Meet your makers

Who should you be thanking for that chic maternity dress and comfy-yet-flattering pants you’re sporting? Allow us to introduce the brains behind the brands…

Meet Ariane Goldman of HATCH in New York City

What HATCH is known for: A cool collection of statement pieces designed for wear before, during and after pregnancy.
A little background: Ariane Goldman went to business school and began her professional career on Wall Street, but her first pregnancy proved just the push she needed to combine her business sense with her eye for design. She got to work filling “a white space in the market” by creating a versatile line that can be worn by style-conscious women, pregnant or not.
On adjusting to change 
“Change isn’t easy, especially when it involves our looks and esteem. Dress comfortably, but try to maintain some style. It feels good and serves as a reminder that we are not outcasts during these months.”
On owning your pregnancy
“Don’t be afraid to be fashionable and rock your style even when you are larger than you were before. Owning your body and maintaining your style is essential!”
On changing the way we think about maternity clothes
“What I’m trying to do with HATCH is readjust women’s perceptions on dressing themselves during this time. They can invest in pieces that make them feel special. They  can wear them again. And they can be beautiful.”
 

Meet Nataline Ngo-Amadi of MATERNAL AMERICA in Los Angeles

What Maternal America is known for: On-trend separates made in the USA.
A little background: After attending fashion school in Los Angeles and working in the industry for various companies, Nataline Ngo-Amadi’s lifelong aspirations steered her toward launching a women’s contemporary clothing line. But her sister’s pregnancy quickly inspired a change of course, and Ngo-Amadi redirected her focus to maternity.

On seeking inspiration
“Inspiration to design a collection comes at me from many different directions: through traveling, a swatch of fabric, meeting buyers, getting feedback from a customer’s point-of-view or simply people-watching.”
On what to wear while pregnant
“Buy maternity clothes. Wearing oversized non-maternity clothes can look ill-fitting on a pregnant body—or worse, make you appear bigger in all the wrong places.”
On versatility
“I love dresses because you can wear them everywhere, and my all-time favorite ankle jeans look amazing with everything.”

Meet Vanessa Knox of VANESSA KNOX in London

What Vanessa Knox is known for: Sophisticated garments with a stylish aesthetic.
A little background: Certain from an early age that she would make a living in an artistic field (“I wasn’t good at anything else!”), Vanessa Knox studied fashion illustration and lingerie design at Pratt Institute and Parsons. She spent many years working in lingerie at Natori and Victoria’s Secret before love intervened and she relocated to London with her husband-to-be. Expecting her first child, Knox conceived her maternity line out of pure necessity.

On filling a void
“When I was pregnant, I struggled to find even the most basic maternity wear that didn’t make me feel frumpy, and I met many other moms-to-be who were also extremely frustrated by the lack of choices available … so I decided to change directions and become a maternity wear designer.”
On valuing customer feedback
“It is important to listen to the advice and feedback from our customers, to understand what they need and what key items would make their maternity wardrobes complete and effortlessly chic.”
On buying quality over quantity
“You may wear your maternity pieces for a relatively short time, but you will wear and launder your basic pieces constantly. So well-made, resilient maternity wear is well worth the investment.”

Meet Sarah Carson Cloud of LEOTA in New York City

What Leota is known for: Classic tailored dresses with vibrant prints.
A little background: Sarah Carson Cloud started Leota after a decade on Wall Street and a lifetime of crafting. Named after her great-grandmother, it is an homage to both a ladylike past and a bold future.

On keeping it local
“Even though our company has grown up fast, we remain committed to ethical production practices. Each Leota dress is handmade in a family owned factory in New York City’s garment district. I’m proud to be contributing to our local economy and creating manufacturing jobs.”
On achieving the perfect fit
“Each style gets tried on our pregnant friends at various stages of their terms, so we can be confident that whether you’re carrying high or low, the dress will still fit.”
On digging deeper
“The past and present are always represented in our collections because our histories make us who we are.”

Meet Lili Del Cueto of OLIAN in Miami

What OLIAN is known for: Contemporary garments for feminine tastes.
A little background: As a teenager, Lili Del Cueto was forever begging her parents to buy her the latest on-trend styles at stores. But they responded to her please—and encouraged her passion for fashion—by buying her fabrics and challenging her to design and construct the pieces her heart desired. Del Cueto gives full credit to her mom and dad for starting her on the career path she decided to follow.

On showing off those curves
“Today, there are so many beautiful pieces that are designed to highlight the beauty of a pregnant body. You can’t go wrong.”
On feeling included
“Shortly after getting married, I found myself very pregnant and with very few fashionable pieces to wear—especially after the fourth month. I didn’t want to feel left out during my last months of pregnancy, and neither does anyone else! I decided to form my first business venture with a focus on designing maternity pieces that not only offer a good fit and comfort, but most importantly go along with the trends of the time.”
On constant improvement
“I absolutely love the never-ending challenges of the fashion business, as well as the opportunity I have to design something new—and hopefully better—every season.”