It’s fitting that the founder of a brand built for life on the move loves to travel. Melissa Shin Mash, the Co-founder and CEO of Dagne Dover, is no stranger to her passport (which we learned she stores in a hands-free mini bag). The Wharton School of Business grad dreamed up the idea of Dagne Dover in 2009 when living in London.
“I was managing the Coach store at Heathrow Terminal 5 in the U.K., when I realized there was a huge opportunity for a new brand rooted in performance materials, smart organization, and a sleek, understated aesthetic,” she shares. “This was the era of everyone wanting to be their own brand – expressing themselves on Twitter and Facebook — and I knew that’s what my friends and I would love to wear — a brand that actually represented our generation and the zeitgeist of our era.”
In 2013, Mash and her two co-founders launched Dagne Dover, building a brand that quickly found its niche in the world of functional, design-forward bags. (For the record: this writer owns both the diaper bag and the fanny pack — proof that parenting gear doesn’t have to look like it.) We caught up with the entrepreneur to talk travel plans, the architecturally striking places she’s booked, and what actually makes it into her carry-on.
Travel Curator: We heard you just got back from an incredible European vacation. Tell us about it.
Melissa Mash: We went to London to visit long-time friends, Paris essentially to eat croissants, and Portugal to experience nature. Portugal stole the show. We all loved the Tuk-Tuk tour in Lisbon, and all of the nature in Lagos, from the sea creature safari on the beach to hiking on cliffs to chasing waves and photoshoots with the arches.
TC: Where did you stay?
MM: For this trip, we stayed at Airbnbs. In Paris, we stayed in an Airbnb apartment in Le Marais, and it was legit in a cave. It was such a vibe.
TC: Top meals of the trip?
MM: We absolutely loved this tiny little restaurant called Au Bougnat, which was tucked away on a small street near Notre Dame in Paris. It felt super French, and everything was delicious.
TC: We also heard you went to South Korea last summer.
MM: My family trip to Korea last August was extremely special because it was my parents’ (who are in their late 70s) last trip back to South Korea. They immigrated to the U.S. in their early 20s, and South Korea has changed tremendously, so in many ways, they felt completely foreign.
To recover from jet lag, we spent the first five days in Myeong-dong, the most lively part of Seoul. Shops, restaurants, and night markets are open late. If anyone was up in the middle of the night, we could leave the rest of the family at the Airbnb and go have a great time.
We then stayed in Bukchon Village, the historical part of town featuring traditional Korean-style homes from a century ago. It’s very close to Insadong and features many lovely shops. We were all obsessed with this Airbnb. We then headed to Jeju Island and stayed at the JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa so we could experience what an Asian hotel is really like — fancy with vast breakfast buffets that are uniquely awesome.
After a few days, we took a road trip to a fishing village with a calming and peaceful Airbnb. Our Airbnb sat right on the water, with an inspiring view of the ocean’s vastness — especially meaningful given my Korean ancestry and the legacy of the Haenyeo, the badass women divers who helped define Jeju’s history. I hadn’t known about them until I read The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See last year.
The architecture in the countryside of Jeju is so beautiful. It has clean lines and simple, natural materials. We joked that my husband, who is Jewish, is actually “Jejewish,” because he was so in love with the aesthetic and architecture of Jeju Island.
TC: When you’re on a flight, what are you wearing?
MM: It’s no secret I love a matching set. Five out of seven days of the week, I’m in one. When I travel, it’s Lunya all the way. Whether it’s their pima cotton, silk, or literally just wearing their chic robe (which I’ve done on a long overnight flight) — it’s the best. Looks great and feels comfortable.
TC: What’s on your face and skin when you fly?
MM: I wear Iris and Romeo Weekend Skin SPF basically every day, but if I am not wearing SPF, then I’ll try to do a Biodance mask the night before to lock in some hydration before flying. My cousins in Korea gave me a lifetime supply last summer, and they did not disappoint.
TC: What bags are you bringing? Are you a checked-bag person or a carry-on-only type?
MM: I carry our Seattle Carry-on and Denver Convertible Duffle. I like to be a matchy-matchy vision when I travel. Then I’ll put an Ace Fanny Pack or Mara Phone Sling in the Denver when I have to get on the flight. I really need all of my essentials to be in a small hands-free bag when I travel. I refuse to live any other way.
TC: What’s inside your in-flight bag?
MM: For a short flight, I’ll have a good book for takeoff and landing (most recently I enjoyed reading Amy Griffin’s The Tell), my laptop, and my Casetify stainless steel water bottle. Overnight flight: Earplugs, Lunya silk eye mask, protein bars, and a foot hammock.
TC: Best jetlag tip?
MM: Take a mini-nap on the flight and stay up for the day when you get to your destination. Honestly, I’m usually just so hyped to be in a new place that I’m not even tempted to sleep until whenever it’s bedtime. If you’re traveling to a city that has a big nightlife, I like to stay near the nightlife to ensure I can leave the kids and experience the city if everyone else is asleep, and I’m ready to rock.
TC: What do you do when you first come home from a trip?
MM: I shower and do all the rituals I didn’t get to do on the road. Usually, a good body scrub, face mask, hair mask, pedicure, body oil, etc. I need to reset with all of my creature comforts.
Feature image, courtesy of Dagne Dover. Travel Curator may earn a commission from product or booking links on this page.
