Stylin’ Post-Pregnancy Fashion & Wellness for JC Moms
When Nia Reid-Allen and her husband Chris left Brooklyn for Jersey City in 2011, the first thing Nia noticed was the abundance of pregnant women and moms with kids in tow. Three weeks later, she was pregnant herself and gave birth to daughter Isa at Jersey City Medical Center. “We had moved into our house in Hamilton Park and it was a gut renovation. We were living on the top floor and I was home with my baby, unsure for the first time in my life on what to do next, or how to navigate this new life,” Nia shared. After reaching out to a new mom’s group in Hoboken, Nia realized she was dealing with the “baby blues,” which she explained is a common condition for new moms adjusting to the hormonal shifts and emotional sway that accompanies what she calls the fourth trimester. While seeking out services to help her through this challenging patch of motherhood, a beautiful business idea came into bloom. The former model is now the proud owner of Myrtle and Flossie, a lifestyle brand of fashion, workshops and services catering to moms who are seeking the best way to navigate life beyond the bump, as she sweetly puts it. A certified doula, Nia is also completely down to earth, accessible and armed with so much experience and knowledge, she is the first person we would recommend to any mom friend seeking out assistance or advice on living their best life, while being pulled in so many directions.
Thanks for talking to us Nia! Can you tell us more about your business and what you offer?
Myrtle & Flossie is a lifestyle brand. The ethos of my brand is to keep moms looking good and feeling great to help them continue their mothering journey. Fashion makes people happy and can be an empowering way to help moms get through their day, whether they are working outside the home, work from home, or if being a mom is their full-time job. I do free fashion workshops and fittings, as well as fee services like Curate Your Closet. I can help a mom go through her existing wardrobe and determine what is working and can help with mom must-haves to add to her closet. Moms don’t have that much time and I can really help with that in terms of simplifying one aspect, what to wear to look and feel your best. I also offer holistic and homeopathic wellness services. In terms of products, our online boutique offers organic body products and a line of clothes and accessories. I designed about 70 percent of our products, while the remaining products are curated from other lines. You can also find my products on my Etsy shop. I am also back modeling at my mature age. My alias is the “model mommy” of myrtleandflossie and I act as a brand ambassador for emerging and established brands.
Good for you! Tell us, do you have a storefront here in Jersey City?
I have participated in pop up shops here throughout the years and am very excited to be one of the first pop up shops at Pop Up Jackson Hill [Located at Container Village on MLK Drive, Pop Up Jackson Hill should be opening by the end of this month]. The space is so beautiful, and I am excited about it. I also share a retail space at The Eclectic Chic Boutique, located in Montclair on 547 Bloomfield Ave. My dream and end goal for Jersey City would be a shop small mall. A permanent open-air market for small business owners and vendors, along the lines of the Chelsea Market. It would do so much to sustain local businesses and help us thrive.
I know you have many local, loyal customers. Have you received support from the broader JC community as well?
Absolutely. I am an alumnus of the Rising Tide Capital Community Business Academy, and as a community we reach out to each other for services and help each other out as we can. [Nia was also a co-finalist in the 2016 Rising Tide Start Something Challenge].
Thanks for taking time to speak with us Nia, and we can’t wait to check you out at Container Village. In the interim, how can women reach out to you to learn more?
Thank you! I appreciate that. My social media handle is @myrtleandflossie, and you can always call me at 551-227-7244.
www.myrtleandflossie.com