Today we’d like to introduce you to Danella Eliav.
Hi Danella, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
After high school when I was trying to figure out what to do next, I decided I was going to be a part of the fashion program at Santa Monica College. I was able to learn the basics of sewing there for about a month and a half until school was shut down during the pandemic. While I was home, I continued sewing things like masks and altering clothes I had already owned. In 2021, when things calmed down, I met Jack Rettig who is now my best friend and business partner. We started hanging out and realized that we both had an interest in fashion. We started our own projects of thrifting two completely different sweaters, cutting them in half, and sewing them together.
Jack had soon convinced me to start selling these sweaters on instagram while he was trying to pursue a screen printing brand with his friend. For months I would be going to flea markets to try to find vintage sweaters to turn into something new and sell them on instagram and even backyard concerts. I had gained about 700 followers, which was amazing at the time, on an account named @dunellacollective.
During the last couple of months of 2021, I realized that I wanted to be able to make my own designs rather than work with someone else’s. During this same time, Jack had realized that he was more invested in trying to build a brand than the friend he was trying to do it with. We decided that we would both come together and combine what we both wanted into one brand that we could work on together.
By December of 2021, we had picked our brand name, S’envoler (“to fly away” in French). Gratefully, we were given the chance by Jack’s friend to be able to use all of the equipment; the screen printing press, an embroidery machine, a sewing machine, and a warehouse space.
Our designs in the beginning really were not the best, but they always had meaningful messages to them, as we continue to do today. Mental health has always been the center of our focus when it came to designs and the quotes we add to them. One of the reasons butterflies are such a prominent part of our designs is because they represent change and growth. Butterflies need to struggle to break out of their cocoon in order to be strong enough to fly.
Eventually, we began to create a distinct style that we were happy with, and our following began to grow. Jack put school aside to focus on this full time and I quit my job to do the same. We had to go through an entire year of working around 12 hours a day with about three and half hours of commuting time total to get to our warehouse. Only in the past couple of months we’ve been able to work 8 hours a day and take a day or two off each week.
It has been a lot of hard work and tears to get to where we are now but I wouldn’t change anything.
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?
It most definitely has not been a smooth road. Our biggest struggle during our journey has been our mental health. Jack and I both had our share of anxiety and depression before we started all of this. During the beginning of this process, it was especially hard. We had to give up our social lives, juggling work and school, and deal with all the doubt that comes with being in the creative field.
We hadn’t started gaining any traction until April 2022, so in the months leading up to that, we were questioning ourselves and wondering why we were even doing this. The drive just to get to the warehouse was and hour and a half of miserable traffic each morning. Our warehouse space was small and crammed with boxes. The few orders that we had gotten were difficult for to make since we were still figuring it all out. Then around 10 pm every night we would make the drive back home while trying not to fall asleep behind the wheel.
Lastly, figuring out the ins and outs of how to run a legitimate business between two college dropouts has not been easy. We have been trying to figure it all out on our own and it’s been very confusing, but we manage.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I would currently describe what we do as an artistic streetwear brand. We make t-shirts, shorts, sweatpants, sweatshirts, jackets, hats, and pants. We do a lot of screen printing, sewing patches, straps, and embroidery. We specialize in making unique hand-crafted clothing with meaning. Every piece is designed by me and Jack. I think we are known for our usage of quotes- our first piece to ever do well was a sweatshirt with a dragonfly and a quote that said “how strange that we get to be here at the same moment”. All of our quotes are completely unique and come from Jacks brilliant mind. We have something special on every piece, no piece of clothing is ever just a piece of clothing, its art. The way we combine poetry, design, different textures, and fashion are what set us apart from the rest.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up I always had a creative side along with my sisters, thanks to my mother. One of my sisters in an amazing painter, the other an amazing makeup artist. I always knew I wanted to do something in the creative field where I could use my hands, especially since I never really thought school was my thing. In high school I developed my anxiety and depression, assignments became extremely difficult and eventually so did showing up to class.
By my senior year, I had left my school to finish the rest online. After that, I had no idea what I was going to do with myself. I had hoped during the time I was at SMC but covid crushed those. Honestly, I don’t know where I would be in life if I hadn’t met Jack and we hadn’t started this together. I truly believe we both saved each other in that way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.senvoler.store
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senvoler.studio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senvoler.studio
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@senvolerstudio3270
Image Credits
Spencer Sease
