Meet Catina Bryant: Designer and Owner of Dai Moda

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

Hi Catina, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I decided to leave my 6-figure salary position and pursue being a Designer/Brand Owner full time, I was at the peak of my corporate career in the fashion business as the Director of Operations for Wish. Throughout my career, I was always the only person that looked like me at that level, so I had become numb to certain behaviors and being treated differently. But something transpired that prompt my breaking point. I made a lot of rich people even richer; and was rarely given credit for my contributions. I knew that I had the tools to have a successful brand, so I went to my car, said a prayer, and took a leap of faith. I never looked back.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
How I got started in the fashion business is a very unique and loooong story. So I will give you the short version. I wanted to be a Child Psychiatrist. I love kids and I wanted to save them all. So, I got a BS in Psychology. My father died right went I was starting Grad school and I just couldn’t bare anything else sad. So I asked myself what do I really love. Fashion has always been my 1st love. I had been styling, deconstructing clothes and hand sewing my entire life. I was even voted Best Dressed in high school. So I did the research to decide what aspect of the business fits me best, and being a Buyer was ideal. So I pulled the trigger, decided not to go to Grad school and immersed myself into fashion knowledge. After discovering that I need more schooling to be a Buyer or Planner, I decide that going back to school was out of the question. So I went to the library (I’m old, there was no Google lol), checked out all of the these books, studied, put together a fake resume and eventually landed a job as a Planner with BCBG Max Azria in Los Angeles. And here I am. 🙂

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.
OMG I’m the worse person to ask this question. I am so lame. LOL People think that I am cool, but really I just have cool friends. So I would probably ask one of them for suggestions. Otherwise, we would be somewhere watching a sporting event (preferably tennis), drinking beer or champagne.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Although my entire family and all of my friends have strongly supported all of my efforts, financially and emotionally (mostly financially lol), I credit my daughter, Dai Bryant with my current position in life. Quitting was never an option, because that would mean her seeing me fold. And that will never happen. But believe me, there were plenty of times any sane person would have thrown in the towel. But corporate America was no longer on my vision board. So this is it. Dai Moda has my heart and soul.

Website: www.daimoda.com

Instagram: @daimoda

Linkedin: Catina Bryant

Facebook: @daimodainc

Image Credits
All of these photos were taken by Michael Daniels of Illusions Photography.