The founder of the brand LushiLush, Mirela Rancu-Pătru, transformed her maternity leave into a source of inspiration for a collection of clothing and accessories dedicated to babies and ceremonial moments. Starting from the dream of creating products that are useful, beautiful, and durable, the brand was born with a focus on muslin, natural materials, and traditional design.
In every detail – from the olive leaf embroidery, inspired by her first trips to Greece, to the pastel color palette and elegant packaging – there is a desire to offer authentic experiences to parents and little ones. The brand thus reflects a balance between professionalism and intimacy, between a passion for textiles and care for the emotional experience of becoming a parent.
Continuous learning as the foundation of a career
C&B: What were the essential steps in your professional journey leading up to your current role?
Mirela Rancu-Pătru: I would say that certain traits brought me to where I am today. I have been curious, serious, and I learned everything related to the subjects I was involved in. Whether it was machine oil, sewing machines, European legislation in a specific field, or comparative law. Continuous learning seems essential to me.
C&B: Which turning points influenced your career direction the most?
Mirela Rancu-Pătru: I have a story here. At university, I dreamed that I would have a law firm or that I would be a coordinating partner somewhere. After 7 years of practicing law, I made my first major change and suspended my bar membership to work as an in-house lawyer in a niche field that immediately captivated me. I reconciled with law on that occasion because initially, I wanted to quit entirely. A few years later, I became pregnant, and that triggered a turning point. During the two parental leaves for my two sons, I started and continued a business with products for children and babies. I returned to work after those four years, juggling a demanding job, internal and external delegations, and a hobby that I wanted to take to the next level.
“Continuous learning seems essential to me.”
Challenges, balance, and trust in the process
C&B: What was the greatest challenge you encountered, and how did you overcome it?
Mirela Rancu-Pătru: The biggest challenge is having enough time for everything I need to do in a day.
Organization is essential. Knowing what I need to do, when, and where, avoiding peak traffic hours, having plan B and plan C, and never leaving something important for the last minute.
Still, I would say that cash flow is an immense challenge. And I haven’t overcome it.
C&B: Is there a mentor or role model who guided you?
Mirela Rancu-Pătru: I have my husband as a guide; he is an auditor and reads all my secrets in the balance sheet. I am also enrolled in Eusebiu Burcaș’s Profit First community.
My mentor was Elena Cernătescu, from whom I learned enormously; she is the financial brain behind a well-known women’s clothing brand. After spending a lot of money on the wrong approaches, I realized that a mentor from my field suited me best, not to mention avoiding green fields on walls and aligning with yourself to calculate the correct price for a product.
C&B: How do you define innovation in your field?
Mirela Rancu-Pătru: In a time when we buy plastic just to use it once and move on, it is innovative to play with natural materials. Products designed to be worn for several months and even by generations, natural materials, using leftover materials, shredding leftovers to create other products (like stuffing for toys), integrating traditional elements into modern ones.
“Failures are experiences, actually.”
Courage, values, and looking to the future
C&B: What is the professional achievement you are most proud of?
Mirela Rancu-Pătru: I feel proud and emotional when I receive messages from my clients. I’ve received reviews that made me cry from joy. That emotion is magical.
C&B: How do you handle failures or projects that don’t go according to plan?
Mirela Rancu-Pătru: At first, I was stubborn, stuck on an idea, and wasted a lot of time and energy. Now, I step away from the project. It’s easier to see solutions when I am detached. Failures are experiences, actually. I draw conclusions and move forward.
C&B: Do you have a motto or personal philosophy that inspires you?
Mirela Rancu-Pătru: I like a quote from The Little Prince: “One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye.”
C&B: What advice would you give young people who want a career in innovation?
Mirela Rancu-Pătru: Be open, be courageous. Keep trying until you succeed!
C&B: How do you balance personal life with professional responsibilities?
Mirela Rancu-Pătru: Knowing when and what to let go. I wear many hats. Sometimes I am just a mom, other times I am just Mirela from LushiLush because that’s where I am needed.
C&B: If you could go back to the start of your career, what would you do differently?
Mirela Rancu-Pătru: I wouldn’t change anything. Everything I did helped me progress immensely, even when I didn’t succeed in what I had planned. I would only wish to have more courage. 😊
Mirela Râncu-Pătru’s story highlights the power of balance and adaptability. Behind every decision lies a lesson, and success is measured not only by results but by the journey itself. Between family, work, and dreams, Mirela has built a solid professional identity, guided by authenticity, curiosity, and the courage to keep evolving.
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