Artist dares to dream in a city full of possibilities

Editor's Note

The road to being a successful woman entrepreneur – be it a restaurant owner, a designer, a gallery owner, or a retailer – can be bumpy. In this She Power series, we talk to women from different countries, different backgrounds and businesses about their experiences and stories of setting up businesses in Shanghai.

Sweden-born Louise Lam came to Shanghai in 2012 to explore the contemporary art scene. After years of working in the art, fashion, and food industries, Lam eventually ventured out on her own. She founded Sól Studio where she offers a collection of ceramic pieces designed for everyday rituals and facilitates creative workshops and women's circles.

Before we talk about Sol Studio - would you please introduce yourself?

My name is Louise Lam and I was born and raised in Sweden. My ancestors are from Hong Kong. I came to Shanghai in 2012 after my bachelor's degree in Art History. I came to explore the contemporary art scene and ended up working for an artist and his collective company for five years. After that, I dived into fashion events and also the food and beverage industry before I ventured out on my own. Now I am an artist and facilitator of creative workshops and women's circles, where I create a safe space to explore our inner selves and a moment of rest in our busy lives.

Why, after living in Shanghai for a few years, did you decide to strike out on your own to build up a business?

To nurture my artistic vision, cultivate a supportive community, and explore unconventional lifestyles, I reached a point of exhaustion from constantly chasing after others' dreams and neglecting my own in the process. I wanted to reclaim ownership of my dreams and shape them according to my values, desires, and vision. That's how Sól Studio was born.

Sól Studio offers a collection of ceramic pieces designed to accompany your daily rituals. Simple rituals can be anything from lighting a candle to having a cup of tea. Within this collection, you will find a range of items including incense plates, candle holders, jewelry boxes, window chimes, and tea cups, all created to complement your mindful moments of reflection. The intention is to have these ceramic objects serve as gentle prompts, inviting you to reconnect with your breath and find solace in moments of quiet in your busy lives.

I handcraft all of the ceramic pieces. Some pieces require many iterations before they are offered to be taken home by others. I enjoy this meditative process that comes with working with your hands. A moment of quiet and concentration, where accidents and surprises occur frequently. You never really know how each piece will turn out until it comes out of the kiln, and that is what's the most exciting to me.

What makes Shanghai's business environment so remarkable?

Shanghai is a city full of possibilities and contains many ecosystems that allow people to turn their dreams into reality. Not many will bat an eye if you tell them you are doing one thing right now and then switch to something else next month. The atmosphere encourages you to explore yourself and your potential. Nothing feels impossible; you just have to dare to dream.

What were you trying to bring to the local community?

I want to build a safe space, a sanctuary for people to come home to themselves. Hence, I created Sol Studio, where a part of it is my offerings of ceramic objects. I hope that my pieces will ground people and act as reminders to pause and take a breath or two. Objects for your everyday rituals, if you will – rituals not in a religious sense, but just small mindful moments in our busy lives. Whether it's drinking a cup of tea, lighting a candle, or calming incense.

What are the biggest challenges to setting up a business here? How do you stay motivated?

For me, because of the endless possibilities, it also gives you too much freedom to grow in whichever direction. And because it's such a diverse and colorful city there can also be many distractions. I stay motivated by my community and the people I meet, and to keep going back to my vision and red threads to not lose my sight or my way. It's not always easy. For me, rest is an integral part of my routine to come back to myself when I sense I'm drifting off course.

What was the moment made you most proud?

When my people send me photos of my pieces in their homes. It makes me happy and proud to have created something that may give them a sense of refuge and calmness. When I receive a text wondering if I created this or that because it carries qualities that resemble mine. I'm also proud of my community supporting each other and cheering on each other.

What are you working on?

I am currently working on creating jewelry drawers and matchboxes made out of ceramics. It's not been easy with many trials and errors, but I'm getting closer after my fifth prototype. There are still many details to consider. In late summer, I plan to participate in a market, which means I need to have a larger quantity of stock. So, I am also working on that constantly.

Who is a female role model who inspires you?

I have so many, but want to lift forward two in particular this time;

Maria Souza, founder of Women & Mythology, my mentor and friend. The way she has built her own work and life around herself and her family. Taking adequate rest and allowing some of her work to step down when they have fulfilled their purpose. It's inspiring to see someone letting go of parts that no longer align with what they wish to bring forward and making space for that to happen.

Julie Pang, founder of Okra Jewelry, her resilience and perseverance in building her world for 10 years now! Admiring her as a friend, as a mother, and as an artist. Her visions and her world are so captivating. I wear her pieces daily and they are a part of my daily rituals and they ground me, allowing me to feel at home away from home.

Do you have any advice for women entrepreneurs?

Listen to your body, your body is full of wisdom and sensors. Whether you call it gut feeling or intuition, also, remember that we all live in tune with the seasons and need rest once in a while or very often depending on your own needs. Success need not be one-dimensional but can come in many forms. There are always a million choices and options available to you, so don't get stuck in fear or scarcity mindset. Your ideas and vision matter, what you put forward is unique because it was created through you and by you.