Laura Liles proves that chaos can still be chic.

Tell us about your family.

I’m Laura, I married my husband Tris in 2007 and we have two kids, Daphne (12) and Abe (7), plus we have a cat called Red.

What was your biggest adjustment when becoming a mum?

I’m still adjusting. I think the adjusting never really stops. Life changes, and you have to evolve with it. Right now, we’re in a season where our home no longer quite fits our needs, so finding a new place to live will probably be our biggest adjustment for 2025–2026.

How do you manage the juggle when it comes to trying to do it all?

Different phases of life have called for different coping methods. When I first had Daph, my door-to-door commute from Collaroy to Surry Hills was about two hours – dropping Daph off with my mum, then Tris at work. We just found our rhythm and got used to the routine.

When I started Kinga, we moved in with my Nonna, and both my family and my partner’s helped us juggle work and life.

The most stretched I’ve ever felt was after our second child, Abe, was born. Daph wasn’t in care, neither was Abe, and I was running Kinga with the help of a few dear girlfriends.

Life is much calmer now, the kids are at school, and I have more staff, so work–life balance feels much healthier. I think the consistent theme from Daph’s birth to now has been keeping up positive self-talk and asking for help when I need it. No one can do motherhood and modern life completely on their own.

What is the best thing about being a mum?

The adventures! Living with my mini besties who are hilarious, fun, and endlessly forgiving is pure joy. Luckily, they love all the same things I do. We make the most of life together, from fishing to flying.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve experienced when becoming a mum or whilst being a mum?

Finding routine, and then being okay with it once I have it, is a real challenge for me. My kids, like so many others, thrive on predictability, while I tend to be a bit more restless. During school hours my days have a loose rhythm, but it’s definitely not one that would look predictable to anyone on the outside. Routine is something I’ve had to learn and adapt to for my kids’ sake.

What surprised you the most when becoming a mum?

It’s softened me so much. I cry way more now and find myself far more emotionally invested in global and environmental issues. Perhaps subconsciously I’ve been forced to think more about impact and consequences.

What do you wish you knew before becoming a mum?

Sleep will come. It’s a beautiful thing to comfort and hold your babies at night. I held mine, but I also carried guilt for not sleep-training and I wish I hadn’t wasted time feeling bad about that.

If you could go back in time, what would you tell yourself or others?

I’d tell my younger self to build better eating and mental health habits – I learned those later in life. I’d also tell 20-year-old me to stop trying to guess what other people are thinking.

I still tell myself (and anyone who struggles with it) that comparison is a futile waste of time. This question’s a real Pandora’s box… so I’m going to stop there!

Do you have any tips or tricks to manage the day-to-day juggle?

I wish! I’m the B-type mum – always late, never in the class chat, canteen duty is definitely not my jam. I can be quite competitive, but never with other mums, and that’s served me and my kids well. We do what works for us, without guilt.

Learning to be okay with not “mumming” to other people’s standards or ideals has definitely been a benefit.

How do you manage your time to fit in career, being a mum, relationship and time for you?

I read emails once a week. Legit. So many hours saved. People just email me the really important stuff and text me for time-sensitive issues.

Who is in your village and you couldn’t live without?

My husband – we’ve been partners since I was 17 and were married for eight years before having kids, so we already had a solid understanding of each other’s expectations and the kind of parents we wanted to be. My Nonna, both parents, and both in-laws have all been, and continue to be, very involved in our kids’ lives, and they still help look after them regularly.

I know this can be a sensitive topic for families who don’t have that kind of support, or whose relatives can’t or won’t help with childcare. I really feel for modern families, especially couples trying to juggle work and parenting without that extra help. It’s tough.

What’s in your bag you can’t leave home without:

I have multiple bags in constant circulation and they’re all full.
Today’s bag holds my:

1. iPad Pro with pencil
2. Nurofen
3. Loco Love caramel pecan
4. Isabel Marant sunnies
5. Yava granola puffs
6. Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum cream
7. MECCA sunscreen
8. And a portable scanner 

That’s all the stuff in my big Kinga Kantha tote right now. Then there’s usually a squishy toy or fidget for my son, and about twenty drink bottles rolling around somewhere.

Your favourite holiday spot?

Rapallo, nestled between Portofino and Camogli, has been my second home since childhood. I’ve returned every two years since I was eight. It’s my spirit home, a place that always calls me back.

Why do you love it?

The ocean, the focaccia, and all the childhood memories tied to them. My Nonna owned an apartment there until very recently, so it’s always felt like a second home to me.

What location is on top of your wish list to travel to next?

