Inga Popkova is a woman’s woman: smart, sweet, sexy, and with enough childlike whimsy mixed with big-girl charm to make pretty much anyone want to be her friend. Like TJS. That’s why we’re happy to shine a light on what this FOTJS (that’s “Friend Of TJS”) does to make the world a little prettier, one dress at a time. More on that below….
Popkova’s juice-loving self made her way to California in 2004 from her hometown and birthplace in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. After earning a degree in international business from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, her passion for travel and new cultures led her to call London, Alicante (in Spain) and New York City, home. And it was in each of those cities that her life experience (combined with time spent growing up in her mother’s clothing factory) nudged her to choose a career in fashion.
In April 2016, Popkova collaborated with her idol—her mother Larisa—to bring the clothing line that had existed in their family for 25 years here to the United States. Aptly named, Larisa, it allows the younger Popkova to honor the elder one while bringing feminine fashion to the masses.
For all Popkova does, this month we honor the wholehearted way she shares her fashion vision, and we’re grateful for the patronage and juicy love she’s shown TJS every sip of the way.
ALL ABOUT INGA
I’ve lived in Vegas since…2007.
What brought me to Las Vegas was…UNLV. What kept me here has been…school and friends.
In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…thinking that the Strip is all we have. There is so much more here. (…Yet the thing I love most about living here is…) that Vegas has been changing! Life is Beautiful, new cool local spots, Downtown Project, etc….Vegas has a cool-culture feel now. It’s not all about gambling and nightclubs anymore.
A favorite Vegas spot that never gets old is… TJS (wink).
My ideal night out is…a lounge with good music and “fermented grape juice.”
With so many crazy nights, my favorite night-in plan is…homemade dinner and a movie.
The mantra or quote I try to live by each day is…“Everything happens for a reason, so just do it.”
My favorite inspirational quote is…“You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” (Oscar Wilde)
If I had to pick a song lyric as the theme for my life it would be… “Live your life/be free/you know you can have it all.” (Erick Morillo)
Advice I’d go back and give to my younger self is…Spend as much time as possible with your loved ones. Travel, take risks, and push yourself to learn something new every day!
INGA ON WORK
A little background about Larisa, my brand…In my mind, “Larisa” is in fact inside every female…from the littlest to eldest. As most women know, we’re called to wear so many hats throughout a day—mother, friend, worker, lover—that from moment to moment we can can be girls-next-door, socialites and then powerhouses. But let’s face it: With our daily hard work, contributions and commitments…we don’t always wake feeling goddessy! Sometimes, beauty and grace need a little push.
Enter Larisa…a luxury girls’ and women’s brand dedicated to inspiring every female to feel powerful (and beautiful!) from childhood to womanhood, and every day in between.
My fashion icon is…my Mom.
My very first little-girl memory of being intrigued by fashion, makeup, modeling, and looking pretty, was…making “clothes” by picking up pieces of waste fabric off the floor at my mom’s factory and “selling” them all to my dad. (Hey: I was born a business woman! )
So far, the most surprising thing about running my own company is…there are too many surprises every single day to count!
The thing I love most about being a #GirlBoss is…that I am my own boss, which comes with discipline, self motivation, and hard work.
The best piece of business advice I’ve ever received is… “You can’t do it all by yourself.”
The thing I’d tell other designers considering starting their own line is…It won’t be easy, but to share with the world what you are passionate about is priceless!
INGA ON HEALTH+JUICE
The fruits and vegetables you’ll always find in my kitchen are…cucumbers and bananas.
In my opinion, the biggest change in Vegas’ healthy-living scene since the time I moved here is…that there is finally a “healthy scene” now. I used to love going to LA and NYC and have so many healthy options. Vegas is finally getting there.
The person who introduced me to cold-pressed juice was…Jamie Stephenson [TJS co-founder and CEO].
Yes or No: I love juice so much I make my own. No. I like the convenience of someone else (TJS) making it for me.
True or false: Making juice at home is a royal pain in the tail. TRUE! Juicing=5 minutes. Cleaning=2 hours.
The first time I drank green juice, I thought it was…Missing sugar.
The reason I drink TJS’s cold-pressed juice is because…it makes me feel good, and I am all about the balance. Juice now, Champagne later.
This is how I incorporate cold-pressed juice into my lifestyle: Have to have my TJS shot flight at least once a week. That’s my obsession.
My favorite TJS flavor is…Bee WHealthy™.
The thing I like best about TJS juice is…EVERYTHING! Organic. Delicious. Local. Friendly. The company knows its stuff! The ambience in there is so amazing, I go to work there sometimes. A Bee Invincible, a shot flight and a juice (Bee WHealthy™, usually) and all of a sudden the work day becomes tastier and healthier.
In my opinion, the thing that resonates with me most about how TJS runs its company is…People there truly care. The company is there to help, to educate and to make the change!
My advice to a newbee juicer is…Go to TJS, try a few samples, pick your favorite (my first one had a lot of fruits) and then build yourself up to a green one. Remember…it’s all about the balance. And I am not going lie: I would rather drink my daily dose of greens than eat it.
