite of that. They are a vortex of places to be and people to see and parties to pop in to and I just don’t have the stamina for it anymore. Every event has been the same for me – I love being behind the scenes and every day leading up to it, but I would rather not actually attend my show or gala or event because it’s never about the show, it’s about what we did and worked for and how we inspired people to come along. 

Suzi: Speaking of stamina, I know you’re often juggling several large projects at once, including your primary job in a large data-driven enterprise, while overseeing the direction of FFC/ARC, organizing events for your Rainier Club committee, and I’m sure other projects. What have you found to be your center in all of this? That is, how do you keep all of these things functioning seemingly at once? 

Laura: The short answer is that I live in a state of minimum viable product and I can’t stop until each of my commitments are advanced to an acceptable degree of accomplishment, every day. The less attractive answer is that I value my absolute pinnacle of contribution and impact above more pleasant pursuits like sleeping in or vacations. And the cool answer is one I’ve stolen from Jimmy Iovine – like a racehorse he never looks side to side, only forward, looking his purpose dead on.

On Maintaining Connections

“I always prefer to steer a conversation toward how we are alike, not different”

Laura Choi

Suzi: Managing a team is never easy, in the best of times. But during the worst of times (i.e. now), what have been the best methods for keeping your team motivated, as well as yourself? 

Laura: I don’t think of it as managing, to be honest. I feel instead like a coordinator who just bounces between people to help make things happen. I do find it important though to have a sense of cohesion in a team, and for me that starts with empathy. Especially now – I haven’t met a single person who tells me that they are living their best life right now.

But I do hear that they are frustrated sometimes as I am, or exhausted as I am, or discouraged, like I am. I always prefer to steer a conversation toward how we are alike, not different. Tangentially I think this encourages us to accept our realities instead of fighting them, and maybe this acceptance gives us peace.

Suzi: I definitely appreciate your regular check-in’s on my health! It is clear that connecting with people is important to you – with your concerns for our team members, as well as maintaining a social club committee. How do you stay connected with everyone during a time when it is difficult to do so? 

Laura: I do value community a lot because I value inclusion. And selfishly, I’ve found fulfillment from nurturing my community, because I love to see our community grow. I also love being behind the scenes while they enjoy and learn and connect over our events, to instigate their joy. I like to think that positive sentiment and action are contagious. 

Suzi: We can definitely benefit from your mindset during this strange, disjointed time.  Positivity can only multiply! I’m sure you’ve got to get back to work, so do you have any lasting thoughts to share?

Laura: Yes, I just want to thank you for everything you have done for me and FFC. You’ve lent us your creativity and organizational skills and strategic support, and we are in a much better place this year, for you!

Suzi: You’re so welcome, Laura, and I thank you as well!

Now, I may be biased towards Laura because she’s the one that invited me into the world of FFC, and all the experiences that come with it, but she’s a powerhouse with clear priorities, and we can all learn from her dedication.

Juggling multiple projects, a new high-stress job, family, friends, clubs, COVID-stress, and probably more that I am not aware, she still takes the time to ask me how my own family is doing. For her, her strong sense of discipline can only be balanced out by her kind-heartedness.