
Mother Stories
Meet Mohawk General Store Founder & New Mama Bo Carney
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Nicki Sebastian
Apr 18, 2018
There’s something so beautiful about capturing a woman in the early stages of motherhood, which is why we were extra excited to catch up with Bo Carney, the multi-talented owner of L.A.-based Mohawk General Store (an inspiring emporium of cool, colorful, and expertly curated duds spread out over three locations) and designer of the Smock label. Below, she invites us into her warm and eclectic Highland Park abode and opens up about the ups and downs, joys and trappings of parenting her first child, the adorable 8-month-old Bowie. Read it and relate!
- "We bought our house 7 years ago when Highland Park was still affordable. We had been going to so many open houses for months. My husband Kevin and I are both quite picky, so it took a while to find a place that we could both commit to that was still within budget. It hit all the boxes and we have added and expanded and given it a lot of love over the years. We still have so many things we want to do, as well, like convert the garage, plant a veggie garden, maybe a pool? It's endless."
- "His space was originally our guest bedroom. When it was time to start decorating it as a nursery—when Bowie was 2 months old—there were so many directions to go in, but we decided to keep the furniture white or as neutral as possible because baby stuff can be so colorful to begin with. We didn't want it to get too hectic or stray too far from our aesthetic. But we also wanted it to be whimsical and cute and soulful. So, the foundation was all white, cream, and grey. Then we added colorful pops around the room."
- Bo wears a Smock shirt and vintage Levi's. Bowie wears Rylee + Cru pants and a shirt from Portugal.
- "It is a piece by Junya Watanabe. We had ordered it for the store a few years ago. We were so happy it was still there when I found out I was pregnant because it was perfect for a nursery."
- "Kevin gave it to me this Valentine's day. It is from Celine."
- "I love the daybed in his room. It's so cozy to play on and that spot has the best light in the house. I also love the Japanese rocker Kevin got me for breastfeeding."
- "Bowie is 8 months old now. We thought we would co-sleep until he was 6 months old but we never ended up doing that. The first couple months were just brutal because we had no idea what we were doing. But then miraculously he started sleeping through the night. I was a bit smug to be honest. Then at 5 months there was sleep regression. I was at my wit's end and we ended up sleep training him. Now he sleeps through the night."
- "I love the bond we have of unconditional eternal love. It grounds me and gives me strength."
- "A lot of things, but mostly wondering if he is happy enough. Am I doing something that will somehow impact his future emotional wellbeing in a negative way?"
- "I had always wanted a girl for so long and that's why I thought for sure I was having a girl. But when we opened the email from the doctor, I have to be honest, I was a little disappointed. It took a while for me to get used to it. For years I was imagining myself with a girl so it was a bit rough. But now I am so in love with having a boy. Bowie is the sweetest thing. I find that boys are physically more challenging but emotionally easier to deal with."
- "His name is Bowie Jin. One night we were talking about baby names and nothing was coming up. Then Kevin asked me who my favorite musician was. It was a bit after David Bowie passed away, so we were listening to his music quite a bit at the time. Bowie was also easy for our Korean family to pronounce, as well. My name in Korean means 'treasure.' So, when you write Bowie's name in Korean the first character is the same as mine. Jin is my father's name. Sadly he never got to meet any of his grandchildren. I adored him and I thought it was a nice way to connect my son with my father. I hope he will take on some of his amazing characteristics."
- "I had zero interest in babies until I was in my 30s. But when we finally decided we were ready to have kids it didn't happen. It took us many years to finally make it happen. The journey to getting pregnant was actually one of the hardest things we've had to do. So, we are very grateful now."
- "The first trimester was just so exhausting. I thought I would fall asleep at the wheel. And I was in bed by 7. I was secretly enjoying everything, though. I was ecstatic. The fatigue, insomnia, no drinking, bloating, all of it. But I did gain 60 pounds, so by the end it was pretty uncomfortable and I was quite ready to pop the baby out."
- "A book called Precious Little Sleep was a game changer. It really helped with the sleep training."
- " Both my parents worked, so me and my brother were pretty independent. Also, I think back then people seemed a bit more carefree with kids. Maybe it was out of necessity. We moved around to different countries when we were little and they just put us in schools straight away even though we didn't know the language. They never hired a babysitter. We had to do chores to earn our allowance. When we were in high school they left us for 2 weeks at a time to go on trips. My parents would leave us some money in this big vase and off they'd go. I appreciate that now in the age of helicopter parenting."
- "Koreans really emphasize respecting your elders and being polite and proper to others. I would love to keep that tradition, but without the old fashioned stuffiness."
- The cutest duo.
- "We are trying to keep it corralled for now. The nursery and living room are now where we keep the toys and there are foam mats and it is baby proofed. But I am sure things will change once he starts walking. We might have to get the dreaded baby gates!"
- Bo wears a dress by Smock.
- "He is exposed to so many different cultures, cuisines, climates, environments, and people. I would love for him to grow up being open minded and dreaming big."
- "I sometimes dream of living a simple life on a beach or in the mountains. Also living in Europe again is a dream. But leaving our friends and the comforts of L.A. would definitely be hard."
