An Interview With Monica Sanders
Sustainability — I believe that the main, key component of slow fashion is the timelessness of the pieces. It’s my belief that to be timeless, the pieces also need to be sustainable. By this, I mean the use of quality fabrics and trims sourced in ethical ways as well as the production methods employed. Trends come and go, but slow fashion is a constant. Within the values of this movement, I believe are individuals that desire to be intentional in their choices and mindful of future generations.
As ‘slow fashion’ grows in popularity, more fashion companies are jumping on the bandwagon. Renewable consumption has been gaining popularity for a while, as people recognize its importance, and many fashion companies want to be a part of this change. In this interview series, we are talking to business leaders in the fashion industry to discuss why they are embracing slow fashion and renewable consumption.
Dana Bandi launched the debut collection for her eponymous brand in November of 2023, bringing her twist on traditional dress to modern-day. With a passion for equestrianism as well as construction and engineering, Dana emphasizes quality, technicality, and attention to detail with each piece.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”?
Thanks so much for having me!
Growing up, I always had a love for horses and going to horse shows. When I was young, my parents used to take me to the Grand Prix at the Chagrin Polo Fields in Ohio, and I just loved the outfits that the competitors would wear. The women and men all dressed the same and at the time, that seemed to be the only place where that was a norm. As time went on, I became enamored with the fashion of the 17th and 18th centuries as well as men’s fashion.
My path has not been that of a traditional clothing designer. In undergrad, I majored in mechanical engineering so my approach to clothing is quite methodical and unique. The trial and error of the creative process feels very familiar with my background and the precision in construction comes naturally. I love being able to explore my voice and take on fashion in such a creative and diverse community.
Can you tell us the story about what led you to this particular career path on becoming a brand Founder?
After graduating from undergrad, I worked as an assistant in Los Angeles for a woman that was running her own clothing line. During that time, I learned a lot about the industry, and I began to see where my voice might fit. My first collection has really been inspired by the time I’ve spent at horse shows and my love of traditional dress. My hope is for this inspiration continue to come through in every collection. My designs represent pieces that I feel are missing in the market, and I hope in the future to continue connecting with people in this way.
Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your brand’s success or career success in general? Can you please share a story or example for each?
- Independence — In the creation of this brand, there have been many hard and emotional days. My aim is for my brand to stand for quality, precision, and timelessness. Trying to stay true to this ethos has not always been easy and the answers to challenging questions have not always been clear. I often reflect and wonder if I’ve made the right choices up to this point. But then I remind myself to focus on the future and choose to learn from past mistakes to inform future decisions. I often feel like I should be following in the footsteps of others, but I’m lucky to have the ongoing support of my family who consistently supports and encourages me to keep doing what I feel is right and authentic to me.
- Persevering — There are so many moving parts in running a clothing company. There have been delays, unexpected expenses, unexpected losses, and disappointments, but also triumphs. Although many times it feels that the negatives outweigh the positives, I’ve found that no matter what the outcome is, I choose to focus on the positives. Pushing through the hard times will not only result in pride from continuing on, but also triumphs upon taking a step back that you may not have noticed while in the thick of things.
- Adaptable — Anyone that knew me growing up would tell you that I was not the most flexible person. When I had my mind set on something, I would see it play out in a very specific way, and if things didn’t turn out that way, I would easily become upset. Running this company has taught me so many things, and becoming more adaptable is one of those. There are many things that are out of my control every day and I’m learning more and more how to become more adaptable to changes and unknowns. In engineering, unknowns can be unwelcome variables, but working in this industry has expanded my horizons, and I’ve found a renewed freedom in the creativity that comes with the ability to relinquish control.
What do you think makes your company stand out?
Something that I’ve always stood by in the development process for my pieces is the technicality of the construction. I thoroughly enjoy working with mixed fabrics, tailoring, and, of course, interior pockets for the ladies. I’ve had multiple people over the years suggest that I make my designs less complicated in order to increase margins, but I believe that the “engineering” behind my pieces is something that really makes them stand out. I do not want to sacrifice on quality of fabrics, design, or trims for anything.
Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story of how that was relevant to you in your life?
Throughout the process of getting my line ready for launch, many days were very hard. I remember I was on the phone with my dad at the end of one of those days, and I was totally discouraged. I told him about my doubts and hesitations and although he said many things to me, one thing in particular stood out to me. He said, “close your eyes and keep running.” He emphasized the importance of putting out a first product and not seeking “perfection” before doing so. He also reminded me of the speech that Theodore Roosevelt gave, “The Man in the Arena.” At that time, I was facing criticism and rejection that was discouraging me from continuing toward launch. It’s easier said than done but I know from experience that while it’s good to take the opinions of others into consideration, it’s best to be true to yourself and your own ideals and goals.
Why did you decide to create and use a sustainable business model for your fashion brand?
When I personally shop for clothes, the main thing that I consider is whether the piece will have a place in my closet next season, next year, in five years, or in twenty years. I’d noticed in recent years that a mindset of quantity over quality seemed to be emerging. Although I can understand why this thinking may be exciting, to me it’s much more exciting to find a piece and place it into my closet where it will have a home for years and years to come. My hope was to create a brand where my customers can feel good about what they’re buying and have peace of mind knowing that they can rely on the piece for many years. The pieces that I create are pieces that I have previously been unsuccessful in finding in the market. My hope is that there are others that share in my mindset.
