Mindy Lam Digital Catalogue - Flipbook - Page 20
After moving to America and forging ahead as
a single mother, Mindy started her business
when daughter Kai was 6 years old. Mindy was
alone. She had no help and no family nearby,
very contrary to the Asian culture in which
she was raised. She dug deep. She hustled.
Instead of yielding to her perceived restrictions
of motherhood, Kai represented an ever
moving goalpost. Mindy eschewed her Gemini
tendencies of divergent focus and incompletion,
overriding them with a dedication to finishing
things, aspiring to consistency, striving to be
a role model for her daughter. A self-taught
designer, her work evolved along with her life.
She was heavily influenced by vintage films, the
Audrey Hepburn type depicting classic beauty
and strong, determined women. She had talent,
and yet the absence of credentials sowed doubt.
And then the Universe lobbed her a game
changer.
Earlier Work: Little Prince
Peridot, ruby, emerald, citrine, Swarovski crystals, pearls,
Japanese beads, thread, and stainless steel wire
Courtesy of the Artist
While Mindy was suffering from a deadly disease, The Little Prince was a key component in her healing
process. Her sister provided the wire to take her mind off of the pain, and through focus and meditation,
her first-ever-piece evolved from a necklace, to a choker, and finally to a camisole. This garment then
became the “mother work” when she was faced with the most pressing financial hardship. Bit by bit,
parts of The Little Prince were harvested to create smaller pieces of jewelry to survive during the most
difficult times.
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When Kai was 15 years old, Mindy’s kidneys
failed. Signs had surely been there previously
but she chalked them up to fatigue as any
overworked mother would. The spiral of serious
health issues began to quicken. Mindy lost
everything in an effort to fund her treatment.
Everything. Her car. Her house. Her business. Her
mobility. Then Kai turned 18.
The decision to accept a kidney from her
daughter was frought. Mindy grappled with
the life-giving/life-saving/life-taking equation
for which no calculus provides a clear solution.
But Kai is her mother’s daughter. Kai persisted.
Mindy recovered.
After the transplant, Mindy was transformed
artistically. It was time to gather up the baubles
and sparkle again. Mindy was called to push
boundaries, inspired by the reaction to her story.
The designer became an artist, and the artist
became a philanthropist. The mandate was
clear: create something strong and enduring that
attracts with its beauty and deceptive fragility.
Always one to accept a challenge, Mindy
followed her muse. Inspired by her desire to
preserve a large and very fragile piece of vintage
lace, Mindy started experimenting with more
permanent materials. Leaning into her process,
she meditates and the metal becomes thread in
her creative eye. A textile is born of a contrary
material. “This is a thread” becomes her mantra
as she weaves. Each dress comes to life on a
mannequin, the design channeled straight to
her fingers, bypassing the sketch book. She has
learned through the years, that the more detail
she includes, the more the metal wire resembles
fabric. She says of creating the metal lace: “this
is my magic”. Indeed. Occasionally the work
grinds to a halt, her hands aching and spent. Kai
massages those magic hands, imbuing them with
all the love and support a daughter and muse can
muster. And the gowns continue to grow. Most
of them weigh 70 pounds, but Mindy’s magic
and a pre-runway pep talk allow models to float
down the runway as though wearing the lightest
of silks.
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