Meet Elizabeth! The amazing mama behind Hamam Mama! We love that her mission when starting Hamam Mama was to “support other moms in those early days of motherhood with products that are perfectly suited for the raw + beautiful moments they are used for.” Her products are BEAUTIFUL! Perfect for gifting to others…OR to purchase for yourself! These blankets are absolutely gorgeous and perfect for modern motherhood. I also love that her thought process of there having to be something better when it comes to the material we use for cover-ups. Such an inspiration for any entrepreneurial women out there! Enjoy her story!
Instagram Handle / Website
@hamam_mama
Briefly introduce yourself!
Hello, my name is Elizabeth Drumm, I am a mother of two boys under 2.5, and recently started my own company Hamam Mama with a line of versatile covers [and other items for mamas + babies] made of handloomed organic cotton Turkish towels. I am originally from Alabama, and a lover of hot showers, hot coffee, and trying new foods.
How many children do you have and what are their age(s)?
I have two boys, a 2.5 year old and a 1 year old.
Where do you live in South Denver exactly? If not South Denver, where?
Not in South Denver, but Westminster.
What’s your favorite family friendly activity in South Denver?
Right now we are enjoying the last few days we get to go on family walks before the cold starts! (Obviously I am not a Denver native.)
What’s your favorite kid friendly restaurant in South Denver?
We love to go to breweries that have places for kids to run around while we can enjoy ourselves too. (Wonderland + Acreage are some of our favorites in North Denver)
What’s your favorite date night restaurant in Denver (not just South Denver)?
I love trying new places so we don’t often go back to the same restaurants for our date nights, but we loved Quality Italian.
What’s the best mom and/or parenting advice you’ve received?
For me personally, I think the best advice I’ve gotten is to not worry about listening to everyone else’s advice or opinions. While most advice is given with good intentions, when I have felt the most confident and secure in my mothering, it is when I am doing what comes naturally to me rather than worrying about what “they say” to do.
What inspires you?
The community that is created around mothers helping mothers. The transition that a woman goes through when she becomes a mother is something that I was totally unaware of before going through it myself. There are so many emotions and changes, and those early days of motherhood in particular can feel very isolating. But when mothers help each other, whether its something as simple as a hug, or a hand me down, or sharing their mom hacks with fellow moms, it can have such a profound impact. And I love being in a space that plays even a small role in helping support women going through that transition into motherhood.
You started Hamam Mama. Tell us more!
I have an MBA, and prior to starting this I worked at the corporate office of a Fortune 100 company in the food service industry. I always have had an entrepreneurial itch, but thought that I would have started something in the natural foods space. But after having my first son, I started having other ideas.
What inspired you to start Hamam mama?
It all started when I had the idea to design a better nursing cover after I went on my first trip with my oldest son about two and half years ago (it was actually a trip to Charleston, SC where I met my husband when we were both in college there 14 years ago!). I had one of those stretchy “multipurpose covers” and I found the experience of using it to be terribly awkward, hot and messy, and I had this bug in my ear saying that there had to be a better material to use. While on maternity leave, I ordered lots of samples of fabrics that could be both breathable and absorbent, but nothing really seemed to fit the bill. Being half Turkish, it finally one day dawned on me that the flatwoven Turkish ‘hamam’ towels might work perfectly. After having my second son, I tried making a few for myself, and they worked even better than I had imagined and had so many uses. Plus they are just beautiful and unique, so I was getting complements on them every where I went. After doing research about the towels, I found out that most “Turkish towels” on the market are now mass produced on machines, some not even in Turkey, and that most of the weavers that used to make these towels on traditional handlooms had gone out of business. By a stroke of luck (or really, fate), I was able to find a small group of artisan weavers still making them the traditional way using organic cotton, and their towels were so beautiful and much more breathable than any others that I tested. From there, things just started to fall into place and all the sudden I had started a company. I’m still getting things off the ground, but I am truly passionate about my products, and I absolutely love seeing other new moms fall in love with them, too. 
What is the best career/business advice you’ve ever received?
It’s good to have a plan, but sometimes the best things that happen were never even on your radar.
What is your favorite part about being an entrepreneur?
I love creating and seeing new things come to life, and also love the freedom of being able to make decisions that aren’t solely driven by trying to make a profit but instead by trying to make a difference in other people’s lives.
What has been your biggest challenge as an entrepreneur?
I’m such a planner and and an idea person, so I have to really make myself be patient and take it one day at a time.
What do you do for self-care?
Honestly, sometimes just getting out of the house by myself feels like a spa day!
What is your best mom hack?
That’s an easy one – handloomed organic cotton Turkish towels for all things mama + baby! [+ I’ve tested hundreds and have sourced the best of the best – so just trust me and buy mine 🙂 ]
Is there anything else about you and/or your business you want to highlight?
I am always adding new products and finding new ways to use leftover scraps of fabric, but everything is made in very small batches, so follow me on Instagram and join my mailing list [linked on my website] to stay in the loop.
