DAZEY LADY SHOP BIPOC SPOTLIGHT - SHOP SMALL

This beauty is Hafseigh, the founder and designer of Kweyve Textiles. We put out a search on Dazey’s Insta wanting to support and spotlight more BIPOC brands in the Dazey Lady Shop. When Hafseigh reached out I was blown away by her stunning handmade and hand-dyed pieces. We decided to put all of our proceeds from the “Shop Small” tee fundraiser towards carrying these beautiful garments on our site and hope to continue support her brand for a long time to come!

MEET HAFSEIGH

We wanted to learn and share more about the boss babe behind the brand! When I first connected with Hafseigh I was fascinated by her work and story and thought the Dazey community might be too. Read below to hear all about her entrepreneurial journey and how we connected and collaborated. 

Hafsat Sani Sami is the owner and creator of the Kweyve brand and all of its offsprings (@kweyvetextiles @kweyvehome @kweyve). A graduate of Business management and student of Interior Architecture and Design. Kweyve is a creative brand based in Nigeria which creates clothing, jewelry, textiles, shoes, scarves, candles, ceramics and so much more. Almost everything is hand made by the artist herself, from the dying of textiles, hand painting of t-shirts, designing every piece of jewelry and shoes, to creating all of the graphics and packaging for the brand. The Kweyve brand was started up officially in 2017 as a hobby after Hafsat dropped out of interior design school to pursue what she knew was her passion and purpose; creating art that uplifts the spirit in any medium at all that feels right. The Kweyve Brand has been featured on CNN Africa, BBC, alongside numerous blogs and publications, Nationally and Internationally. To Hafsat, Kweyve is not just a brand, but a safe space for self-expression, self-acceptance, and self-evolution. There is healing within the art.

Hafsat's story

I have been following the Dazey LA page for about 3 years. Watching the brand and its owner fearlessly unfold and evolve constantly spoke to everything Kweyve is. When it came time to decide to partner up with an international brand that would help me spread the universal message of self-love and empowerment through art and clothing, especially during the current times, where the voices of women, and especially women of color who are being silenced. It was a no brainer that I wanted to reach out to Danielle and Dazey. It felt natural. Our reasons and motivations to keep going, and keep growing and expanding seemed to align so effortlessly. Dazey LA is a brand just like mine, that amplifies the voices and confidence of all women, around the world. It felt like it was meant to be. 

Kweyve (Kway-Vey) is my middle name and means “the ONE woman”, “or THE woman amongst women” It is gotten from the Lelna Tribe in Zuru, Kebbi, Nigeria. The name was given to me by my father who is the king of my tribe, in my later life. From the day I learned its meaning, I knew that it was perfect. It spoke to everything I was trying to become and build. The Kweyve woman is a woman who is bold, and fearlessly passionate. The Kweyve woman is “The One Woman” that will continue to stand out and always go after everything she deserves. 

The journey to building Kweyve has been such a beautiful one thus far. It has been a journey not only of building a brand that creates beautiful art but one that has supported the evolution of a woman and an artist.

It began in 2016 after I had moved back home from studying interior architecture at the Academy of Art University in San Fransisco. I worked as the creative director of a furniture manufacturing company owned by my mother for about a year before I felt I wanted to really branch out and pursue the arts. It took a lot of back and forth, and internal struggling to finally dive in headfirst. I come from a society in Nigeria where pursuing the arts has never been a thing that’s taken seriously so naturally there was a lot of fear.

For about 2 years I was painting in my bedroom, just as a hobby, trying to figure out if my art was “worthy” enough to be seen by the world. I posted my canvases online and I sold a few. The love my art was receiving, made me want to figure out other ways I could allow my supporters to enjoy it more. The more I created, the more the creative in me wanted to create. I was really curious and wanted really to try all mediums. Textiles were high on that list. The thought of seeing my creations in motion and in flow, on beautiful people all over the world. Watching people create memories and moments of joy wearing Kweyve is all I wanted, and that led to the birth of my baby Kweyve Textiles.

