Dear Subscriber,
This is Julie. Welcome to another letter where I share a glimpse into my world and how Julhs came to be.
Before Julhs even had a name, I was working full-time as a womenswear designer in NYC, overseeing all pants and print collections. My days flew by between meetings, design work, and endless emails—so much so that even bathroom breaks were a luxury. I craved something of my own. Whether it succeeded or failed, I just wanted to try.
But there was one problem: time.
Since working on my own project during office hours wasn’t an option, I had to reevaluate my priorities. So, I reshaped my daily routine.
My schedule before Julhs:
8:20 - 8:50 Morning prep (Yes, I woke up late!)
8:50 - 9:25 Commute to work
9:30 - 12:30 Work
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch break with colleagues
13:30 - 18:30 Work
18:30 - 19:15 Commute home
19:15 - 21:00 Dinner and prep with my boyfriend
21:00 - 22:30 Cleanup and shower
22:30 - bedtime Movies & TV
My 9-to-6 was completely blocked off, leaving no room to build something for myself. If I wanted Julhs to happen, something had to change.
My schedule after committing to Julhs:
8:20 - 8:40 Morning prep (skipped breakfast at home, grabbed it on the go)
8:40 - 9:15 Commute to work
9:15 - 9:30 Quick breakfast at Starbucks downstairs while researching how to start a brand
9:30 - 12:30 Work
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch by myself at Pret a Manger, tucked away in a quiet corner—partly to focus, partly to avoid the awkward chance of my boss walking in while I was deep into handbag sketches (because “just doing some light reading on handbag manufacturing” might not have been the best excuse)
13:30 - 18:30 Work
18:30 - 19:15 Commute home
19:15 - 21:00 Dinner with my boyfriend
21:00 - 22:30 Cleanup and shower
22:30 - bedtime No more Netflix—this time was now for designing, sourcing, and planning
Did I miss casual lunch chats and binge-watching with wine? Surprisingly, no. What replaced them was a sense of purpose.
The stolen moments I dedicated to Julhs—10 minutes here, 15 minutes there—seemed insignificant at the time. But months later, those small efforts built a foundation:
✔️ I had handbag designs ready for production.
✔️ I had a growing network of manufacturers and creatives.
✔️ I had a tangible plan for launching a fully functional website.
And one of the most important lessons? Great things can’t be done alone. From IT specialists to photographers, makeup artists to manufacturers, Julhs became a collaboration of talented people. I’ll share more about that in future letters.
Fast forward to now…
I’m still juggling—but now, it’s between business and motherhood. With two young sons (a toddler and a baby), my priorities have shifted again. To everyone out there balancing multiple roles, I just want to say: frustration is normal. But with the right mindset and resources, you’ll make it work.
I’ll be sharing more about these new challenges (and how I barely maintain work-life balance) in upcoming emails. Stay tuned!
With love,
Julie
On behalf of Julhs
