Meet Alana Mandrick | Founder of DIIMA Apparel

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alana Mandrick and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alana, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Taking risks is not just beneficial; to me, it’s a necessity. Taking risks is necessary for growth, success and wellbeing, both on a personal and professional level.

One of the biggest risks I took was moving across the country from LA to Miami to start a new chapter in my life. I had never lived this far away from home, in a city where I didn’t know a single person. While having my significant other by my side made the process easier, the journey still had its difficulties. However, I knew in my heart that moving here was something that I needed to do, and I am so thankful that I was right. I have become even more driven, independent, appreciative and open minded since finding my new home away from home.

One of my biggest risks to date has been launching my clothing line, DIIMA Apparel this year. I have not received any formal training in the fashion industry or on how to run my own business. I am self-taught, and love learning something new every day. Running my own business comes with taking risks on a daily basis. Every decision I make, no matter how small, can result in a profit or a loss. I have taken very tangible risks in self-funding my business endeavors, trusting that the future payoffs will be worth it.

I tend to be private and reserved, so putting myself out there this year has been another level of risk taking for me. Having public social media profiles, interviews, and interactions on various platforms has put me outside of my comfort zone. However, discomfort is an integral part of growth, and I am learning that putting myself out there is necessary to grow.

I am proud of the risks that I have taken in my life thus far, and I look forward to taking many more and seeing where they may lead me.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Throughout my life, I have found the fashion industry to be tailored to a select body type, often excluding women of average and petite heights. I address this issue by tailoring my clothes to women who are between 4’10” and 5’5”. As a petite woman myself (5’2”), I understand the frustration of not being able to find stylish, affordable, perfectly fitting clothing, and that is what I deliver to my customers.

My business is quite new, although I had been thinking about starting a clothing line for a couple years before making the first steps. Once I committed, I got DIIMA Apparel up and running quite quickly. I am fortunate in that I already had some background in digital marketing and web design. This served me well as I was able to apply these skills to my own business.

There is a lot that I am proud of and excited about. I’m proud of how I’ve been able to navigate the process of starting an ecommerce business for the first time. I’m proud that I get to execute all creative aspects of my business. I’m proud of the custom made products I’ve released thus far, and I’m excited about all the products I plan to release in the future.

The design process is exciting to me because the possibilities with clothing are endless. Even if I have a product I am already happy with, I can always work on modifying and improving it, such as by altering the material composition, changing a feature, or producing it in a multitude of different patterns and styles.

I’m also proud of the work I’ve done thus far to grow DIIMA Apparel’s social media platforms. It is exciting and rewarding to come up with new content that my audience resonates with. Social media marketing involves a lot of creativity and experimentation, and I am excited to continue to grow my brand’s platforms. I have fun with it and feel that similarly to product design, the possibilities are endless.

I am proud and excited about how I’ve been able to channel my creativity in a new way. It has been my passion, my outlet and my energy source.

It was not easy to get here, and I know there is still much to be done. However, I have been enjoying the journey. One important lesson that my business is teaching me is to be patient, and to not give up. I do everything in my control to ensure my business’ success, and can sometimes get discouraged if I don’t see immediate results. However, part of a successful mindset involves knowing and accepting that there are many things that are outside of our control. It is how we handle adversity that determines whether we will ultimately be successful. After you’ve done everything in your power, sometimes time is the only remaining element needed to propel a dream to the next level. Trust that your time will come when it’s meant to come.

I hope that I can leave a positive impact on others. I hope to help women around the world who have struggled with finding clothing that they love. Anyone who loves clothes as much as me knows that amazing feeling when you put on an outfit that looks beautiful on you and makes you feel fantastic. My hope is that my clothing will give women that feeling.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
No visit to Miami is complete without heading to the beach – South Beach, specifically! Cuban food and cafecitos are also a must while in Miami. Miami has such a plethora of Caribbean and South American food to choose from that a visitor would not run out of options. Another place I’d be sure to visit is a rooftop bar with panoramic views of the city, such as Sugar or Rosa Sky. If there’s time to venture a little outside of Miami, I would go down to the Everglades, Biscayne National Park, or the Florida Keys. I enjoy paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkeling, and have even tried scuba diving, and here you can do it all.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would not be where I am today without my dad. From a young age, my dad modeled success and always encouraged my siblings and me to work hard and develop fulfilling careers. He also stressed the importance of working smart, and seeing the career he built for himself in his own practice always inspired me to be a business owner myself. My dad has been open minded and supportive of my business endeavors. Initially, I was unsure of whether my ideas to build a fashion brand were realistic or feasible. However, my dad’s encouragement helped me build the confidence to grow DIIMA Apparel. Since taking my first steps, my dad has been supportive all along the way, and has even taken a genuine interest in fashion himself!

My significant other also deserves credit and recognition for where I am today. Like my dad, he has always supported and believed in me and my endeavors, even if I wasn’t fully sure or confident in myself. I am constantly coming up with new ideas and strategies to ensure the success of DIIMA Apparel, and I highly value the input of my significant other and my dad in ensuring I am making the best decisions.

Both my dad and my significant other believing in me was an important catalyst for me to start turning my dream into a reality.

Website: https://diimaapparel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diima.apparel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diima.apparel

Other: Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DIIMA