Meet Esther-Lauren Mutolo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Esther-Lauren Mutolo.

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Esther-Lauren. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
For as long as I can remember, I always took an interest in creating some sort of artwork with my hands. I was notoriously known for reworking my doll’s clothing and created a reputation for being a daydreamer and doodler in class. Despite these hidden talents, I was left clueless on how to market them in a way that would be profitable. As an immigrant born to African and Caribbean parents, the idea of a career outside of medicine, law, engineering, and all things STEM was not only a foreign concept, it was essentially banned.

After years of going to schools that were strictly for gifted children that displayed promising careers in the areas of math and science, I decided to take matters into my own hands and create a safe space for me to be creative. My university where I received my bachelor’s in nursing, did not even have a basic art class. Despite my love for medicine, spending hours a day without any time to utilize my other talents took a toll on me. I decided to launch my YouTube channel and the rest is history. What started off as a hobby for me to blow some steam after a long day of reading textbooks has turned into a growing side hustle that has brought in thousands of dollars.

I have since recently extended my services to styling and interior design which has helped really strengthen my tight-knit community of followers now turned customers.

Has it been a smooth road?
This road was far from smooth. My best friends would laugh at the amount times I’ve called them crying. The biggest challenge has and usually is money. The ideas are there. The drive is there. Everything is there but money. When you yourself aren’t from this country and you “make it”, you are expected to take care of everyone. When I first started making money as a blogger, I would split my checks with my mom. After paying my photographer and other miscellaneous fees, I was barely making a profit.

Lack of financial knowledge was another huge struggle. I spent my entire college years learning medicine and training to be a nurse. When I graduated, I hadn’t taken a single economics or business course which left me beyond unprepared for the freelancing world. I am figuring it all know step by step. Almost every aspect of my brand and business was self-taught.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
My two babies are Esther Lauren, LLC and Babes in Color, LLC. I launched Babes in Color in 2018 after going viral on social media for a pair of shoes I made from scratch. In the span of three months, we sold over 160 pairs of shoes and went on to sell shirts, bags and phone cases. Currently, Babes In Color is preparing for its relaunch later this year. Babes in Color was an absolute dream come true for me. I never saw myself owning a business growing up let alone selling my own designs.

Esther Lauren, LLC covers the interior design and styling services I provide. I offer everything from online consultations to in-person visitations for both. I am currently a one-woman show and am looking to expand. Being able to help people with their personal style and/or personalize their homes is such a fulfilling job. To be trusted in such a capacity is something I do not take lightly.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
This is a great question because quite a few of my friends are getting that itch to leave NYC and I often feel conflicted. New York City is a place full of an overwhelming amount of talent. With places like this, sometimes popularity can triumph over actual talent and hard work. While I do believe it is is easier to “stick out” in a smaller town or city, NYC is the place of opportunity. Interior design is a booming business as more and more people migrate to this amazing city. For influencing and fashion, many brand headquarters are located right here. I would be lying if I said that I don’t crave a slower pace at time but the reality is moving anywhere else would be doing myself a disservice.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.estherlauren.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @_estherlauren
• Twitter: @_estherlauren

Image Credit:
All photos taken by @keciar_photography

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