MENTAL VACATION LOOKBOOK

RESILIENCE LOOKBOOK

Resilience Collection - This collection is about bouncing back after facing the many challenges of the past 2 years. The start of 2021 was one of hope and the belief that we had begun to see the light at the end of the tunnel. However with things popping up in the media it seemed like the world was attached to a string yo-yoing back and forth between a new normal and the threat of another lockdown. This collection is a reminder that we as humans face challenges everyday and come out stronger and more resilient than ever. It’s a reminder that “It’s not the strongest of a species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most resilient and responsive to change.”

Let’s start with the basics, how did you get into ethical and sustainable fashion?

I was always drawn to the idea of using business for good, but once I saw The True Cost I was all in. No more fast fashion for me. I was distraught that my habits as a consumer had contributed to the horrors of the fashion industry and destruction of the environment. Fashion is something that is supposed to help us express ourselves and show who we are. I knew that I did not want fast fashion to be part of my self expression.

Here at Dazey, we are huge fans of your blog, “The Honest Consumer”, what was the inspiration behind this?

When I first started The Honest Consumer I was a sophomore in college studying social entrepreneurship, so learning about the idea of using business for good was always on my mind. On top of that I’ve always loved going to craft fairs and started connecting with small businesses who were making a difference in their communities and beyond. I wanted to help spread the good work of these small businesses, so I started The Honest Consumer. I was in a great position because a lot of college aged students are also interested in making a difference and how they spend their money, so this really helped me grow.

We know you started a brand for people who “Give A Damn”, can you tell us a bit more about your brand?

When I would go to craft fairs to shop locally I loved experiencing the interaction between the small business owner and the customer. I think shopping local craft fairs is a great opportunity to create community and have important conversations, so I thought what if I could make some statement t-shirts that could spark more conversations about sustainability, ethics in fashion, and giving a damn. I came across an eco-conscious t-shirt supplier that shared my values for sustainable materials and fair trade practices, so I took the plunge and designed a couple Give a Damn t-shirts and started selling at local craft fairs in Seattle. I’ve always been a bit of a doodler and dabbled in graphic design, so it was a fun project for me.

When I was selling at craft fairs people would always come up and say “Give a Damn about what?” and this was a great conversation starter to talk about the fast fashion industry. I started expanding to include shirts about anxiety, not having it all together, and self love. I just enjoy making people smile and having those meaningful conversations.

As the t-shirts started taking off I wanted to add some more products and find ways to support other small businesses I love. Give a Damn Goods began growing into an online boutique where consumers can come to find fun gifts and accessories while supporting small businesses. 

Here at Dazey, we love giving our customers insights on how we are able to create ethically and sustainably. We would love to hear more about your process of building Give A Damn.

I think when we’re trying to create things in an ethical and sustainable manner it’s important to recognize it’s a process. As makers we have to be willing to learn about the impacts of what we’re making, recognize where we can improve on the sustainability front, and know that there isn’t a perfect way to do things. 

We’re all just trying to do our best and having that openness and willingness to learn has made my journey a lot easier. I think it’s important to find people and supply chain partners who have those same ethical and sustainable values, so that you’re surrounded by people who will support you, explore other creative solutions when something isn’t working, and remind you of your values on the rough days. 

I know you are a mental health advocate as well. How does that play a part in your work as a small business owner?

I’ve struggled with anxiety my entire life. This definitely plays into my work as a small business owner. Honestly, my small business has been really great for my anxiety because I’m so passionate about my business that it pushes me out of my comfort zone and overcome my anxiety. On top of that my anxiety has also inspired a few of my t-shirt designs which is great because this sparks some heartfelt conversations when I’m selling at craft fairs. My mental health as a small business owner can be tricky with work life balance. When I started The Honest Consumer it was a passion project and something I did in my spare time in college, but when I started to monetize the blog that changed. I’m still trying to figure out my work life balance since my hobbies are now how I make my living. Sometimes it’s hard to separate yourself from work when work is so close to you.  

And lastly, what are three sustainable practices that you use every day? Any recommendations for those who are just starting their sustainability journey?

I always try to value what I have. By this I mean reusing any old containers, rewearing everything in my closet as much as I can, and not always rushing out to buy the newest and best thing. I try to reduce plastic wherever I can. For me I use reusable snack bags, zero waste shampoo bars, reusable bags, and reusable water bottles daily. When I do buy new things I always try to buy from businesses that share my values by using sustainable materials and having an ethical supply chain. For people who are just starting their sustainability journey I think it’s important to remember to do what you can. We’re all in different stages of life and have access to different resources so sustainability looks different for us all. And remember it’s a process! Don’t beat yourself up because you will mess up...I make sustainable mistakes just about daily, but showing up and being imperfectly sustainable is better than not showing up at all. 