There are two! I’m dying to go to Japan – we’ve actually booked for March next year, and I’m so excited for it. The other is Morocco. We went when my daughter was two, and she became very ill, so the memories from that trip are a mix of awe, delight, exhaustion and high stress. I can, however, confirm that the medical system in Marrakech is elite.

What is your favourite brand?

Aside from Kinga and CCV? Story MFG is such an underrated but epic brand, their commitment to handmade and artisanal craftsmanship is to be respected, especially knowing how long and how tricky it is to produce the way they do. Isabel Marant will always be a favourite, she’s the OG boho queen, right?

Flamingo Estate is an elite study in branding and community, I’d love to immerse myself in their world. And of course Alemais continues to blaze a trail for Australian fashion.

These days, though, most of my fashion budget goes toward accessories and jewellery. I’m steadily collecting pieces from Milly Savage, Lucy Folk and Simuero.

The trend you’re loving right now:

Nuevo Boho! I’m so, so happy drama dressing is back – give me all the print, texture, and colour!

The trend you can’t get on board with:

Low rise, not for not wanting to – I love low rise, but my post-partum belly doesn’t.

Your latest brand discovery:

I recently visited two super cute multi-brand stores in Bali: Escalier at Potato Head and Le Bajo Shop in Pererenan. Both had an incredible mix of brands I’d never seen before, from locally made jewellery to skincare. I highly recommend checking them out if you’re travelling that way.

Where do you do most of your fashion shopping?

On holiday! I’m perpetually dressed in resort wear, so it makes sense for me to collect sarongs and European linen. Honestly though, I don’t feel the need to shop for clothes when I’m home – I just make what I need (the perks of owning two brands, I guess!).

Ciao covers me for day fun and weekend action, and Kinga takes care of the fancier occasions like a nice dinner or girls’ night out.

What does a healthy lifestyle mean to you?

I guess the same as everyone else – a good balance of work and fun, stillness and activity, time alone and time together.

What do you do to keep your body moving?

A walk in nature is my ultimate form of movement. I love yoga, but sticking to a schedule isn’t my strong suit, so I don’t do it regularly. We have a walker set up at the Kinga Csilla office that everyone uses, it’s nice having that option at work, and I feel comfortable using it because my team does too.

Your top five tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle:

I think a mentally healthy lifestyle comes from finding balance, time for reflection, alone time, meditation, physical activity, and family. I could probably optimise my physical health a little more, I’m no slouch, but I’m definitely not the person to be giving health advice!

Your non-negotiables when it comes to health and wellness:

The mental health of my family (myself included) is our top priority. Tris and I regularly check in with our kids to make sure they get the support they need when they need it. We’re pretty vigilant about screen-time boundaries – they’re allowed certain apps for a set amount of time, but we also have open conversations about social media and screens so everyone understands our family expectations.

We’re an outdoorsy family too, lots of walks at Manly Dam, fishing, and just spending time outside together. It keeps us all in a good headspace.

What does ‘balance’ mean to you?

If I can’t switch out of work mode at the dinner table or on the weekend, or if I’m not fully listening to my kids, Tris, or my friends, then I know there’s a work–life imbalance.

It’s taken me a long time (and a lot of self-training) to recognise when I’ve reached that point, but usually an outdoor adventure snaps me right out of it.

What was the inspiration behind starting Kinga Csilla?

I started Kinga Csilla almost ten years ago, and the motivation back then was a little different from what drives me now. In 2016, I was chasing creative freedom and a way to make beautiful garments without the guilt that comes with fast fashion.

These days, Kinga feels like an extension of me – it’s become a living, breathing expression of who I am. At its heart, my goal is simple: to create with honesty, stay kind, and leave behind a legacy rooted in authenticity.

What has been the best thing about starting Kinga Csilla?

I’m bossy … so being the boss! Haha. In past jobs, I often found there was friction between the creative and sales departments. They had separate agendas, and what the creative team saw as an exciting new direction often got lost in translation somewhere between design, production, sales and the end customer. Now, I get to guide concepts from start to finish, making sure none of the elements I value are lost along the way.

What has been the most challenging experience?

Not having any money for the first five years! We put everything we made straight back into the business, like hiring staff and buying more stock. I have absolutely no regrets, but it’s nice now that the brand gives a little back to us too.

What are your goals and dreams for Kinga Csilla?

We’re still in growth mode, with some exciting hires on the horizon this quarter and plans for our first flagship store underway. We ran a pop-up a few years ago and I loved every minute of it (though it came with plenty of valuable retail lessons).

This time around, I’m ready to put those learnings to work and create something truly special.

I want to build a space that feels alive with the spirit of Kinga Csilla, a “third place” where people can connect, be inspired and feel part of our world, even if they walk out empty-handed.