Beautifying the World, Starting in Bali – Stacy Porteus

Posted: January 15th, 2010 | No Comments »

Stacy Porteus is beautifying the world. As the owner of Diamond Head Road Hawaii, a pure silk clothing and accessories line, she not only is fascinated with fashion and luxury, but she is also intrigued by where it all comes from and having a hand in that process. Having grown up in Hawaii, Stacy and her family relocated from the Big Island of Hawaii to Bali, Indonesia (for starters) to get more involved in the creative side of expanding the line. DHRH scarves and wraps have been enjoyed by inspiring women such as Michelle Obama and most recently Julia Roberts (just in Bali filming Eat, Pray, Love).

Job (aka Career/Calling/Inspiration): Owner and creative director of, Diamond Head Road Hawaii which designs, manufactures and distributes pure silk clothing and accessories to boutiques and spas around the globe. My husband is my partner in crime.

Age: 40

Family situation: Married to a man from Honolulu who attended the same grammar and high school as I did. Unexpectedly, we reconnected right after college and have been together ever since. We have two sons, 5 years old and 19 months.

How do you make sure you feel good everyday? Just making sure that I have a hot, uninterrupted shower in the morning all to myself is a must. As the mother of two small kids, something so simple is heaven for me right now.

What inspires you to do the work that you do? I get such a thrill by the reaction women have when they feel our products, try them on or give them as a gift. As a small business owner I often question why I do what I do, but deep down I feel that I am sharing beauty with the world and that counts for something.

How did you muster up the courage/confidence/stamina to create the life you have? Every career choice my husband and I have made over the past 17 years has been influenced directly by our desire to work together and to spend as much time as possible together as a family.

What’s your approach to nutrition? I have to be organized in order to make sure we’re eating well, nutritiously and naturally. I shop for groceries on Mondays and Thursdays and have a pretty set grocery list. One of the best surprises about Bali has been the wonderful food choices available both locally and from all over the world. One of my favorites? An organic red rice that I top with avocado, chopped onions olive oil and sea salt!

How do you stay inspired when difficult challenges arise? I have a dear friend on the Big Island who leads Buddhist inspired meditation retreats, which I attended at least once a week. Now that we’re so far away, I rely on his book, In the Lap of the Buddha to help lift my mind, heart and spirit out of my very small world and back into the realm of limitless possibilities.

What do you do to stay in balance? I love the saying, “When mom’s happy, everyone is happy.” That’s so true. When I’m grooving, everything flows and good things seem to happen. I need to feel like I’m making progress by checking as many things as possible off the never-ending list. Before and after school are dedicated to family fun time: the lap top is turned off, the list is hidden in a drawer and we focus on doing something active together.

What’s your ultimate indulgence – just for you? Getting a 60-minute reflexology treatment at a spa right down the street while reading a few pages in peace.

What advice do you have for women aiming to have it all?  Following your heart sounds so trite, but I truly believe it’s a secret to happiness that in turn leads to success. It is scary and can be construed as a huge risk by others. I think most people get talked out of taking chances, but chances allow you to be willing to live life to the fullest.

Any other thoughts? My favorite quote: “You must realize that something is happening to you, that life has not forgotten you, that it holds you in its hand and will not let you fall. Why do you want to shut out of your life any uneasiness, any misery, any depression, since after all you don’t know what work these conditions are doing inside you?” - Poet Rainer Maria Rilke