What are three things we should all know about “slow fashion”?
- The first thing that I believe is so great about “slow fashion” is the history that your closet will have after years of buying in this manner. What’s so exciting about quality over quantity is that the pieces will hopefully have a place in your closet for many years to come. Although you may wear a certain piece in combination with different pieces each time, there is something about the memories that are embedded in the item from each previous time you wore it that is inspiring and beautiful.
- Secondly, slow fashion is sustainable. There are many things that we do day to day that may seem unavoidable, and this can lead to discouragement about the declining state of the environment and what we may leave behind for future generations. I believe that slow fashion is something that every person has the amazing opportunity in which to partake. The idea behind this movement is that you do not need quantity in your closet, but just a small capsule collection that may be worn in exponential combinations. This movement provides current generations with the opportunity to pass down beautiful, high-quality, timeless pieces to future generations.
- Slow fashion allows us the opportunity to take things full circle. As time has gone on, there has been an increasing amount of emphasis on quantity within the closet. The slow fashion movement allows us to connect more with history and live in more alignment with how people used to live.
Can you please explain how it can be fashionable to buy less, wait a little longer, or even repair clothing?
Creating a very intentional and timeless collection may take more time, but in my opinion, it’s much more rewarding to have pieces that have been with you for years and years. Each time you make the choice to add a piece to your collection, it feels very meaningful and exciting, more so than if you were to buy every piece that you liked. Your history with the pieces in your collection will begin to grow and your collection becomes timeless. I believe that being timeless is the most fashionable thing that a person can be. I like to think of it as, if you took a picture in the outfit and put a black and white filter on it, the picture could be from a “vintage” era or it could be from today.
What are your “5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Slow Fashion Brand”.
- Patience — When working on development for each collection, it seems sometimes that nothing really comes easily. I’ve been very intentional with everything from the trims to the packaging. I’ve tried to remain flexible but there are many quality and sustainability aspects of the process on which I’m not willing to compromise. The initial launch of my debut collection in November 2023 was delayed due to delays in the production of the fabric. Although I could have chosen to use a different fabric for production, I did not want to sacrifice on the quality. I want my customers to feel confident in their purchases, and I want to make sure that I can provide this even if it means delays.
- Independence — In the creation of this brand, there were many hard and emotional days. My aim is for my brand to stand for quality, precision, and timelessness. With that comes difficult conversations with yourself where you wonder if you’ve made the right choices along the way and if the next choice you make will be the right one. Although there are times when I feel like I should be following in the footsteps of what somebody else has done, I’m lucky to have my parents and brother who have supported me at every step along the way and have encouraged me to keep doing what I feel is right. Because the idea of slow fashion is a bit of a departure from some of the quantity-emphasized trends, there are many people that don’t necessarily see the value in it. However, it’s important to stay on track for the goals of your brand and have faith that your timeless brand can stand on its own.
- Support Network — Prior to launching my first collection, I had been sketching and creating for years. After I began working on the development for the first collection, the more time I spent in the developing phase, the more prone I felt to doubting myself. It was critical for me to have people around me that understood what I was trying to create on a broader scale. My family and friends rallied around me to keep me on track when I was having an emotional day. This made all the difference for me.
- Purpose — I believe that behind any business, there should be a “why.” For me, I wanted to bring traditional dress to modern day in a way that emphasized construction, quality, and fabric. That has driven every choice that I have made thus far for my brand. No matter what industry you’re working in, I believe that if you are running a company, it’s critical to know your “why.”
- Sustainability — I believe that the main, key component of slow fashion is the timelessness of the pieces. It’s my belief that to be timeless, the pieces also need to be sustainable. By this, I mean the use of quality fabrics and trims sourced in ethical ways as well as the production methods employed. Trends come and go, but slow fashion is a constant. Within the values of this movement, I believe are individuals that desire to be intentional in their choices and mindful of future generations.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I think that it would be amazing if more sewing classes were taught in schools. I think that for a lot of younger people, sewing or making clothes seems to be something associated with older generations. It’s amazing what’s possible with a sewing machine and your imagination. Something that I’m passionate about is women having financial independence. I believe that sewing and making garments for yourself and for others can be a path toward achieving this. It’s so important for women to have something in their lives that gives them joy, purpose, and pride and I think that having the technical skills to follow their imaginations would be integral to providing this.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Readers may find my brand at danabandi.com or on Instagram at @danabandinyc. They may also find me at my personal Instagram at @dana.bandi.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
About the Interviewer: Monica Sanders JD, LL.M, is the founder of “The Undivide Project”, an organization dedicated to creating climate resilience in underserved communities using good tech and the power of the Internet. She holds faculty roles at the Georgetown University Law Center and the Tulane University Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy. Professor Sanders also serves on several UN agency working groups. As an attorney, Monica has held senior roles in all three branches of government, private industry, and nonprofits. In her previous life, she was a journalist for seven years and the recipient of several awards, including an Emmy. Now the New Orleans native spends her time in solidarity with and championing change for those on the frontlines of climate change and digital divestment. Learn more about how to join her at: www.theundivideproject.org.
Dana Bandi On Why They Are Embracing Slow Fashion and Renewable Consumption was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.