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

Hi Danielle, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I started my business, I was thinking about my lifestyle and what I felt most passionate about. I thought about what made my lifestyle unique and inspiring to others, and what felt original compared to everything else that was out there. Basically, I was thinking about what I personally wished I could see more of in the fashion industry. Lady Dandelion was born from these thoughts as an ethical fashion brand for feminine tomboys, a coin I termed in the process. I wanted to celebrate the duality of femininity and strength, which is something that resonates deeply in me. I love super girly clothes, but I also love to get dirty and feel like my clothes can come with me wherever I go in a day. Often that includes a bit of skating, some time at the beach, doing work, and maybe going out to see friends at the end of the day. So I designed clothes versatile enough to do all of these things, while making me feel confident and sexy at the same time. All of my branding and visuals is meticulously created to express this lifestyle in a way that I hope makes women feel empowered and inspired at the same time.

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.
I always worked and interned in the fashion industry from high school on. I ended up going to Parsons for fashion design and lived in NYC throughout my 20s, working freelance for many designers, brands, and stylists in the industry before finally moving back to LA to settle in more. But it wasn’t until after my daughter Lulu was born that I really laid the solid ground as an entrepreneur. I was determined to be my own boss so I could always work and be a mother in as fluid a way as possible. Spontaneously, I co-founded a female skate collective in Venice Beach soon after she was born that became somewhat of a social media sensation. This experience connected me to how deeply moved I was by inspiring little girls to feel powerful and move their bodies, while still feeling girly and not having to look or act like one of the boys. This characteristic was always a part of my identity, but I wasn’t really aware of it until I started receiving feedback from others about how much it influenced them. From there, I decided to start my own brand, Lady Dandelion, which is a clothing and lifestyle brand based on this story and through my favorite designs and collaborations.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Im a beach girl, so my itinerary would consist of going up Topanga Canyon for hikes, great food, shopping, and then stopping for hangs on the beach right below. I would definitely be surfing, skating, and going to see live music in the evening at the Troubador or Zebulon on the east side.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My dad- Allen Schwartz. Also a designer and very inspiring entrepreneur

Website: www.theladydandelion.com

Instagram: @shopladydandelion

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/68670349/admin/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopladydandelion

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPiSY72ov6A

Image Credits
Lindsey Alvarez

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