I am very much inspired by myself and the women around me. Watching women constantly exist beyond the norm and be vocal about who they are as they find their space is this world has always been a driving force. I have seen how self-expression, self-love, creativity, and continuous growth in spite of fear has transformed my life first hand. This inspires me every day to motivate and speak up for those who aren’t quite ready to do so for themselves, through the art of course. I try to bring that energy into my design process as much as possible. I design for those who aren’t afraid to stand out, especially now more than ever. It is important to bring a voice to the voiceless and to allow women to express themselves through clothing or whatever little way I could make that happen. I use a lot of bold colors, imagery, and elements to represent strength and roots, and what it is to be grounded and be whole in oneself.

My production process is pretty much me at the moment. I hand dye and hand paint my textiles (and everything else) myself to this day in my beautiful studio located in the garden of my beautiful house. I have an amazingly talented team of tailors who help me with constructing the pieces. Creating every Kweyve piece is such a personal journey. Each garment is one of a kind, as it is humanly impossible to replicate dye patterns. I think that that definitely adds character to each piece. I think it’s something special to know, that no one in the entire world, will ever have an identical Kweyve garment as you.

Small and sustainable business production is a way of life. I have found that having a small team allows for all our processes to be personal as well as efficient. There is minimal waste as we try to transform any leftovers to something just as beautiful (eg; the leftover fabric is converted to our beautiful summer slide ) There is something very magical about being mindful of our environment as we produce, and being a small business gives us the power and control to do so. With the world of fast fashion, it very worrisome the amount of waste that is accumulated every day. I think it’s very important and necessary how small and sustainable businesses are being mindful and doing their part in minimizing waste. I will always do the little I can.

The ultimate goal for me would be to keep growing and doing better as an artist and individual first of all. I am so thankful that my work allows for that constantly. I would love to build an ethical brand which values remain true. The empowerment and upliftment of anyone who comes in contact with my brand. I hope that I’m able to keep expanding as a company and making room for other creatives to find their voices and their place in this big big world. As much as I’m creating I hope that I’m inspiring. I just hope that I can keep creating art that matters.

View this post on Instagram

Walking into 2020 with extreme confidence that I am in true alignment by the Grace of God. Draped in Kweyve like the true princess that I am. #ThePrincessCollection ✨ 📷: @greenvine_studios Makeup: @glamsizzle

A post shared by Princess KweyveLove🌱 (@hafseigh) on Dec 31, 2019 at 12:09pm PST

View this post on Instagram

Dream ✨

A post shared by Princess KweyveLove🌱 (@hafseigh) on Dec 30, 2019 at 11:49am PST

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kweyve Textiles 🇳🇬 (@kweyvetextiles) on Aug 9, 2020 at 2:51am PDT

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kweyve Textiles 🇳🇬 (@kweyvetextiles) on Jun 10, 2020 at 1:00pm PDT

Dazey Den Design does the Almost 30 HQ

Yes that's right! We not only outfitted the Almost 30 nation with custom apparel, but also their stunning office space. It turned out so magical we decided each collab needed a dedicated blog post to itself. Last year I launched my latest side-hustle, interior design under the name Dazey Den. This was one of my very first big client projects and I am so excited to share.

For those who may not have heard of the powerhouses that are Lindsey and Krista of Almost 30 Podcast, here's the scoop! These gals have become media moguls as their popular podcast has over 12 million downloads. They have interviewed top doers and thinkers of our generation such as Rachel Cargle, Marie Forleo, and Sophia Amoruso. Krista and Lindsey touch on important topics like entrepreneurship, self-development, wellness, culture, and spirituality. 

It was a really cool project where we wanted to make an office space that was both playful but also elevated, just like their Podcast. Mixing in bold color similar to their branding with grounding pieces that also reflect the meaning behind their message. It’s a space they want to be proud to bring their team and powerful/well known interviewees into (Covid-permitting) and feel comfortable and inspired. 

We mixed in meaningful and personal pieces, like my original paintings made just for the space (including an abstract portrait of both of the gals on the mic which is hung in the recording studio space), with both new and old furniture finds.  

