Conversations with Arijana Bradley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Arijana Bradley.

Hi Arijana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I came to the United States as a refugee from Bosnia I Herzegovina. My journey has included living in many countries and states, I was always in awe at how differently people dressed all over the world. That is how my passion started for fashion, and today I incorporate the variety of styles that I’ve seen throughout my life into my own designs.

When I started my fashion business, my goal was to make pieces that stand out and canNOT be noticed. This includes glittery puffer coats, light-up costumes, and lots of colorful embroidery. I look at my creations more like a piece of art, not something you can buy from H&M or Zara.

I truly love sewing everything, but my favorite is custom jackets. Aside from taking a few construction courses in the Garment District NYC, I am mainly self-taught. Teaching myself how to make different types of jackets was not easy. I turned to the internet and watched many videos, read blogs and followed lots of sewers on social media to gain as much info as i could. I am still learning a lot, and am super excited to see where the future takes me!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A big part of sewing is pattern making. When I was younger, I told myself not to pick any career that involved too much math. But then I found out really quickly that sewing was all about math! This was difficult because I had to grade patterns from size XS-3XL and larger. I also sew for children and pets, so there were many patterns to get familiar with. It took a lot of patience and time but today it is one of my favorite aspects of the job because I get to be creative and make unique patterns.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Freelance Fashion Designer, Stylist and Seamstress. I am mostly known for custom orders that include special dresses, jackets and costumes. Making top-quality garments that are one of a kind and look as if you cannot buy them at a regular store is what sets me apart from other fashion brands. I am most proud of myself, it is easy to give up but I have fought every day to get my designs out there and my brand more noticed.

What makes you happy?
Family makes me happy. I love spending time and visiting family. For me it’s like a vacation, I get to laugh and relax and totally forget about work. Even though, when I do hang with family I get my best design ideas. They love to tell me what to make or who to dress next.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.modabyari.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/modabyari
• Facebook: Facebook.com/modabyari
• Other: TikTok/modabyari