Marissa Pan and Lily Wang

age|| 29

Company Name || si silks

Job Title || Founders

Years Living In New York || 2-3 years

Social Handles || @sisilkscarves @lilwangsta @itsmarzipan

Company Website || si silks

What did you want to be while growing up?

Lily: A shoe designer! If you flip through every workbook I had from childhood there’s some sort of funky heel design in the corner. I took art classes on the weekends, and all my still lives would be something in my mother’s closet.

Marissa: My greatest ambition when I was three was to be a firefighter and a ballerina. I was pretty certain I could do both, and I always told everyone I was going to save people by day and dance in performances by night. I did end up dancing for many years, but didn’t make good on the firefighting part.

What’s the best piece of advice you were given when you were starting Si Silks?

Marissa: Really connecting with who your customers are, on every fundamental level.

Lily: Definitely. For us, we know that young women might think scarves are a fussy old lady accessory, or they might not know how to wear a special silk piece in their day to day lives. Our mentor and Brand Value professor Jill Avery helped us put together the vision and storytelling that would bring to life our product and help people understand the possibilities of silk.

How do you define success?

Lily: We’re launching this month, so success would be pulling this whole thing off! It’s been such a labor of love and so many moving pieces, to actually start selling our baby would be a huge win! I also think any day where I learn a new skill or figure out a part of the process (which is everyday if I’m being honest) is incredibly fulfilling no matter how bumpy the journey.

Marissa: I agree, getting through the week itself is always a win in and of itself! Honestly though, between calls with advisors and testing silk samples for product development, it’s easy to lose track of the larger vision in the day to day shuffle. If we create something that’s truly sustainable, delightful, and resonates with people on a deep level, that will be a huge win.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned since starting out?

Marissa: Just get started. I’ve learned that when you’re creating something from nothing, it’s easy to get stuck in the process. You quickly realize how important it is to dive in with the best you can do given the time and resources at hand. It’s so important to think about how each hour of your time accrues to your larger mission—I try to make a ranked list of my top three priorities each day, and I don’t let myself move down to the second until I’ve accomplished all I can on the first.

Lily: Also, personalization is key! We’re just two female founders with no fancy agencies or crazy budgets, so everything we do and share is personal and authentic. To my surprise people really seem to resonate with that!

What is your go-to motivational quote?

“It's easier to hold your principles 100 percent of the time than it is to hold them 98 percent of the time.” - Clayton M. Christensen

What made you interested in starting Si Silks?

Lily: Marissa and I both have roots in silk-making communities in China. Sericulture (the culture of making silks) is a big part of the culture where I’m from, and the quality and craftsmanship dedicated to silks is not something you can find in the U.S.

Marissa: We discovered that silk, while thousands of years old, is one of the best materials for modern times—renewable, biodegradable, free of microplastics, and extremely versatile. We wanted to introduce something with this fabric that would be accessible (i.e. not an inaccessible high-end luxury brand) but also exquisitely hand-crafted that would stand the test of time. We launched Si Silks to combine the heritage of sericulture and sustainable design for new audiences.

Do you have a personal motto?

Lily: Nope, just figuring it out as I go!

Marissa: Stay curious.

Which women inspire you?

Marissa: I’ve always admired Max Hodges, the Executive Director of the Boston Ballet. I've followed her career over the years (she used to work at the same firm as me) and she's incredibly dynamic and mission-oriented. I also love trailblazers like RBG (Ruth Bader Ginsberg) for her spirit and tireless commitment—she never slows down!

Lily: I interned at Glossier during my MBA and learned so much from the leadership and vision that Emily Weiss perpetuates throughout her org. I also love hearing from Jess Lee (Founder / CEO of Polyvore) and Aurora James (Brother Vellies).

How do you overcome moments of self-doubt?

Lily: That’s why I love having a partner-in-crime so much, because she’ll be the first I turn to (no matter how big or small the problem). Usually this helps reaffirm my beliefs or gives me a moment of retrospection.

Marissa: Same here! Lily’s a great friend and a sounding board; the journey feels so much less lonely when you know someone is in the same boat paddling with you. The fact that we can have hours-long calls discussing frustrating minutiae about website or fulfillment issues and then still laugh at the end of everything makes it all worth it.

How do you balance your schedule?

Lily: Honestly, not sure! There’s always a bunch of errands I need to run so I try to integrate them into outdoors time, less screen time, etc.

Marissa: I used to always skimp on sleep, but then I read “Why We Sleep” which freaked me out a bit and I’m starting to prioritize it so much more. I do make time every day for exercise because it clears my head and helps me be productive and energetic for the rest of the day.

What are some of your goals moving forward for your company?

Launching soon and building a great culture in our company! And hopefully thinking soon about future collaborations with artists and designers, and other silk products we can bring to life!

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.