What made the project also unique was that it had to be designed as both their HQ and Lindsey’s personal home. Outside of being the Almost 30 office, Lindsey has a separate bedroom area and uses the living room and kitchen space as her own. I know this well as my boyfriend and I, who both work for Dazey LA and Dazey Den, work and live from home too. We’ve learned tips and tricks over the years on how to work well from home and keep working/living spaces useable for both. I had to take into account it being multi-purpose when sourcing the right furniture and considering layout. They really picked an awesome commercial/residential location and multi-use building that lent itself to that as well. Being flexible and getting creative is SO helpful when making a live/work space. 

SHOP THE SPACE:

Original artwork: Dazey Den

https://www.instagram.com/dazeyden/

Furniture: Joybird  

https://www.instagram.com/joybird/

Lighting: Hudson Valley Lighting and My Mitzi

https://www.instagram.com/hudsonvalleylighting/

https://www.instagram.com/mymitzi/

Kitchen chair/stool and wire wall art: Bend Goods

https://www.instagram.com/bendgoods/

Wallpaper: Hygge & West

https://www.instagram.com/hyggeandwest/

Paint: Dunn Edwards

https://www.instagram.com/dunnedwards/

Pillows/blankets: Kipp & Co

https://www.instagram.com/kipandcousa/

Custom apparel collaboration Almost 30 Poscast

I was so excited when Krista and Lindsey, the incredible hosts behind this powerful podcast, reached out to have Dazey design and produce their very first line of merchandise! Talk about two boss babes who use their platform for good. These gals have become media moguls as their popular podcast has over 12 million downloads. They have interviewed top doers and thinkers of our generation such as Rachel Cargle, Marie Forleo, and Sophia Amoruso. Krista and Lindsey touch on important topics like entrepreneurship, self-development, wellness, culture, and spirituality. They really connect to and relate with their audience and I was a big fan of their work before they even contacted me. 

Collaborating with like minded female entrepreneurs is one of the favorite facets of my job. They fully believe in everything our brand stands for - female empowerment, sustainability, ethical production, and representation. Not to mention they are a dream to work with design wise and were all on board for that Dazey color and quirk! We used fun catch phrases and inside jokes from their show along with playful and empowering artwork. Their massive audience, dubbed the Almost 30 Nation, is in for such a treat when they try on their new buttery soft organic cotton Almost 30 x Dazey designs! 

We recently launched out Custom Collaborations program and have been honored to have already with some of our favorite female-fronted brands like Create & Cultivate, Nena & Co, Yellow Conference, and now Almost 30! If you are curious about doing a custom collaboration please email me at dani@dazeyla.com! 

CLICK HERE TO SHOP THE DESIGNS

DAZEY DIVINITY COLLECTION LAUNCH

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. This collection is a celebration of the potent and powerful divine feminine. 

Do not deny, you are divine. We are done being told to feel like anything less than our highest self. Find inspiration in sisterly connection, our mother earth, and the vastly varied and equally beautiful female form. It’s time we embrace our inner Goddess and shine.

In the spirit of female connection and collaboration, we have partnered with ethically made and female-owned brand Lsea to release a line of Dazey print suits and workout wear!

THE SCOOP BEHIND OUR SOCIAL DISTANCED SHOOT

For the "Divinity" collection we of course originally wanted a big group of goddesses together looking all ethereal and shit, but then Covid happened...I even had plans to recreate the shell in "The Birth of Venus" LOL. But the name of the game these days in small business is PIVOT PIVOT PIVOT, so that's what we did. At first, I sort of assumed we wouldn't be able to do anything and was going to just release our basic backdrop e-commerce photos when we made the collection go live, but c'mon that's just not Dazey's style! After some thinking (and after the initial lockdown depression wore off) I was reminded of a friend's beautiful vacation home. I met Caroline Ingraham Lee, AKA @teamwoodnote, when I featured her on the blog a few years back. We happened to both buy houses in Palm Springs around the same time and I have loved following along as she decorated her stunning A-frame. Magically her home happened to be vacant at the perfect time and 5 mins from our Dazey Desert House. Of course, since I am also an interior designer @dazeyden, shooting in nicely decorated spaces is sort of a go-to for Dazey! Having the perfect space makes shooting 10x easier and between her airy living room, blush bedroom, and unreal outdoor spaces, it was truly a breeze. Plus her newly made outdoor pool was perfect for our swim/stretch collaboration with Lsea swim! I've been modeling for Dazey since the beginning and my partner Phillip has become a pro at snapping content, so we were lucky enough that the whole "crew" can just be us two! Of course, we've never tried to shoot and produce a whole lookbook on this small of a scale, but I'm happy to report we pulled it off and it still feels special enough for a collection launch :) SO without further adieu, check out all the images for yourself below!