If you want to learn more about ethical brands and sustainable living check out The Honest Consumer.

ANEW LOOKBOOK 

Anew Collection - This collection is all about fresh starts. 2021 feels like a new chance for many after a rough year. The world has gone through something transformational, together. Perspectives have undoubtedly changed amidst a pandemic. As we slowly come out the other end, none of us are the same we were before. We are stronger. We are more aware. We are anew. Taking the lessons we’ve learned in stride and ready to venture out into the world with cautious optimism. Anew’s designs celebrate our abilities to peace it together, shed the old for new skin, and chance to see the sun rise again.

We shot this whole collection on my iphone in sunny Palm Springs at the amazing Les Cactus hotel! My fiancè Phillip shot and I modeled the collection alongside one of my best friends Serena. Feeling lucky to have a professional model in my Covid-bubble to ensure we were being extra safe :) It turned out really happy and optimistic, the tone we are trying to take into 2021.

 Dazey Den turns basic into a bohemian dream - Lena and Adam's gorgeous home makeover

My interior design side hustle Dazey Den has been growing quickly and we have so many exciting projects to share! This has to be one of my favorite design jobs to date (do I say that every time!?). We got to work with an awesome couple, Lena and Adam, to help makeover their large and light filled living room. They moved into the house recently and wanted to make it feel like home before the arrival of their first baby girl. Lena was game to go colorful yet tasteful, always my ideal combo. Together we turned this bare space into something special, charming, and full of personality. 

Below are some snaps of the before, digital rendering, and final install. The before was a simple clean canvas with great bones to work with - every designers dream! As a graphic designer turned interior designer, I often use my photoshop skills to create digital renderings of the spaces. This way my clients can feel confident before we commit to colors, furniture, and, really, the entire look. Below I share the full process and images from before, digital, and final!

BEFORE

DIGITALLY DESIGNED MOCKUP

FINAL PHOTOS

TAKE THE TOUR

Here are all the final photos I took in the space! Of course shown with some Dazey looks you can shop on the site. I definitely have a specific style that comes through in my artwork, fashion design, and interior design. Nothing makes me more happy then seeing it all together in one package.

Be sure to follow my interior design account HERE and creep my Dazey Den design website as www.dazeyden.com. If you want to talk about designing your space feel free to send me an email at dani@dazeyla.com! 

Living Room

• fireplace wallpaper - Drop it Modern
• Moroccan rug - Etsy 
• couch - Eternity Modern
• mirror - Rejuvenation
• ceramic sculpture - Etsy
• rope art - Cindy Zell
• coffee table - House & Hold
• console table - Anthropologie
• green accent chair - Anthropologie
• tassel chandelier - Etsy
• tassel pillow - Etsy
• floor poufs - D+K Renewal
• pillows - D+K Renewal
• wall-art - D+K Renewal
• frames - Frame it Easy
• ceiling medallion - Lowes

Bar

• chairs -
• cabinet knobs - Wayfair
• colored film - Solar Graphics
• sink faucet - Amazon
• vase - Wayfair
• vase - Anthropologie
• decorative books - Etsy
• jars - Zola
• metal decor - West Elm
• runner - Rug.com
• planter - The Sill
• planter - The Sill
• planter - The Sill
• plant stand - Wayfair
• vase - Ikea
• bud vase - World Market
• glassware - Macys
• bookends - Joss & Main
• decorative stone - West Elm
• ceramic decor - Amazon
• glassware - Favors
• mugs - CB2
• pendant light - Wayfair
• bar stools - Metropolitan Decor

Dining Room

• chairs - 2 Modern
• dining table - Industry West
• credenza - CB2
• lamps - Crate & Barrel
• Moroccan rug - Etsy
• Moroccan rug - San Junipero
• pendant light - Chairish
• lime wash paint - Bauwerk
• mirror - West Elm
• wallpaper - Divine Savages
• modular wall art - Bend Goods
• curtain rods - Amazon
• plant hangers - Etsy
• planters - The Sill
• gold tray - Amazon
• candles - Amazon

Mural Seating

• wall art - Society 6
• lamp - Overstock
• bench - CB2

A roundup of our yearly "holidaze" cards

Being an online business during Dec has never been easy. Last min shoppers (guilty!) expect amazon-speed shipping, and that's just not possible. Then put being a made-to-order brand, a USPS backup, and a pandemic that greatly effects our production on top of it! We get it - and we wish we could get you your goods IRL ASAP, but we do offer another option :)

SHOP GIFT CARDS HERE

For gifts that have yet to arrive we always offer our free downloadable cards so the Dazey Ladies in your life have something to open on Christmas day. This is also an amazing option for having something tangible for digital gift cards! With our signature Dazey designs, they will light up knowing the gift of empowering sustainable style will soon be theirs. Below we have a roundup of 3 different Dazey card's we've offered over the years so you can choose the best one of the babes in your life. Tap links below to download and print!

