Featured VentureMom Sean Monahan and Monica Paolini Founders of Sea New York
How do two friends start a clothing line? Sean Monahan and Monica Paolini did just that as a natural extension of their friendship. Monica says, “Sean and I grew up in Newburgh, NY, about 100 kilometers north of New York City. Our families are very close, and we have been the best of friends from childhood.”
Monida and Sean work to design clothes that are beautiful and wearable at the same time. “The customer continues to be our compass and helps to guide our direction and stay focused. We want to be a resource our customers can depend on. And make clothes that are easy to wear but at the same time make you feel special.”
They say New York inspires the brand. “It is our home and a major point of reference for us.” They believe the women in NY express a freedom and strength in the way they dress and carry themselves. “We see that everyday and it influences the way we work”. We try to develop pieces that women can use as tools to express themselves rather than overwhelm who they are.
Sean declares that Monica is the brand. “She’s the visionary as well as the nuts and bolts of the company. She does 95% of the work.” And Monica believes that Sean is her sounding board, “If I have a problem he helps me figure out the solution. He’s also a wonderful babysitter to my son Luca.” This sounds like a great partnership.
Their design process has evolved since they launched in 2021. “Once you’ve established your customer base you push yourself to evolve the newness. This becomes the biggest challenge each season… to keep the collection moving forward while preserving the bread & butter of the brand.”
The most thrilling moment, “It still makes my day when I walk down a random street (especially when I’m traveling) on any given day and see someone wearing Sea.”
How does Monica source her ideas, “Each season I start out with a shopping trip to the flea markets and vintage shops (or Etsy during Covid) to find random treasures to be inspired by. From there we work with our wonderful factories to help develop these inspirations into something distinctly Sea.”
Monica’s typical day as a female founder, “Dropping my son Luca off at school. Riding a Citi bike down to the studio. Design meetings and fittings all day. And then the best hours of the day back home with my son Luca and a glass of wine.”
VentureMom Tip
Find inspiration from unusual places.
