© www.Robins.Photography
© www.Robins.Photography
© www.Robins.Photography
© Meredith Harris Photographers
BRANDI SHIGLEY Written by Kelsey Bigelow
The Denver fashion community can’t be spoken about without the name
The process for a new designer looking to start or grow their business in
drop of Brandi Shigley. The animated, high-energy Fashion Denver
Denver is not as lonely or confusing as it was when Brandi began on her
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owner and community pioneer has had a front row seat to the
own. “We now have resources available that can take designers from idea
transitioning fashion industry in Denver for over 15 years that all began
to design, production, and distribution, right in our backyard.” We owe a
with purses. In 1999, Brandi began producing purses in her living room
lot of this to the pioneering of Brandi Shigley and Fashion Denver, which
and was at the cutting edge of the e-commerce boom. In addition to
plans to stay a part of the industry for many years.
attracting media attention, Brandi sold her bags in boutiques around the country and was the third listed website on AOL’s search engine for
Fashion Denver’s upcoming Spring Fashion Camp, summer market, and
‘purse’.
happy hours where local can learn about the fashion community are all in the works. Brandi says
Seeking a change, Brandi moved to Southern California and worked for an action sports company before returning to Denver. The move and opportunities to experience tools and resources available on the west coast sparked the inspiration to create Fashion Denver. Since beginning Fashion Denver in 2004, Brandi has continuously shared her lessons with creative entrepreneurs, produced workshops, fashion markets, and held a retail space in the Golden Triangle neighborhood. Brandi’s motto of
“We will continue to grow and evolve as our city changes, but always keep our mission at the forefront, to connect our local fashion community through fashion events and business development..” Fashion Denver www.fashiondenver.com
“Do what you love. Love what you do.”
has helped countless entrepreneurs and designers start their business on the right foot. Brandi has two pieces of advice for creatives: “surround yourself with others that support your dream and step back and evaluate your dream”. She says that “it’s easy to get swept away in the romanticism of our dreams and it’s important to spend our time on what our heart and soul are truly passionate about.” After re-evaluation of some big dreams, Brandi says she’s realized “Ah...actually, that doesn’t sound like something I would like to do.”
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@fashiondenverstyle