- Bowie wears a vintage sweatshirt and pants from Korea.
- "I love hanging out in our neighborhood of Highland Park. We walk the stroller down to Collage Coffee or Little Joy. We also go to Cookbook for groceries and Homestate for tacos and Ranchwater on their patio. South Pasadena Farmers' Market is also amazing to bring Bowie. There is an old musician that plays music for the kids and brings a bunch of instruments so everyone can play with him. It has become a weekly ritual."
- "It's quite eclectic. We love mid century modern mixed with California craft, artisanal work from Native America, Japan, Italy, etc."
- "We used to buy things just because it was cool and if it was well priced. But now that space has become even more limited, we only buy things if we really love it and if there is a place for it. And as the years go by I appreciate the less-is-more approach."
- "I love fashion and I see so much of it in my work that when it comes to personal style I feel most comfortable wearing simple, chic, and timeless things."
- "Not really. When Bowie was really young and would spit up all the time I would only wear old t-shirts. But now that he is older I am pretty much back to my pre-pregnancy style. But maybe with just a little more comfort in mind."
- "Jeans, shirts, trousers, cashmere sweaters, military jackets, and blazers. My favorite designers are Dries Van Noten, Jacquemus, and Rejina Pyo. They all make high fashion clothes that invoke a sense of magic and nostalgia, but with practicality in mind, too. It is a great balance."
- "I am always trying out new products and receive a lot of samples, so it is constantly changing but here is my current routine. The mornings are a bit more involved. I cleanse with foam cleanser and every other day I use a scrub. The scrub by Noto is my latest scrub obsession. I also have a NuFACE that I use a couple times a week. I used to love getting facials but haven't had one for over a year, so I'm using this to tide me over until I can get back to facials. Then it is toner, serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen. At night I am so exhausted, so it is much simpler. I use Bioderma water that I got in Paris for cleansing. Then use Glossier Solution, and a face oil (Shiva Rose) or balm (May Lindstrom). Once a week I do a sheet mask instead of the oil."
- "To be honest I haven't had a workout since last July. But I finally signed up for some pilates classes this week. I walk quite a bit everyday with Bowie and the dogs. But now that Bowie is getting heavier I feel like I really need to workout my muscles to keep up with him. So, I'm really excited about starting pilates again! And now that I am not breastfeeding as much, I would love to get back to the Korean spa for scrubs and massages."
- "I love having lunch or tea with friends at least once or twice a week. It relieves so much stress and helps you feel connected. But, honestly, sometimes just doing mundane errands by yourself is relaxing and fun now that I have a demanding baby at home!"
- Bo wears a Jacquemus top and Acne Studios jeans. Bowie wears a Rylee + Cru cardigan.
- "The first month can be really really hard. It's magical and sweet, yes, but also brutal on so many levels. Exhaustion, stress, postpartum pain. Don't be surprised if you feel depressed. Talk to friends and family who have gone through it. I felt like I was in a black tunnel with no light at the end. But talking it out with moms that have gone through everything before helped tremendously. And I was able to overcome it all and come out stronger."
- "I own Mohawk General Store with my husband. I do the buying for women's and design our collection, called Smock."
- "I was born in Korea and grew up in Vienna, Dallas, and Seoul. I went to college in Seoul, studying English education and art history. I worked for a government agency, cosmetics distributor, and a film studio before I decided to pursue a degree in fashion business in Milan. It was the last thing I wanted to do for myself before I settled down and got married. It was the best, most fun year that I had. And that's where I met my husband. We fell in love and were married within the year. We had a traditional wedding in Korea, then I moved to LA to be with Kevin."
- "I basically took 6 months maternity leave before returning back to work. We work for ourselves, so I am fortunate to have flexibility. Now I am back half the time and just try to work more efficiently. I love being there for Bowie during these early years. It's so exhausting but even more rewarding."
- Bo wears a dress by Rejina Pyo. Bowie wears a Levi's jacket and pants from Korea.
- "Unfortunately, we don't have any family close by. But we do have an amazing Korean nanny during the week who has been with us since Bowie was 6 weeks old. She is like family now and I don't know what we would do without her."
- "I am still trying to navigate these waters. It is so easy to get stressed and overwhelmed with the massive to-do list if you even have time to make a list. So, when I get overwhelmed by it all I try to focus on what I am doing now and be present. No more multitasking. And ask for help. You really don't have to do it all and it doesn't all have to be perfect."
- Bowie's Levi's jacket was lovingly hand-stitched by Mohawk General Store's manager.
- "Yes, all the time! Then I talk myself off the ledge by remembering how my parents raised us and how we turned out fine."
- "As he is growing older, I think about it more and more. I try everyday to become a better person in some way, even if it is insignificant just so he can have a better role model in me."
- "We have a new space in between our stores in Silverlake that we have been hosting pop-ups in. There are so many great brands and people that we are excited to collaborate with. Same goes for the desert garden at our Santa Monica store. We are also planning to do a pop-up on the east coast this year!"
- For more on Bo, Bowie, and Mohawk General Store, check out her Instagram feed and the store's, as well.
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