In conversation with Jenna Wiebe, founder of Duvet Days.
Jenna Wiebe, founder of Duvet Days talks to us about her business: the initial idea behind it, it’s main goals and what her typical work day looks like. With two children, Jenna is balancing family and work life at the same time making her daily choices difficult as the founder of a business. Throughout the interview, Jenna highlights issues surrounding body image on social media, intimacy and advice for people seeking to start a design business, providing us insightful information on what life is like as a female business owner. Her illustrations surround topics such as the female and male anatomy, maternity, the menstrual cycle and several health conditions.
Check out Duvet Days Instagram here:
How did the idea around Duvet Days begin?
Duvet Days started as a passion project. I originally wanted to create a platform where survivors of rape and domestic abuse could have open conversations about their journey, share their story to help give others hope, work on self love and learn to love their body again. I spoke to many survivors and the one thing we all had in common was intimacy. Either with a partner and/or ourselves so I started creating anatomy illustrations as content to help empower survivors and help them love their body again. My illustrations have evolved since the beginning and now include maternity, health conditions and creative pieces.
What does a typical day in your work life look like?
I am currently raising my 3.5 year old daughter, Makoa and my 20 week old daughter, Aiyla full time so right now my days are anything but typical haha. I've learned since having children is that you have to really learn to go with the flow in life and work. I try my best to get a little work done everyday, but some days it just doesn't happen. I realize now that it is better to be fully present with anything you do so I try to apply this while raising my children as well as with my business. Somedays I am more present with my children and other days I really set aside time to be fully present for my work. I do my best though to get at least one post out a day before both my girls wake up and throughout the day answer messages and emails when I get spare moments which isn't often. In my evenings is when I am able to allot more time to be present for bigger things like creating new illustrations, collaborations, and doing interviews like this.
Your designs are extremely informative about the human body, could you tell us a little more about the research process behind this?
I reference various medical images so I can decide what information I want to include in my artwork to make it as educational as possible and/or that is relevant to the illustration I am wanting to create. My illustrations are my interpretations as I want to produce pieces with as much creative freedom, but are approachable, beautiful and empower individuals through education. My illustrations are meant to encourage individuals to want to learn more about their body and/or to seek the appropriate practitioner.
Do you have any goals for Duvet Days in the near future?
Due to my schedule right now with raising my 3.5 year old and 20 week old daughters I am trying to be realistic with my goals. I am working on a couple collaborations, new illustrations, and potentially some limited edition items.
What 3 things would you say your company tries to achieve?
1. Body positivity
2. Empowerment
3. Diversity
What is your opinion of body image on social media? Has it changed in any way over time?
I would like to believe that body image on social media is changing, but I can't say for certain it is. I think I see a lot of positive body image on social media because that is my focus and what I am passionate about. Social media can be a dangerous place depending on what you are looking for and who you are following. It can be a very misleading perception of what is real and what is not. Even if someone knows something isn't or may not be real, it is easy to forget or have your mind trick you into believing something that isn't true. I do believe there are a lot of individuals and companies making changes and promoting real people with real bodies, but then you also have all the heavily used filters that completely alter someone with a press of a button. So there are changes happening and some are a move forward and some that are a move backwards.
If you could give a piece of advice to someone starting a design business what would it be?
It might sound cliché, but do what you are passionate about. I believe if you are passionate about what you do, have a genuine message, find your niche and work hard anything is possible.
