A Four-Generation Family Story
Batiks at a favorite wholesale shop in Denpasar, Bali
Lisl
Great-Grandma
Elizabeth “Lisl” Shapiro grew up in Vienna, Austria, where she learned sewing and knitting as a child. She immigrated to the United States during WWII and ran a needlework shop in Inglewood, California, for many years.
Ellen
Grandma
I’m a New York-based designer and writer. I was born and grew up in Los Angeles and began sewing my own clothes at age 13. My son Alex Miller is married to the talented Yan Zhang.
Yan
Mom
Photographer, artist, and mother of Dion and Lisl, Yan grew up in China, where she met Alex. They have lived in Beijing, San Francisco, Singapore, and now Bali, Indonesia, where she specializes in portrait, family, event, and wedding photography.
MeiMei
Daughter
Born in Bali, she was named Lisl after her great grandmother. But everyone calls her MeiMei, “Little Sister” in Chinese. She loves the beach, animals, fantasy play, and wearing “Grandma’s dresses.”
HELLO! I’M ELLEN SHAPIRO, owner and designer of Mei Mei and Me Baby and Toddler Dresses.
When I was a young girl, I told everyone that wanted to be a dress designer. I was good at drawing and made elaborate doll clothes until I started sewing my own clothes. Then I discovered graphic design and it became my career.
MeiMei inspired me to return to my first love, designing with fabrics.
So here we are, a family of strong, talented women entrepreneurs, launching a brand and ready to make these beautiful dresses available to you and your customers.
