21 Questions - Our Very Own Aya Sumika!

We sat down with Aya Sumika - MIDORI president, new mom, and smooth talking, ribbon & gift wrap slangin' fashionista - to bombard her with a game of 21 Questions. With bright-eyed baby Misa on her lap and a meeting scheduled shortly after, this busy lady gave us a peek into her brain. It was a pleasure getting carried away...

Would you rather lose your hearing ability or your vision?

Hearing ability. Especially with what I do, everything is visual. I can learn sign language!

What does a typical day look like for you?

Typical? Oooh. I come to work with our daughter, Misa, our pit bull, Indigo, and my husband, Trevor. First, I check in with our assistant, Jen, to see what our day looks like creatively. I check e-mail and touch base with operations. Umm...breastfeeding! Solving problems! I mean really my day is finding solutions to issues that come up in order to make customers happy. It's solving problems.

How did you approach motherhood?

There are so many different philosophies out there and it's easy for me to get carried away. At the end of the day, I have to set all books and other moms' experiences aside and just follow my intuition.

Were you nervous about becoming a mom?

Umm....no! We were so ready. We did choose to be surprised on the sex. I felt that she was a boy. Like, 99.9% sure. I mean, I had dreams and everything. I was wrong.

Do you have a theme song?

Right now, I don't have a theme song. Trevor always laughs because half the time I'm singing the wrong words! I connect to a beat. It's about how the music and the energy from a song make me feel.

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?

Ooooooh! Old, chiiiild! Mama is ooooold! Without saying I'm a wise soul and full of wisdom, I do feel like I've been around the block a few times.

How did you celebrate your last birthday?

We didn't do much of anything, actually. Honestly, I cannot remember.

Do you and Trevor have date nights?

We just had our first date in 9 months. We went to the Hungry Cat and had bangin' seafood! Then we went to see Django. It was a good date!

What is your zodiac sign and do you think it fits you?

I'm a Leo. I'm not much into Western astrology; I'm really into Vedic astrology. I get a reading every year and it's always been dead on.

Where is your favorite place to eat?

The little hole-in-the-walls, like Absolutely Phobulous or Boss Sushi on La Cienega.

Are you a meat eater?

Just seafood. We're Pescetarian. Not for any political reason. Growing up, my mom just cooked seafood.

What is your favorite thing to eat?

Rice crackers with hummus, avocado slices, squeezed lime, cilantro, some salt and a little dab of hot sauce. It's delicious!

What is your favorite thing to read?

I just cracked open Grace." I'm curious to see where it takes me. She's amazing.

Do you feel like it takes a certain type of gusto to create such an impact as people like Anna Wintour or Grace Coddington?

I feel like we're all born with paths and gifts to follow. Whether you're a child prodigy, or someone who has worked their entire life to get to be the most incredible Oscar award-winning actor. Everyone is so different.

Who are your favorite designers?

I love Chloé. It's chic, effortless Bohemian,"working woman.” Alexander McQueen, for artistry and vision. Chanel, because you can sport it when you're 15 and when you're 85. It's timeless. Proenza Schouler for innovation. Alexander Wang....the list goes on for different feelings and moods. You can't put me in a box.

What is your favorite thing to wear?

Jeans, Converse and a t-shirt. My Roxy army coat that I've had for 8 years and have worn to death! I mix high and low: Chloé shoes with big baggy jeans and an Alexander Wang t-shirt.

What turns you on about life?

Oh my gosh! Connecting with people.

How do you feel about all this technology and how it affects us?

It's where we're at. Everyone is plugged in. It connects us all. The fact that I can email China right now and get a response back within a day is crazy.

Who is your biggest influence?

Trevor, for sure! You know when you hear someone say, "He knows me better than I know myself?" I connect to that. He knows me better than I know myself.

Was the decision to make the move to Los Angeles from Seattle a mutual one?

Yes, yes, yes. We had high hopes of keeping operations in Seattle and moving Creative to Los Angeles when we first bought the company. That's like having the body disconnected from the heart - they have to live together. So, it was a really big decision for us but we had to have it in our backyard.

What is the biggest fear you've had to overcome in 2012?

How much time do you have? To be honest, I don't think I will ever overcome my fears. Every day I wake up and I walk through it. For me, I have to find the courage to face them every day but I don't think I will ever overcome them.