Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna Via.
Hi Brianna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For me, a good or a bad day was determined by my outfit. I fell in love with fashion at a super young age and knew I wanted to develop a career in my passion. After working multiple jobs in the fashion industry, I eagerly decided to start a clothing line. My younger self, working at retail in high school, learned the importance of keeping a clothing company looking neat and organized at all times.
In my late teens, working as a stylist, I learned you could change someone’s entire demeanor and confidence with an outfit they felt beautiful in. In my early twenties working as a fashion influencer, I discovered how important and fulfilling it was to inspire and connect with an audience. Later on, working as a model and creative director, I learned the true meaning of “teamwork makes the dream work” and that to accomplish my goals I wouldn’t be able to do it alone.
BRIAVIA allowed me to combine everything I loved in life all into one enterprise. At the end of the day, BRIAVIA is not about making money for myself but about making money to make things that I am proud of and the amazing team I have built behind me!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
BRIAVIA was 100% built off of trial and error, but most importantly patience! This vision started as a side hustle for three years, which I would reinvest my personal earnings before it turned into a full-time job. For the first two years, I started BRIAVIA as a multifunctional clothing brand. Past pieces could be worn in many ways by being reversible, moving straps around, wearing pieces upside down, etc. Unfortunately, reversible styles cost double the amount of fabric, complex designs confused many pattern makers, and I was having an extremely hard time teaching my consumers how to wear them, which led me to pivot. Creating a more straightforward approach, I focused on quality materials, flattering cuts, and solving common solutions to make you look and feel your best!
I am always about being transparent and want to note I am still faced with adversity. For example, I always marketed my business as being AAPI women-owned, however during the recent COVID-19 pandemic as a crime against Asian Americans in the United States started to rise, I felt that having an Asian heritage was inherently bad for business. There will constantly be bumps along the way, but most importantly I’m hoping my story can help pave the way and encourage more future women POC entrepreneurs and leaders!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
BRIAVIA is a premium quality, timeless, basic fashion brand that focuses on offering everyday individuals a way to look and feel their best without breaking the bank. All of our sales are direct to consumers3. Our pieces are made in Los Angeles and Indonesia, using only the most durable, stretchy materials with sizes ranging from XS-2XL. Our best-selling tank has been a best seller for 3 years since our designs never go out of style!
The ideal BRIAVIA customer appreciates functional and practical pieces that can be worn on a casual day or elevated on a night out. This person wants a more minimalistic lifestyle that focuses on quality over quantity by building a capsule wardrobe. He or she values comfort but still wishes to look good by wearing thoughtfully designed pieces to enhance their best features!
I hope to transform consumer consumption habits, where he/she won’t have to continue to constantly buy new pieces. I am creating clothing that respects the planet and everyone involved in the process. One way that BRIAVIA is helping the planet is by our commitment to planting a tree for every order with our GO GREEN initiative. In addition, we are educating our customers with monthly reports on how they are having an effect in helping the environment. I strive to continually educate my customers and even have even added an additional donate a tree option if they wanted to help out more! BRIAVIA focuses on a minimum of two non-profit partnerships per year. Last October we created a “Think Pink” collection and donated over $2,000+ of profits to Breast Cancer Research in October 2022. As we continue to grow, I know we will have more extensive opportunities and it will always be a priority to get my team and customers involved! This business is more than just about making clothes that I am proud of, it is about building a brand that disrupts the present fast-fashion ecosystem so that everyday individuals are more prone to shopping with impact!
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Starting a fashion brand has taught me a lot of valuable lessons, but the most important one is the importance of staying true to your brand’s vision and values. It’s easy to get caught up in the fast-paced, ever-changing nature of the fashion industry and start chasing trends or copying others in an attempt to stay relevant. However, this can dilute the unique identity of your brand and make it difficult to differentiate yourself from the competition. By staying true to your brand’s vision and values, you can build a strong and loyal customer base and a reputation for authenticity and integrity.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://Briavia.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/briavia
Image Credits
Headshots by @Perazna Lifestyle @StillVika
