graphic illustration of silhouettes of female faces

Alumni

Celebrating Female Entrepreneurs in the FIDM Community

In honor of Women’s History Month, here’s a roundup of just 20 of the incredible women entrepreneurs who’ve passed through the halls of FIDM. We encourage you to explore their work and support them whenever possible.

Please join us online, March 16, 2023 at 5:00 PM PT, for a Women’s History Month panel entitled “A Conversation With Iconic Female Entrepreneurs.” Moderated by FIDM Grad and Instructor Melissa Triber and joined by FIDM Museum & Galleries Digital Media & Content Manager Leigh Wishner, impressive FIDM grads including Jasmine Rennie, Angela Dean, and Johana Hernandez share their inspirational stories of business success. Register for the event.

close up of Jasmine Rennie with her hand under her chin, indoors; she has long dark hair

In 2016, Apparel Industry Management Grad Jasmine Rennie founded Gracemade, a faith-driven lifestyle brand featuring a "fashion-forward interpretation of modest apparel" that’s ethically made and manufactured locally in Los Angeles. To see the collection, head to thegracemade.com or @thegracemade on Instagram.

Angela Dean wearing a long grey dress as she sits on a green couch indoors

Angela Dean is a fashion powerhouse who designs bodycon and couture pieces for her celebrity following. She’s the founder of Deanzign, Shaped By An Angel, and one of the founders of the Black Design Collective. Over her decades-long career, she’s dressed hundreds of superstars. Explore her designs at deanzign.net and on Instagram @iamangeladean.

models wearing white wedding dresses as they pose outdoors

GLAUDI by Johana Hernandez boutiques offer couture and bridal styles as well as bespoke men’s suits. Hernandez, a Merchandise Product Development Grad, caters to clients like Serena Williams, Nicole Ritchie, and Gina Rodriguez, amongst others. Explore her designs at glaudicollection.com and on Instagram @glaudibyjohanahernandez.

close up of Rea Ann Silva holding a beauty blender product

Rea Ann Silva is the creative force behind beautyblender, the edgeless makeup sponge that helps her clients look flawless in HD and beyond. A proud Latina, she built a career as the go-to makeup expert for women of color in the entertainment industry. Her invention took the makeup world by storm. See more at beautyblender.com.

Gabi Hall launched her fairy lifestyle brand Sparkl in 2014 while still attending FIDM. What started as a bikini line quickly expanded to clothes, shoes, accessories, a palace, and future plans for world domination with her Sparkl Empire. Learn more on Instagram @sparklfashion @gsparkl @sparklfairycouture and @sparklpalace.

Camilla Gabrieli sitting outside in Italy

Footwear News named Visual Communications grad and footwear designer Camilla Gabrieli as one of the 21 emerging designers rewriting the rules of fashion and footwear. Follow her on Instagram @camillagabrieli.

Interior Design Grad Christine Vroom established Christine Vroom Interiors just after graduating in 2008. The firm started small but eventually expanded into luxury residences, restaurants, large scale remodels, and more. Check out Christine’s work on Instagram @christinevroominteriors.

Ayana Gordon standing outdoors

Grad Ayana Gordon founded ANG Model Management while still attending FIDM in 2018, and has since provided models for magazines and Fashion Weeks all over the world. Learn more online at angmodelmanagement.com and on Instagram @angmodelmanagement.

Grace Wang holding a cute dog

FIDM Alumna Grace Wang runs luxury dog treat company Petphoria, a line of high-end dog treats with organic and natural ingredients. They also offer dog toys and accessories for the humans! Check out their offerings at shoppetphoria.com and on Instagram @petphoria and @sincerelygracewang.

Amirah Kassem runs Flour Shop, a famed bakery in New York. Her clients include Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Louis Vuitton, and Alice + Olivia. Amirah says, “a woman’s place is in the kitchen…of a company she built from scratch.” See her creations on Instagram @amirahkassem and @flourshop and at flourshop.com.

two women sitting on lounges outdoors

Surily DP Goel’s fashion line Surily G. uses her native India as inspiration, putting a Bohemian spin on that rich cultural heritage. The brand focuses on resort and destination wedding apparel blending traditional motifs with western silhouettes. Explore the line on Instagram @surilyg.

Sisters and FIDM Grads Roberta and Daniela Nuñez were offered the opportunity to relaunch established shoe brand David Isaac while still studying for their Business Management degrees. They took over and transformed the brand, elevating classics and creating new styles. You can see their designs on Instagram @davidisaacbrand and online at davidbydavidisaac.com.

Successful fashion stylist, digital influencer, and FIDM Grad Chriselle Lim established the Bümo empire, which includes BümoWork, a co-working space offering childcare, BümoBrain, and BümoCare, all designed to support working parents and their kids. Learn more on Instagram @bumoparent and @chrisellelim.

close up of Bethany Yellowtail's headshot; she has long brown hair

Alumna Bethany Yellowtail’s line B. Yellowtail celebrates her Native ancestry and features indigenous designs blended with modern silhouettes. The FIDM grad started her line in 2014 and quickly earned a celebrity following. Explore the line on Instagram @byellowtail and online at byellowtail.com.

Interior Design Grad Sarah Wilson opened her design firm Chansaerae Designs years ago. Specializing in residential interiors, Wilson has also studied architecture and brings that knowledge to her work. Learn more on Instagram @chansaeraedesigns.

Emmy®-winning Costume Designer and FIDM Grad Chelsea Von Mach opened a vintage store in Santa Monica called The Store in 2020. Sprung from her online work with Chelsea Vintage, The Store offers in-person shopping for the same carefully curated pieces. To check out the collection, head to chelseavonmach.com or @chelsea_vonmach on Instagram.

male model on the runway of a Beau Swim brand runway show wearing only swim shorts

After being laid off in the pandemic, FIDM Alumna Samantha Jones built her luxury swimwear brand, Beau Swim. Her brand focuses on sustainability and giving back wherever possible, and educating others about sustainable practices. Explore the line on Instagram @BeauSwimCo.

Interior Designer and FIDM Alumna Danielle Colding runs Danielle Colding Design, a full-service interior design firm in New York specializing in elegant spaces with a comfortable, layered, eclectic charm, according to her website. She is also a philanthropist. Learn more at dcdny.com.

Business Management Grad Shidei Kaviani started curve-hugging brand Naked Wardrobe with her sisters in 2012. Beloved by celebs like Lady Gaga, Khloe Kardashian, and Jennifer Lopez, the brand carries body suits, dresses, leggings, shorts, tops, and more. Explore the line at nakedwardrobe.com.

Julisa Wright and her husband Eric run Storyboard Delights, a chocolate and book shop in Longview, Washington, her hometown. Julisa graduated from FIDM with a degree in Visual Communications in spring of 2018 and put that degree to good use designing elements for the shop. Learn more at storyboarddelights.com and on Instagram @storyboard_delights.

Jaclyn Jones owns footwear factory Clover & Cobbler, where she produces the three lines she’s involved in, JJUSA (her eponymous line), Salpy, and Californians, as well as other private label lines. Check out the factory and their offerings at cloverandcobbler.com.

Categories: Business Administration Fashion Design Merchandise Product Development Alumni