A LITTLE DREAM
built by a mumma and her girls.
I had this idea tucked in my pocket to pull out later in life--a little dream to make my own adorable bag brand for women and girls....I was keeping it in my pocket for when life slowed down or when my girls were grown.
It was what I called my "maybe someday dream."
Until I started asking myself—why am I waiting for someday?
Why not build it now? Why not build it alongside my girls to change it from just a business build to something much more meaningful; a heart project with my girls.
After building and running an extremely busy photography business for 15 years while also juggling motherhood, I've experienced first hand how much business owning can rob you of precious time with your kids. I wanted to find a solution to that for us...I was determined to find a way to be both a successful entrepreneur AND a present Mumma.
That's how Rose & June was born. Rose and June are my girls' middle names. Being their Mom is the most precious thing to me. They are my fuel and my reason in everything I do---especially this. So couldn't think of a more fitting name for this venture than using their names.
So my someday dream became my today dream. Because this business gives us the gift of time together....while giving them a front-row seat to what it looks like to build a dream from the ground up.
To let them brainstorm with me.
Create with me.
Dream with me.
What started as an idea for a cute bag company quickly became something much more meaningful.
From the very beginning, I knew I wanted our bags to be made with as much heart as went into designing them. Ethical sourcing was non-negotiable, which eventually led me across the world to an incredible family-run business in India.
Together, we've spent countless hours bringing every little detail to life—from fabrics and prints to hardware, and all the tiny decisions in between. There have been many 2 a.m. FaceTime calls between Maine and India, plenty of language-barrier mishaps that ended in laughter, and a friendship formed along the way that has been such an unexpected blessing in this journey. Our goods are made by talented artisans who are paid fair wages and who's children get to play beside them—not work beside them.
And that matters deeply to me.
Rose & June is a story about prioritizing family, dreams, purpose, and allowing two little girls to be a part of it all.
And I hope this little heart project leaves my girls with something they'll carry throughout their life:
That you don't always have to wait for “someday” to chase the dream tucked inside your pocket.
Sometimes, you just have to be brave enough to begin.
Thank you for being a part of our dream just by being here!
— Zelli, Founder of Rose & June Co.