Merry Moon Holidaze

DOWNLOAD HERE

ALL-IDAZE CARD

DOWNLOAD HERE 

1970s HOLIDAZE CARD

DOWNLOAD HERE

Dazey Den - Interior Design

I love to design all things, from clothing, textiles, to interiors! I launched my interior design side hustle, @dazyden, about a year ago. I feel incredibly grateful to have already partnered with some amazing fellow creative entrepreneurs on seriously statement spaces. 

May I introduce to you to my latest Dazey Den project, @vibrancylab. This is a wildly colorful downtown photo studio available to rent for photoshoots! My client's Geo Leon and Chris Hernandez are both hyper-real photographers and wanted a studio that matched their "push it to the limits" take on creativity. One thing that really ties my design work together across mediums is my love of color, vintage flair, and bold design. I love to empower people to make daring decisions and live their lives in a way that expresses who they are to the max! This space goes beyond my wildest dreams and I feel like for the first time a client was pushing me to go more colorful and maximalist LOL. But I am sure glad they did because this space truly tuned out incredible.

Furniture/coffee table: Apt2B

Lighting: My Mitzi

Wallpaper: Hygge & West

Blue wire chair: Bend Goods

Framed prints: The Novogratz 

Framed prints: The Aesthetic Union

Paint: Dunn Edwards

UNITY 2020 - DAZEY FALL WINTER LOOKBOOK

We are done with division and ready for the united front. To usher in an era of seeing our similarities and choosing to celebrate our differences. Respecting each individual and growing together. A world where we are one.

Differences in cultures, appearances, and beliefs is what makes us as humans so unique. When we stop trying to fit everyone, ourselves included, into the same mold is when we get to appreciate the beauty and complexity of diversity.

This collection is about banding together to do better. Putting our individual needs aside for the good of the group. Thinking about our impact on others and on our earth. Together we will unite and make a positive impact on this planet and the people in it.

2020 has been a hard year on everyone. Let's take a break from the hate and begin to show some understanding and empathy. Everyone has a story, everyone has feeling, everyone has value. Despite all differences, these are the most powerful thing that unite us all. 

We have launched the new collection alongside our new logo! We are constantly elevating our brand and want all our visuals to reflect that. Dazey was always a way for me to use clothing as a canvas, but lately we've been turning my actual physical artwork into apparel as well. As we embrace this new artistic direction we've decided to add my signature to the tees and change our logo to reflect that. Actual art printed on artisanal-made apparel! 

Pre-order during the pandemic

Covid-19 has dramatically effected the production side of the fashion industry and we have been effected profoundly. We are launching this collection as our first ever full pre-order model in an effort to be more transparent with our customers who have been incredibly understanding as we navigate these uncertain times. Please read pre-order dates on the top of every new listing to avoid any confusion! 

Lookbook Location: @bendgoods

Hair: @beverleyfamous

Models: @beverleyfamous, @rynnhiggs, @itsjustjasy, @danidazey

Photographer: @danidazey, @phillipbutler

SHOP & SEE NEW NOW

 DECLARING, DECLARE!

World, meet Declare by Dazey LA! A sub-line we created to declare who you are and what you want to say to the world. We wanted to make our meaningful apparel slightly more economical and decided to launch Declare to do just that. Still sustainable, but focused on direct sales and price ranges more within reach to the everyday consumer. Declare is all about empowering phrases and more simple designs and tees. Stripping down Dazey to what matters most! Wear your heart on your tee with Declare by Dazey LA.

The Deets on Declare

The idea for Declare has been brewing for years now. We have been slowly redefining and elevating our main label, Dazey LA, to be more visual and artist-driven. While we LOVE an abstract artsy moment, we didn't want to leave behind our powerful phrases. Declare was a way we can keep our messages going strong. We also wanted to open up our brand to a new audience who may prefer a simpler tee or who are more budget-conscious. By focusing on direct sales and cutting out a few of our production processes we have brought the Dazey price of $52 down to $38 for Declare.

We had these samples made pre-pandemic and I have been sitting on them waiting for a good time to launch. We are finally beginning to get a handle on our more complicated production timeline and decided to test the waters with a pre-order! Get yours in today to ensure you will make the small batch run. Taking pre-orders until 10/15 and then moving forward with production. Our expected ship date is 11/01. 

