“There is no ‘typical’ way to become an entrepreneur, and I think my trajectory reflects that,” Emily Hikade, the founder and CEO of luxury pajama brand Petite Plume tells Grazia USA. That is quite can understatement considering Hikade made a career shift from CIA officer working overseas to founder and CEO of Petite Plume.
“In forging a new path entirely, it was obviously a huge career change with notable differences that would be expected,” says Hikade, who founded the brand in 2015. “But it might surprise people the similarities. Being able to adapt my skills, knowledge, and training has led me to be better in business and navigate through some unexpected hurdles.”
The story of Petite Plume and Hikade’s path as an entrepreneur are truly extraordinary. “There is never a good time to start a company,” admits Hikade, who was living in East Africa with a full-time job and small children when a fateful journey motivated her toward a career change. “I was on a plane to a high threat meeting when the plane started to go out of control,” she recalls. “The lights went out, people were screaming as the plane cascaded toward the water. All I could see was the faces of my three little boys at home. The smallest one wasn’t even a year old and I felt profoundly sad that they were going to grow up without a mom. To say that was a pivotal moment in my life would be an understatement.”
The plane miraculously corrected and from that moment on, Hikade started on the path toward launching Petite Plume. “I used to live in France, and you could find these classic style pajamas literally in the grocery store, but I couldn’t find them in the U.S. for my children. So that started my journey. I literally figured out how many pajamas I had to sell to replace my government salary and that wasn’t as daunting.”
Hikade made a plan but also let things fall into place naturally. “When it comes to planning for business, and often in life, I think that it is so important to have a defined, structured and thorough road map for success,” she says. “On the flip side it’s just as important to be flexible, learn how to adjust the plan and overcome any obstacle, as anything could be around the corner.”
That mindset has paid off for Hikade and the Petite Plume brand, which is now available in major retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s as well as Mainsonette and ShopBop. There have been collaborations with Minnow, M.M. LaFleur and Palm Beach’s iconic Colony Hotel.
“We have exciting collaborations on the horizon, as well as expanding our bedding and home collection,” Hikade says. “Bringing Petite Plume to life, from an idea to a reality, was all about taking the first step. I never dreamed we’d be where we are now and we’re just getting started.”
Looking back at the past five years, the potential for the next five years is endless, says Hikade. “In 2024, Petite Plume is moving into the next stage of our growth, with incredible brand moments and milestones for the company. The possibilities are endless, as I couldn’t have predicted where I would be today when I started the business, and new doors of opportunity are opening every day.”
