It’s not very often that we get to hear from parents in the fashion industry about how they make it all happen, and even rarer to hear from fathers themselves. To celebrate Father’s Day, we thought we’d ask a group of designer dads to share with us how they approach parenthood and to let us in on the biggest lessons they’ve have learned from their children. Happy Father’s Day!
Jonathan Simkhai, Simkhai
Did you always know you wanted to have children?
Yes, very much it just didn’t seem like an option when I was growing up. There weren’t any queer families represented anywhere, neither was there any representation of queer happiness. The narrative around being gay and queerness was so unkind and so confusing to me as a kid so being a dad always felt so far out of reach. In my early 20’s when the cultural narrative started to shift and showed more acceptance of queer love, I began to realize that becoming a dad and starting a family could be possible.
How do you balance the demands of being a parent with the demands of your job?
It’s not easy and I don’t know if I’m balancing anything but you just go day by day and show up as best as you can. Be there, be their dad, be the best dad you know how to be, and shower them with as much love as you can.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from being a parent so far?
A friend wrote a note to me right before the babies were born and it just said, “everything is going to be different now.” And I think about that line every single day since they arrived because nothing is the same.
What is the number one thing you hope to impart on your children?
To be kind and grateful and to remember that everyday there are so many people struggling without anything in this world, and to always give what they can, whenever they can, and whatever that might be.
Did you always know you wanted to have children?
I always knew I wanted to be a dad, and have a family.
How do you balance the demands of being a parent with the demands of your job?
Balancing the demands of being a parent with the demands of a job is definitely tricky, and I struggle with it daily. I often feel guilty when I am at work and not with my kids, and when I am with the girls, I feel like I am not working enough. To manage this, I have found that setting boundaries, establishing clear expectations, and being kinder to myself are crucial. These strategies help me stay fully engaged and present when I am with Emma and Charlotte, allowing me to strike a better balance between work and family.