I am a product of the ’80s—and of a mother who came into her own during the superwoman era.
My mother was born in Marrakesh, Morocco, in the mid ’40s, the youngest daughter in a family of 11 children with very little means. She married my father at 19 years old. Determined to build a future beyond Morocco, they made their way to Montreal, Canada, where they spent two decades before returning to France and Morocco.
Raised by loving parents who could barely read or write, my mother understood that resilience and vision could carve out a life beyond circumstance. She had an innate sense of style and a fearless approach to life—parading through the ’80s in Jean Paul Gaultier suits, Comme des Garçons dresses, and Yohji Yamamoto pants. She was strong. Unapologetic. A woman who commanded her own space. And the words she repeated most often still echo in my mind today:
“Be your own woman. Find your creative path. Be fearless.”
Much of who I am today comes from the experience of being her daughter. And in many ways, CO is a reflection of that journey—of women defining their own identities, navigating career, risk taking, and ambition, while remaining deeply connected to their individual definition of femininity.
I struggle, like most women, to find balance between all of the things that define my life. When I look back on my experiences I see so clearly how my female friends were truly the ones that helped me define the lines around the choices I had to make, the heartbreaks I endured, the challenges I confronted and the joys I was blessed with.
Women in CO is about the women I meet, know, love, and admire—those who inspire me daily with their wisdom and strengths but also their vulnerabilities, complexities and humanity. Their voices offer insight, encouragement, and the kind of quiet reassurance that reminds us: We are not alone.
Love,
Stephanie
