DBRIE x STEVE MADDEN #SELFMADE
our very own DANI - owner + creative director of DBRIE has just been featured on Steve Madden's newest #SelfMade campaign highlighting entrepreneurs throughout the country who are changing the faces of their respective industries. We're so proud of her and all her hard work!
Read her full interview below >
Who’s Dani from dbrie?
Danielle Pinder x 34 years old x Owner, Creative Director
I’m a Miami-born creative. I studied locally at Miami Intl University of Art + Design and worked in the custom dancewear industry for several years while starting my swimwear company, dbrie.
How do you define Self Made?
Carving your own path and not being defined by tradition or what everyone else is doing. Doing it your way.
Where do you feel most inspired?
New York City. Whenever I need a break from Miami, the NYC air makes me feel recharged.
What has been the highlight of your entrepreneurial career?
Landing my first major retail account. It let me know that all the hard work was starting to pay off.
What has been the biggest challenge?
Staying a step ahead trends and setting the brand apart. In a saturated industry, dbrie has been able to find its distinctive voice.
Mantra to live by?
Once you know better - do better. Oh, and #wearitwet
Any inspiring routines we should know about?
Once a week I take time out of my schedule to self-reflect and ask myself, “Would you want to be your own boss, partner, mentor? “ I use a journal to jot down things that happened during the week and how I could have managed them differently and think of alternative solutions. Success isn’t just about what you’ve accomplished financially but who you are as a person. I’m always learning, always growing and eager for the next step.
What’s a normal day like?
Crazy! I spend most days at the dbrie factory, where all the magic happens. We make all the patterns, samples, website orders and small productions, in house.
Every piece that goes out of our factory is meticulously cut by me and sewn by our team. It can be intense, grueling and time consuming but I love it.
Favorite Miami spots?
The Standard, this is where I zen out.
What’s next for you?
Diving head first into ready-to-wear, expanding our current children’s line and moving forward with our men’s line.
What does Miami mean to you?
Most people would say, “Oh, Miami girl who designs swim, how cliché.” But, I really feel so fortunate to live in a place where the ocean is just a few steps away. Bottom line, Miami is Home.
To what do you attribute your success?
Pursuing my initial passion of creating a custom-made brand. It presented me with challenges that really helped me understand all the aspects of a woman’s body. “Fit” is the important part of what I do. Meaning how a garment feels when it’s on you, when your active and moving. Does it move with you? Does it make you feel good?
I want to wear something I feel comfortable in. And when I find a garment that makes me feel good I’m going to want to wear it every day. I strive to create that feeling for everyone that puts on one of my suits.
What tips would you give to other aspiring entrepreneurs?
Embrace the grind. Love the hustle. Know your strengths...and hire your weaknesses.
Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy, and it certainly isn’t for everyone. But for those who can embrace the lessons and hardships that come with entrepreneurship, it is the most fulfilling endeavor imaginable.