In our Mini Mini Interview series, we sit down with inspiring founders in the children’s space to talk about the journey behind their brands, their experiences as parents, and what keeps them motivated.
Today, we chat with Celia Muñoz the visionary behind the much-loved luxury childrenswear brand, La Coqueta to discuss everything from childhood inspirations to her top tips for balancing work and family life.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind La Coqueta and what led you to start it?
I founded the brand in 2013 after the birth of my fifth child, Hugo. I would say that along with a love for fashion, the business idea was born out of necessity. I noticed that it was hard to find well-made, affordable and good quality pieces for daily wear. I started to buy clothes for my children every time I would visit my hometown in Spain. After receiving many compliments on my children’s clothing and following several personal orders from friends in London, I started exploring the opportunity of making a business out of selling Spanish clothes. This is how La Coqueta was born.
How has becoming a parent influenced your approach to business, especially in the children’s space?
La Coqueta is proudly made by artisans. As a proud Spaniard and designer, I represent the skills and craftsmanship that Spain really excels at. The love and attention to detail that goes into producing Spanish clothing is what makes them so special. Our clothing and shoes are beautifully made, functional and hard-wearing – as a mother of five, I know how important it is to find easy-care clothes that stand the test of time. It is very important to achieve that to create clothes that can be passed on to the next baby and still look great.
What do you think sets La Coqueta apart from the rest?
La Coqueta’s collections are nostalgic, marrying traditional Spanish aesthetic with our distinct design identity. We create traditional, timeless fashion for children, that still has a chic and contemporary style whilst celebrating the magic of childhood.
How do you manage the balance between work and family life? Do you have any tips for other entrepreneurial parents?
I feel very fortunate to have a strong support system and a wonderful husband and family. For me, planning is key. It is always a juggle, but I manage my time through carefully planned to-do lists without which I would be lost! I also like to try and have a very predictable daily routine with my family, enabling me to fit in my work schedule. I find it allows me to have great freedom to do what I want to do as well as getting a lot done work-wise and spending quality time with my children.
My advice to entrepreneurial parents would be focus on teamwork, delegate, a grounded support network and honest communication. I think also appreciating that things won’t always go seamlessly and that’s ok! There is no perfect formula when it comes to parenthood. There are very few working parents who want to proactively do a terrible job, so my motto is that being present during the time with your children is incredibly important.
What is your proudest moment since launching La Coqueta?
My fondest and proudest memories are those earlier days when I was a young entrepreneur with five children under five. By working in the store, with a playroom at the back for my children, I was able to greet clients and learn about our customer and their needs.
That being said, the continued expansion of the brand; from store launches, our online growth and becoming a global brand to exciting collaborations, new designs and a growing team continue to make me very proud. There is always a little ‘pinch me’ moment when I think back to those early years.
Tell us about your collaboration with Hill House Home?
I have been a fan and customer of Hill House Home and Nell’s beautiful designs for so long. With both of us being mothers and having shopped one another’s collections since the very beginning, the collaboration felt very intuitive – we wanted to create a collection that celebrates the joy of motherhood and the magic of childhood through beautiful, whimsical designs.
From the very beginning, it was important for us to really combine our respective aesthetics to create a truly beautiful capsule for mama and mini – the collection really blends the very best of La Coqueta and Hill House Home.
Do you have a favourite piece from the collection? What makes it so special?
It is so hard to pick a favourite piece – collectively, the collection features four of our favourite prints; Hill House’s best-selling trellis print re-coloured in the prettiest lilac shade and their graphic blue hydrangea print as well as two of our much-loved prints in exclusive colours for Hill House.
I recently wore the blue Hydrangea Ellie NAP dress – Hill House’s iconic silhouette – on a sunny day in London and received lots of lovely compliments. I love the matching styles for the little ones, Hill House’s tiny Ellie NAP dress and our best-selling Izara and Hestia styles. From toddler to teen and possibly Wedding Edition bridesmaids, it is a collection for the whole family. I look forward to seeing how everyone styles their pieces.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received in your entrepreneurial journey?
Be open minded, embrace every opportunity, and everything life throws your way.
Finally, how do you unwind after a busy day of running a business and being a parent?
Supper as a family, catching up on one another’s day, enjoying a delicious meal cooked by my husband and a nice glass of good full bodied red wine.
To explore the collection, visit: La Coqueta