SHOP NEW COLLECTION NOW

Often times in highlighting entrepreneurship, people tend to talk about the already super successful people and their hero's journey. And while I am a sucker for these stories, there's something to be said about highlighting someone's journey who is in the trenches. Recently Go-Daddy documented the journey of a Female Entrepreneur in her first year in business and boy did it take me back! From small pop-ups in 2016 to giant lookbook projects in 20202. Perspective is everything and unless we take time to reflect on how far we have come we can't truly appreciate and be grateful for our progress.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO

Watching the start of Wicker Goddess's  entrepreneurial journey reminded me of mine. She decided to leave the corporate world and take a risk on her dreams, as did I. It's scary AF, but there are really so many resources out there (like GoDaddy, where Dazey's website is hosted!) and people willing to help and support. It's been 4 years since I started Dazey and now we are in a place that I could have never imagined. Being carried by brands like Free People and getting write ups in Forbes?! I was just a girl who wanted to make art and empower other people to do the same. While I have evolved and pivoted so many times in these 4 short years, the passion is still there and I feel so lucky to do what I do everyday. I wanted to take this opportunity to look back at Dazey over the years and see how the brand and myself have changed and what we have accomplished!

We launch 3 meaningful collections a year that have been the biggest driver behind the brand. over the past 4 years we have officially launched 13 collections total. Below is a look into some past collections, what they meant, and my favorite snap from the lookbook. I hope anyone reading can feel encouraged by Wicker Goddess's and my own journeys and maybe feel a little more emboldened to give their dreams a try too! 

SPRING 2020 - PURE POWER

It can be easy to feel powerless over your own life or the things going on around you, however, it can be just as easy to forget that you possess the pure power to make a difference. You hold all of the strength within you to make real change in this world and manifest your wildest dreams. This collection is a reminder to celebrate where your true power lies - in your voice, passion, creativity, compassion, and love. 

FALL/WINTER 2019 - FORCE FOR GOOD

Retrograde, heavy politics, and algorithm defeats may bring us down, but we’re harnessing the good energy and showing up strong despite it all. We are transforming those vicious vibes into pure power and creating a Force for Good— a campaign on hope, kindness, and the power of positive action & attitude.  We are choosing to see the good and be the good for the betterment of our world.

SUMMER 2019 - THE CONFIDENCE COLLECTION

The Confidence Collection is all about affirming your worth, your beauty, and the incredibly unique perceptive you bring to the table. These new Dazey sayings and graphics are here to hype you up in all you are so you can GET IT GIRL! This collection was made to encourage you do the damn dream, work that confidence and show up fully as the fierce female you are. 

SPRING 2019 - HIGHLIGHT REAL

A collection designed to celebrate the REAL things in an ever increasing digital world. Whether it be spending more time IRL or being more transparent online, we are HERE for it. As women, we are constantly bombarded with unrealistic ideas of perfection and #goals through never-ending “highlight reels” in media. We're done with that. We are ready to highlight REAL moments, emotions, and conversations that matter and can better our human connections with others and ourselves. We are ready to transform the negative effects of a highlight reel by highlighting REAL life as much as we can. 

FALL/WINTER 2018 - STRENGTH IN SISTERHOOD

There is strength in our sisterhood and it’s time we celebrate it. In this collection, we highlight the power women have as a collective force and identify that our intersections and differences are what makes us undeniably strong and whole. We are better together. We are stronger together. And in united sisterhood, together we can move forward.