SHOP DECLARE

SHOP DECLARE NOW

DAZEY LA x MODCLOTH COLLECTION

10% of all sales will be donated to @girlupcampaign, a movement to advance girls' skills, rights, and opportunities to be leaders. When girls rise, we all rise. Over the past few months we have been working closely with the ModCloth team to develop these exclusive designs aimed to make a difference! I couldn’t be more proud of what we made together and honored to be given such a large platform to share our brands message of empowering people. Dazey has been on a mission this year to encourage large fashion brands to #STOCKSUSTAINABLE and this is a huge step towards that goal. Shop all these styles and posters to match on MODCLOTH.COM now. Just click the Dazey x ModCloth banner on the top of their home page (omg)!

The ModCloth team did a really answer interview and blog post that we are excited to reshare on our website as well. You can see the original HERE or read it all below!

MODCLOTH INTERVIEW WITH DANI - DAZEY X MODCLOTH

As our customers know, we (ModCloth) are all about women supporting women. Our latest collaboration is no different: Dazey LA is designed by women to empower women! Made ethically in LA using organic cotton, the colorful collaboration looks good and does good. 10% of proceeds from our collaboration will be donated to Girl Up, a movement to advance girls’ skills, rights, and opportunities to lead.

It should come as no surprise that the woman behind Dazey LA is a female force to be reckoned with! Dani is a multi-hyphenate, serving as the brand’s owner and designer. A self-taught artist, she’s transformed Dazey LA from a indie darling to a full-fledged brand that has collaborated with Anthropologie, and now ModCloth! We sat down with the phenom to discuss all things Dazey LA, divine femininity, and what design means to Dani.

As one can imagine, getting a clothing brand up and running is no easy feat. However, for Dani, the blood, sweat, and tears are all worth it. “I’ve been running Dazey for over 4 years now and I get to live out my dream job every day.” For Dani, the old saying about choosing a job you love and never having to work a day in your life rings true. “Dazey is the accumulation of everything I am passionate about! Art, fashion, color, vintage design, sustainability, positivity, and female empowerment.”

Just like any other self-starter, Dani started out small, designing graphic tees for big brands such as Urban Outfitters and Macy’s. While she was happy to be working as an artist, she couldn’t help but chafe against corporate culture. “I wanted to start a clothing line that was more meaningful and powerful. A space where I can create the art and share the messages that are important to me. Dazey has become both canvas and platform to do that!”

Collaborate and Listen

While Dani may have gotten her start working for big brands, she’s now collaborating with them! Most recently, Dazey LA collaborated with Anthropologie for a Cali-inspired collection (our personal fave is the Positivity Please Mug). When she stops to reflect on how far the Dazey LA brand has come, she can’t help but marvel at how her design dreams have come true. “It feels like everything has come full circle after spending so long being a small designer on the inside of big brands like this. Being seen and recognized as my own independent designer is all I ever dreamed of!”

However, one pitfall of working as a small, independent artist is constantly having some of those big brands knock off your designs. Recently, Dani took to Instagram to call out another company for copying her amazing nude print. “I wish I could say that was an isolated incident, but sadly it’s something that happens on a weekly basis at least. It can be very disheartening as someone who puts my all into my art and design.”

To avoid these copy-cat instances in the future, Dani encourages big brands to collaborate, not copy. “I really hope instead companies choose to support the indie designers by carrying their work instead of replicating it. Our Dazey x ModCloth collaboration is a perfect example of that!”

Divinely Dazey LA

At ModCloth, we describe our designs as unique and vintage-inspired. When we asked Dani how she would sum up Dazey LA, it feels like we were made for collaboration! “Visually Dazey is all about art, vintage design, and color! So attuned to the ModCloth aesthetic.” Also similar to ModCloth, Dani wants her designs to look good and do good, especially when it comes to supporting women. “Something I also try to tie into my design work is a meaningful message. Every Dazey collection revolves around an important or tricky topic modern women struggle with. I use the artwork and words on our graphics as a way to create compelling conversations.”

With Dazey LA’s most recent collection, Divinity 2020, that conversation centers around celebrating, as Dani describes it, “The potent and powerful divine feminine.” The collection leans in with bold graphics, tie dye prints, and unique silhouettes, all celebrating the feminine form. “I think in many ways, women are told in order to be respected or advance in their careers, they need to reject femininity or softness. I firmly believe these things can coexist and female energy is a wonderful and beautiful thing to celebrate.”

Rather than shy away from feminine energy, Dani embraces it throughout her designs. “Feminine energy represents intuition, nurture, connection, and collaboration. Since the dawn of time women have been depicted as goddesses and creators of life. Graceful and powerful figures inspiring some of the deepest emotions and greatest works of art.”

Ain’t that the truth?

Shop the ModCloth x Dazey LA Collaboration Now!