Beth Pollak& Delphine McNeill
Beth Pollak & Delphine McNeil
Founders of Livotte
Social Media Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livottelondon
Website: www.livotte.com
Who are Beth Pollak and Delphine McNeill?
Livotte, started by fashion veterans Beth Pollak and Delphine McNeill, emerged from the desire for versatile, sophisticated tops that complement every outfit. The magic lies in our fabric which is 96% organic combed cotton and 4% Lycra.
Please briefly summarize your life's journey, highlighting the significant chapters and pivotal moments.
Delphine and I have worked in fashion for over twenty years. We have worked in New York, London, Paris, and Milan. When we both settled in London and had children, we had a personal need for well-made, elevated basics to wear with our favourite pieces in our existing wardrobe. The elevated tee was born, and it was named Livotte after our daughters, Livvy and Charlotte. We started with 6 styles in black and white, and we now have 19 styles in 12 colorways, including a Breton stripe.
How many children do you have, and what are their ages?
Delphine has Hugo, 14 and Charlotte, 10. I have Livvy, 10.
What were some of the challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?
We started at a sampling factory in central London, and as we grew, we were able to move to a larger facility outside the city centre. We were finally able to increase our margins and grow financially.
What lessons did you learn about yourself throughout your journey?
How important it is to trust your gut and realize what you are capable of accomplishing. It's never too late to learn and embrace learning new skills.
What motivates you to keep going during difficult times?
Ambition for growth and knowing that nothing is achieved without hard work and determination.
How have you been able to prioritize your passion, purpose, and well-being alongside motherhood?
We both allow ourselves to do things that make us light up. For me it's exercise and for Delphine it's socialising. We work hard, we play hard and we put our families first.
How do you define self-care and what does it look like for you?
Doing something in your life to lift you up mind, body and spirit!
Was there a time when you weren't aligned with your purpose or balancing yourself alongside motherhood?
The newborn stage for me was difficult but Delphine thrived so it really depends. Life is full of ups and downs and it's doing our best to find balance along the way.
What changes needed to be made in your life to allow you to live a life where you feel fulfilled?
Honestly the two of us do it all! We are at drop off, pick up and head up our school parent associations but we sacrifice traveling for business and we have had a slower burn as a result. We just started working this season with Maison Marche so it's been great to have someone we trust to showcase our brand in the USA.
Share a moment of MOM GUILT, and how do you manage it?
We both do so much, and we try not to feel guilty. Do mistakes happen? Yes, but we teach our children to be resilient and independent and that we, too, are not perfect. We are all humans, at the end of the day!
What's your greatest Mom Hack that you have learned thus far in your motherhood journey?
It's ok to rely on friends! We both live in a city where we have no family around which is really tough but our friends are our families and often times we lean on them in times of despair. Picking up our kids for playdates when we have an event and helping us to be the best moms and businesswomen that we can be.
Why do you think it's important for women to share their journeys and inspire other women?
Our messaging from the beginning is that women should help women. Shining our candle does not dim yours! We are a tribe and can and should be stronger together.
What is one lesson or piece of advice you would like the community to learn from you?
Everyone has their own journey so enjoy it! We have a quote that goes like this j'amais mieux servi que par sois meme! Never better served than by oneself. Don't believe someone can do it better than you. Continue to learn, grow, and trust yourself!
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