SUMMER 2018 - SELF CARE SUMMER

So often we are told that success will bring you happiness and this collection challenges that. These designs serve as little reminders that success is not what brings happiness. Enjoying where you are and consciously going a little easier on yourself. Choosing to be grateful about every thing you do have. Learning what is worth your time and energy and funneling more of those precious resources into yourself.

SRPING 2018 - SPEAK UP SPEAK OUT

Each of our collections center around a theme having to do with female empowerment. This specific one is powerful and couldn’t be more relevant. The Speak Up Speak Out collection was designed to give women a voice in a society that often tries to silence them. Whether it’s empowering women to speak up for themselves or to speak out against sexual violence. Time’s up, it’s our turn to talk!

FALL/WINTER 2017 - DREAMER AND DOER

This collection is inspired by taking that leap of faith and going from a dreamer to a doer. Choosing to pursue your dreams and ideas and go all in. We like to define a Dazey Lady as an, "Everyday girl choosing to be brave and share their ideas and talents with the world." Often time the hardest part of starting a new venture or choosing to go after a dream is just making that decision. The graphics all have phrases and artwork to inspire you to go make it happen! 

SUMMER 2017 - SUMMER OF SELF LOVE

A play on words derived from the "summer of love" concert in the late 60s, The Summer of Self Love collection was designed to promote positivity and inspire women to know their worth! There can be so much comparison and self deprecation in these crazy days of social media. I wanted these tees to reinforce that YOU ARE VALUABLE. Every time a girl wears her Dazey I want her to feel bold, beautiful, and confident. A little reminder that she is not alone but apart of a the Dazey Lady community! 

SPRING 2017 - MARCH ON

Inspired by the first ever Women's March that took place on January 21st. It was a wild day for me, I woke up early to march and by that afternoon gave a speech in front of 1,500 people. It was easily the most empowering day of my life, and that does something to you. I woke up that next day feeling so inspired I had to do something about it, so I designed this collection!

2016 - RESOLUTIONS COLLECTION

This collection is all about resolutions. A Dazey Lady is always positive and strives to create a better future for herself and the world she lives in. I wanted to make something to help remind her to stay strong even when the future seems uncertain. You can’t rain on our Dazey Lady parade!

2016 - LADY LOVE

In this day and age women are making huge strides and I am so proud. Dazey is so much more than a brand to me, it has become a way to connect, inspire, and share with women around the world who are also pursuing their creative dreams. At the start of my entrepreneurial journey it was the camaraderie I had with fellow small business owners that gave me the courage to keep going.  This collections celebrates these bad ass women!

Empowering All and Weaving Values with Nena & Co

Last year the bad ass female-founder Ali Hynek of Nena & Co reached out about doing a tee design for Nena! Their speciality is ethically-made woven bags from Guatemala that honor both the artisan makers and her heritage. These bags are stunning and I owned a few before even meeting Ali and the Nena team. They were looking to do some speciality graphic tees that further the message behind their bags and company, empowering women from the marker to the end wearer. They weren't sure where to source beautiful and sustainable shirts, so figured who better to work with than Dazey!? We do a lot of wholesale and I had recently been toying with the idea of doing custom designs for our wholesale clients. When Ali inquired I couldn't think of a better partner to do my first run of custom collaborations with! This is the first of a few exciting collabs coming out with alligned brands we love. If you are interested in getting an organic/ethically-made custom graphic tee made for your brand, event, or whatever else please email dani@dazeyla.com and I can send you over our collab collab packet :)

Empower One Empower All

Nena and Dazey are so aligned, I had the best time designing meaningful tees that just felt right. This graphic is meant to talk about empowering each individual in the supply chain, from the marker to the end user. In the fashion industry it is common for garment workers to be abused and grossly underpaid, just so people in more affluent countries can get a cheaper purse or piece of clothing. Even many "feminist" t-shirt brands are printed on tees that have been made under these conditions. While you may feel empowered wearing it, the way it was produced directly goes against what you are preaching. Having a responsible and respectful supply chain is of utmost importance to both Nena and Dazey. This tee celebrates every woman who touches our products. from start to finish, being empowered. Empower one, empower ALL!

