Meet CARA DIANE +CO. WWW.CARADIANE.CO
o t e Nic ou y t e me We are an independent fashion & accessories brand based out of Denver, CO
the : n a l p e m a G . s u o i r u c e b . c i t n e h t u a be be creative
We think the best approach to life is to be curious and genuinely explore everything, then use that exploration as inspiration to create your own something. We strive to be authentic and fun in our creative process and we hope you'll catch that vibe and join us.
+ e h t
positivity. . s a e d i w e add n . s e i t i l i b i s s o p w e n e k ma We chose a + instead of "and" in our name to represent positivity, the ability to create new ideas, and make new possibilities. One of our few rules around here is Good Vibes Only. We believe positivity is a choice, and a good one to make every day.
hap·pi·ness ˈhapēnəs/ noun successfully choosing a positive thought over a negative one repeatedly
we make art, so you can wear it
We create pieces to capture your
passion & personality. We're a fan
of being slightly amusing, a little edgy, and a lot interesting. Our designs feature hand-drawn elements and acrylic, watercolor, & ink artwork. We use water-based inks because they give our prints a soft, vintage feel. They are also way better for the environment and reduce waste. Our jewelry and notecards are handmade in Denver. Our apparel, totes, mugs, & pillows are produced in CA.
we are uber inspired by originality
We are here to help you be your you-est you.
Use #CDCOSTYLE to show the love Let's talk about it: info@caradiane.co
CARA DIANE
Founder + Designer Cara started her fashion career while still in school at the University of Oklahoma. After graduating with a B.B.A and minors in Art & Economics, she moved to Denver, CO, and the Cara Diane + Co. story began. She fell in love with the Denver fashion scene and has since grown the brand through fashion shows, showcases and of course, the online store. She is currently in the process of expanding the brand offline. BORN ● Flagstaff, AZ RAISED ● Oklahoma LIVES ● Denver, CO
Check out the interview with Cara next
what is the brand's philosophy? BE CURIOUS. Our mantra is:
BE AUTHENTIC. BE CREATIVE That’s kind of my personal life motto that spilled over into the brand, which I love.
what inspired you to start Cara Diane + Co.? I think the inspiration really came from my affinity for being unique. I wanted to create my own pieces of apparel and accessories that really captured my personality. Through that process, I found that other people felt the same way, like the designs I was creating described them and captured their personal style. I’m so enthusiastic to see that kind of authentic growth.
A lot of my designs revolve around creating art that is super wearable. To me, art is too dynamic to live only on a wall. I first started out by designing graphic tees, because I feel like they are so simple, but yet can say so much about you. It’s like having your own personal billboard to help you with first impressions. Which, as a little bit of an introvert myself, I am a big fan of. We've since expanded into accessories and decor, including jewelry, mugs, posters, pillows, and canvases. We also added our baby line, Baby Ella + Co, which is inspired by Ella Joy, who we recently welcomed to the world
is there a stylistic connection between the things you do in your daily life and your collections? Definitely. Most of the pieces I create for the collections in my shop are super wearable and lean more toward street style. My creative process for design usually starts with sketching out designs or even painting them while I’m drinking my morning coffee. I’m pretty laid back and a huge proponent of comfy clothes and I think those elements come out pretty directly in my collections.
*QUESTION VIA FASHION DENVER
*QUESTION VIA FASHION DENVER
how has fashion impacted you? I think like any art form, fashion has the ability to have impact both personally and on a wider scale. Being involved in fashion design has helped me grow artistically and diversify my perspective through a range of unique experiences. I’m a huge supporter of how fashion creates communities and can drive causes. Making a “fashion statement” is no longer just about wearing something unique or eye-catching. I think fashion as an industry has evolved to the point that it's not just what our clothes and accessories look like that matters, but its also what they stand for and the story behind their origin that drives their value. For example, the sustainable fashion movement and finding ways to do things that are both better for our world and the people in it.
what is your research process like before starting a collection? Honestly, it’s so different for every collection. I’ve done everything from spending hours on Google images looking at pictures of beaches to choosing one word or concept and building every piece around it, to building a color palette and building out each piece from there.
*QUESTION VIA FASHION DENVER