James St Journal May
Journal
May 11, 2025
Mother Knows Best
There are many things that spring to mind when one thinks of May. The long-awaited arrival of cooler weather, the smell of wattle and eucalyptus wafting through the air, and for the fashion fiends like us, even the MET Gala.
But the thing on our minds this month is Mother’s Day. Be they related by blood, by choice, or by fate, mothers are the women who surround us with love, laughter and light. For better or for worse, in sickness and in health, these women shape us, make us the people we are today, form the very foundations of life itself.
It is for this reason that we’re dedicating the May edition of the James St Journal to mothers and mother figures alike. To give mums their well-deserved moment in the spotlight, we asked our community to take a moment to reflect upon their own mothers, their wisdom, idiosyncrasies, and the profound impact they have.
Read on to see what comes to our retailer’s mind on the topic of mothers.
The team from ESSA:
Egyptian poet, Hafez Ibrahim, was on the mind of the ever-discerning team at ESSA. In his ode to the mother, Ibrahim asserts “the mother is a school; if you prepare her well, you prepare a nation of noble roots”. Extracted from a larger poem advocating for the empowerment and education of women, especially mothers, the team use it to signal their belief in the vital role mothers play in shaping the strength and moral fabric of humankind.
Mia from FINEPRINTCO:
Gallery assistant at FINEPRINTCO, Mia, took a more personal approach when reflecting on the wise words of the mother. She says “whenever I was upset or angry growing up, she [my mum] always taught me to look inwards first, rather than outwards. You can control your own actions, but you can't force what is out of your control. It always helped me put myself in the shoes of someone else and understand that what is meant to be, will be."
Francesca from Gemelli:
When asked about the teachings impressed upon her by her own mum, Gemelli’s Francesca remembers her mother frequently doling out the idiom “all the chickens come home to roost”. Said so often, Francesca’s mother’s words are now ingrained as a reminder to always consider the impact of your actions and to be mindful of how you treat others.
Athan Didaskalou, co-founder of July:
July’s co-founder Athan reflects on the pivotal role his mum plays as such “she’s always looking out for me, no matter how old I get. Even though I know how to cook and clean, she always knows more and it’s comforting having the guidance on small everyday things to help me level up.”
Sophia Ghanem, founder and director of Klemenza:
Founder and director of Klemenza, Sophia, reached for this one piece of advice when we chatted about the wise words of her mother: “always trust your intuition - it's your quiet inner strength”.
The team from The Green:
Staying true to their Middle Eastern roots, the team at The Green turned to the prophetic teachings of the Hadith "heaven lies at the feet of mothers" when reflecting on the women we call mother. The phrase highlights the virtuous and spiritual rewards of serving, respecting, and honouring one’s mother and is, as the team explains, used to express gratitude, reverence, and the selfless love mothers give.