Weaving Values

Of course Nena is known for their stunning woven bags. When Ali was in Guatemala she fell in love with the local artisan weavings. She had the idea of designing more wearable western-style bag silhouettes, while still honoring the art-from of the markers, and helping them make good money. Nena & Co was born and has grown wildly successful since! Below is the mission statement behind their brand. They are truly weaving values! 

"IT IS THE MISSION OF NENA & CO. TO DESIGN AND CREATE PRODUCTS THAT ARE MAJESTIC IN DESIGN, HOLD HIGH QUALITY STANDARDS AND CELEBRATE THE INDIVIDUALITY OF THE NENA SOCIETY AND THE ARTISTRY OF CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD WITH ETHICAL BUSINESS PRACTICES AND BY CREATING SUSTAINABLE INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR NENA & CO. ARTISANS."

Watch a video on Ali's story their facility in Guatemala here:

https://www.nenaandco.com/pages/about 

SHOP THE DAZEY X NENA TEES AND BAGS HERE

 PURE POWER COLLECTION - SPRING 2020 

Introducing our Pure Power collection. It can be easy to feel powerless over your own life or the things going on around you, however, it can be just as easy to forget that you possess the pure power to make a difference. You hold all of the strength within you to make real change in this world and manifest your wildest dreams. This collection is a reminder to celebrate where your true power lies - in your voice, passion, creativity, compassion, and love. 

Women are often taught to fit in a mold, follow the rules, and keep their voices down. As a female who has always been bold and outspoken, I remember for years intentionally suppressing my power, and in turn my potential. 2020 is high time we step into our power. Make your own rules, design our destinies, and push for what we believe in. 

Another reminder this collection is trying to teach is that softness is STRENGTH. It takes a strong person to have a soft heart, and that’s a combo made for changing the status quo. You’re not soft or weak for having emotions, you’re a powerful force that’s going to shift the world in a big way with love and compassion.

This lookbook was a labor of love and we are so happy with how it turned out! We decided to save on budget by building our own sets at home, having some close friends model, and shooting it myself. I painted the pink backdrop and Phillip cut out the shaped props using a jigsaw for the first time! I found blooms to match the collection in the flower mart downtown and we used our own curtains and dot-mural walls and home as backdrops too. Huge thanks for to Phillip for helping me build the sets and snapping pics when I wanted to hop in for a few ;) And of course thank you to my sweet and stunning friend Serna and Siddiq for being fabulous models! 

SHOP THE COLLECTION HERE

Copy help on new product listings by Ansley Vasconcellos

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD CARD

CLICK HERE TO SHOP GIFT CARDS

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD CARD

CLICK HERE TO SHOP GIFT CARDS

HAND PAINTED DAZEY ORIGINALS FOR YOUR WALLS

For over 10 years the computer has been my medium and clothing my canvas. I became so comfortable with it, the thought of trying something new and being a "beginner" again terrified me. Coming from a very creative family can sometimes make approaching art even more intimidating as the expectations are greater! My grandmother was an amazing artist and someone who always inspired me creatively. 

When we started making murals for Dazey I realized it wasn't as scary as I thought, and I took to it naturally. After years of unfounded fear I decided to give one of my goals a go, painting on canvas. Fast forward 6 months later and I'M HOOKED! It's become such a creative outlet and also a great form on self care. While I'd love to fill all the walls at the Penthouse, I figure I'd free some space and sell them here to our community. Click here to add to your art collection!  

ORIGINAL ARTWORK BY MY GRANDMOTHER IN OUR PALM SPRINGS HOUSE:

View this post on Instagram

So proud to create a beautiful homage to my grandmother and her amazing artwork 🙌 She left her mark on this word and on me as an artist. The bottom left of the gallery wall appropriately signed by her self portrait ❤️

A post shared by Dazey Desert House (@dazey_desert_house) on Jun 20, 2018 at 11:14am PDT

 See our new collection in action

The force for good is all about taking ACTION. Making moves towards a better future for yourself, the planet, and the people in it. Embracing your real, raw, and undeniable power and using it for the greater GOOD. Standing with the sisterhood and being one of the women who will change the world. This video perfectly captures that mood. Now, LET'S DO THE DAMN DREAM LADIES!