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I wanted better maternity wear, so I made my own. Now I run a ...
I wanted better maternity wear, so I made my own. Now I run a successful company that has grown along with my family. As told to Kelly Burch You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email. The brand Ingrid & Isabel was born from the founder's necessity for a belly band during pregnancy. Courtesy of Ingrid Carney 2026-04-27T10:56:01.292Z Ingrid Carney invented a belly band when her regular pants no longer fit during her first pregnancy. She's grown the idea into a comprehensive maternity line since launching in 2003. She turned down venture capital in order to grow slowly and steadily, she says. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ingrid Carney, founder and CEO of Ingrid & Isabel. It has been edited for length and clarity. Back in the early 2000s, I was working at my third startup. One day, I was getting ready to pitch venture capital investors. I just couldn't find anything to wear over my pregnant belly, which had recently popped.I was desperate.I tried cutting pantyhose to fit over my unbuttoned pants, and even using a bandage to keep them together. Finally, I was able to fashion a belly band from a top I had. When I got to the pitch and showed my business partner at the time, she pointed to the band and said, "If this company doesn't work out, you should do that."From the start, I moved cautiouslyThat company didn't work out — we had sales, but weren't growing at the pace our venture capital investors wanted. As I settled into motherhood and connected with other moms, I thought about my product, which I was calling the Bellaband. I've always been the friend who shows you her favorite shopping finds and helps you get them, too. So, as my friends began having their second children, I made bands for them, while researching if there were any other products like mine.I could see from their response that the idea had potential. And yet, I wanted to be very pragmatic. I knew I would rather be out of stock and have money in the bank than spend too much on inventory up front.I had worked in advertising with major corporate clients, where decisions took far too long. I'd also worked at three startups that moved at a breakneck speed. I wanted to be in the middle, venturing forward, but cautiously.My parents operated my warehouse after my second child was bornI filed a patent and registered the company in 2003. I called it Ingrid & Isabel, named for my daughter and me. My second was born ...
I'm a New Mom and Successful Entrepreneur. Here's a Day in My Life Now ...
Anne Mahlum is an entrepreneur, investor and the founder and former CEO of Solidcore, the popular high-intensity, low-impact fitness program. In 2023, she sold her shares of Soldicore for about $90 million. But she hasn't slowed down much since then, welcoming her son just a few months ago in December, and writing a book, expected to come out this fall.Mahlum sat down with TODAY.com to share what a day in her life is like. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.I get up at 5:45 because my son wakes up around 6. I feed him, and I try to spend the next couple hours with him because it's his best time in the morning. It's a great wake window, he's super smiley. And then I try to get him back down for a nap.Then I normally play volleyball. I have a beach volleyball court in my backyard, so three of my friends will come over, and we'll play volleyball anywhere from like 9 to 11 or 11:30.And then, of course, I eat very protein-heavy breakfast — eggs, egg white, cottage cheese, avocado, a piece of toast and some arugula. And then it's either usually a call, whether it's for a speaking opportunity, an investment or a book call. I just wrapped up my my book in draft form, which I'm very excited about. Then I spent some more time with Elliott, and when the schedule allows, I'll get to the gym later that day.If my husband, Brett, and I are going on a date night, we’ll go on a long walk or go to the gym or go play beach volleyball, things that are a part of our everyday routine.Anne Mahlum with her husband and son. (Courtesy Anne Mahlum)(Courtesy Anne Mahlum)"In My Volleyball and Lifting-Heavy Era"I treat beach volleyball like I treat any business I've been involved in. I take lessons every week, I play every day. I'm trying to get as good as possible. It's a very competitive feel with these women in my backyard.Beach volleyball hits all my buckets: I'm outside, I'm being competitive, I get to be social at a time of day I prefer instead of at night. It's a workout and something I'm working on getting better at, so it's really fulfilling for me right now.At the gym, I'm lifting heavy as possible. I'm definitely in my volleyball and lifting-heavy era.I do legs twice a week, an arm day, a chest day and a back day. That's five-ish days a week where I'm where I'm lifting to failure, progressive overloads, trying to increase my weight every single week. I'm trying to build more muscle since having the baby.Playing beach volleyball. (Courtesy Anne Mahlum)(C...
Sami Spalter on Being a New Mom and Business Owner
The influencer, podcast host and FORM co-founder is now a new mom! Read about how she juggles it all with intentionality and mindfulness.
How Retail Chains Source Bulk Private Label Maternity Wear
A strong bulk private label maternity wear manufacturer for retail chains should offer category-specific pattern expertise, not only sewing capacity. You want a partner who can explain why a 12% spandex blend behaves differently at 28 weeks than at 18 weeks and can prove it with wear-test outcomes, not opinions.
