The Ladies Who Lunch
Mogul of The Week: Latisha Daring
Latisha Daring is everything her last name describes and then some. Immediately after hearing her name the phrase came to mind, Dare to be Different, Dare to Dream, Dare to be YOU, and Latisha Daring exemplifies just that!
This fearless, Mogul is on a mission to inspire Women all across the Globe to become Entrepreneurs. Everything from Mrs Daring’s infectious smile to Ladies Who Lunch mission falls in line with Young Mogul Life and our core values.
What was your life like prior to starting your own business? Before starting my Business, I lived in Atlanta after migrating from NYC trying to find myself after a 4 year serious Relationship and a career in Retail. I wanted to take a breather live life in a new city as a single woman. I was focused on FUN and spending time getting to know what I wanted for my life. It was truly my turning point.
Growing up, what were your aspirations for your life?I always envisioned having many careers in my life. Have you become what you envisioned growing up? I have done everything except model and work in Publishing, I love to write and I love Fashion and to bring the two together would be the ultimate gratification for me. It hasn’t happened yet but I would love to write a column for a Fashion Mag or Blog .
I always knew that I would be my own boss whatever I did and I can honestly say that I have accomplished most of what I envisioned for my life and I am working on the rest. If not, what changed? Having a family and being a Mom and a Wife transitions are harder but so much more rewarding, although I am an impulsive woman by nature, I have to think responsibly with my professional decisions and how they affect my family.
Fashion can at times for a consumer seem so overwhelming with new designers and clothing lines left and right, why fashion? I think my passion for fashion has always been tied to retail because its therapeutic. I love how women feel when they find the right look, fit and feel for their bodies at the right price. Fashion to me is a form of expression and allows a woman to express who she is through her look. You can tell her style, her confidence and her lifestyle all through her fashion choices. To me this industry is always evolving and it requires newness and I love how fast trends and style changes. This is what has kept me in fashion for so many years.
What separates you from other designers? I think the fact that I have over 24 years of retail experience is what sets me apart. I am not formally trained as a designer. My background is based on practical experiences with women and how they respond to trend, fabrics, fits and price. It is not something that you can learn in a classroom. However, I have been blessed to work with great design assistants and a phenomenal factory in LA which allows me to deliver a clothing line that is designed for consumption.
How did you finance your first business? Pieces Inc. was financed by my savings from working in Retail, my 401K savings. At the time I was young and I realized that I could afford to start my savings over and take advantage of an opportunity in my community to fill a void. I started Pieces using 12,000k in savings in 1999. I was self funded and did not seek loans or grants to start my business. If I had it to do all over again I would have started the same way but I would have sought out support to expand my brand instead of continuing to reinvest my own money.
