Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Gilman

Hi Diane, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

I was absolutely fascinated with fashion from about the age of 3 years old. My parents, however, did not want me to have any career interests at all. I came from the traditional background that women were meant to get married and have children.
So the battle started early and eventually I was forced to choose between family and fashion. I chose to pursue my passion.
I left home at 19 never to return. I had no money, no emotional support, no industry contacts, and those obstacles reverberated my entire life. But what I did have was a deep love be of my craft and a belief in my talent. Well into my career, which was boosted by introducing washable silk to America, I lost the use of my name on a label due to a contract with investors. It was that ‘blockage’ that opened the door to tele-retail on QVC and the Home Shopping Network.
In 1994, I made my first tele-retail debut on QVC, and 30 years later I had held the #1 fashion personality spot!
Not only did I bring washable silk to the TV customer, I also invented the ‘middle-age jean with my brand, DG2 by Diane Gilman. Today the brand has sold over 25 million jeans and it keeps going strong even as I stepped down and moved on to my latest goal of being a silver-haired influencer. And I’m loving it!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

The struggles were legion. I was under-funded, not a numbers person, and shy. I moved to New York City in the 1970’s knowing virtually no one. But my best friend and constant companion, was and has always been my design talent. My firm belief in my talent was finally validated in NYC when I proved to the industry that I was a money-maker.
Financial partners were always a challenge, but when I became the “Queen of Jeans” on the Home Shopping Network (HSN), I was a proven “golden goose”. I was soaring in tele-retail, Then 6 years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to step back from TV and my brand for a year of treatment. I never anticipated how amazing my return to HSN would be. We set an all-time tele-retail sales record and sold 225,000 jeans in one day! I was both thrilled and touched by the immense support from my DG2 sisterhood that I felt upon my return.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

What sets me apart from other designers is my devotion to the actual customer. While most designers put out their vision and expect the customer to come to their point of view, I listened to the customer. I heard her middle aged changes to her body (me too!). And I re-designed a basic jean with their body shape concerns and created a true retail sensation, selling millions a year. Then I brought out heavily embellished jeans from my early design years of hand painting, jeweling, ripping, patching and embroidering denim for Rock’n’roll greats. We expanded into tops and matching pieces surrounding the jeans and became a $100 million dollar a year phenomenon!

Now I apply that outside of fashion. I listen to my followers and find guests for my podcast that help women realize that the second half of your life can be the best half! I take the challenges women face after the age of 50, and I find specialists or influencers in those areas that can help us improve as we age.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?

Here is my best advice- Love what you do and do what you love!
I sacrificed a lot to pursue my dreams, but it just felt like I was paying my dues to live out my passion.
My second piece of advice- Believe in yourself even when nobody else does!
You have to nurture your talent. Recognize your destiny.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thedianegilman.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/thedianegilman
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/thedianegilman
• Youtube: https://Youtube.com/@thedianegilman

Image Credits

Josh Lehrer and Baz Seal