We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aviana Hermawan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Aviana, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

It was during the pandemic (2020), where I couldn’t find any inspirations in the fashion industry. I have watched every interview there is on the internet about fashion and I realised that this could be a business idea.

I worked very hard to earn the viewers that I have now, after two years of just me and the laptop and the microphone. It was very refreshing when I look back into it because I was nineteen at the time when I first broadcasted a designer interview. I also understood that others would go follow and imitate my journey easily and would be more successful than me- but that didn’t bother me a lot to be honest. My only focus at the time was branding.

Since the feedback, whether it was positive or negative on branding, it was very useful at the time. It meant that my business has branding. I couldn’t really officially hire anyone else on paper there is a team, but it wasn’t on paper. I was offering a unique approach on the business of fashion.

Even when two years until now I still could feel the branding.

Honestly, if it weren’t for the pandemic then everything wouldn’t happened. I was very curious. I wanted to know what the fashion industry is like, so I watched every interview there is for my assignments (B.BA graduate now) at the time.

I believe that this idea is sustainable, and it will work for generations to come. Aviana Unlimited is offering a unique point of view on fashion broadcasting. At the time, I did not find anyone else solving the diversity of the fashion industry- especially with unique questions and approaches. There is diversity but the approach was lacking at the time.

My business and brand is more of a conversation and an idea for people to connect with. It is a product that is interchangeable for generations to come.

Since this was all my idea, I wouldn’t be a director or CEO of it anyhow. I am still the Founder and Owner.

Ironically, Aviana Unlimited was established at 8th of March 2020.

Aviana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I started when I was fifteen years old. Designing clothes as a hobby. Showing it to my classmates. Making sure that everyone knew that I will be in the fashion industry. I still kept my designs until now.

At senior high school I had a strong personality. I was never left out, which I didn’t think what others wanted to hear since I am not asking for sympathy- just the truth. I was the person who can talk to anyone and to whoever even if they are not ready. That’s the branded side of me.

Of course, I started to wear a unique style that differs from my classmates. When I look back. It’s great when I see other fashion brands started to mimic some of my style and I still follow them by the way. It meant that my brand worked. I am glad. The style evolved from college/Uni until now. I always had a different and unique style.

Of course, on the other side, I had a lot of criticism from others and that made me a good businesswoman today. I am proud of the honesty, kindness and dignity that I give to my relationships with clients, followers, and fans. What set me apart from others are those three things that are irreplaceable- even if the person doesn’t reciprocate it back. That’s how being a businessperson is.

Lastly, Aviana Unlimited is not me. In fact, it is an idea, but it is not Aviana Hermawan. That’s how I know myself as a brand. I’d know the difference between personal and business. Aviana Unlimited is an Australian brand and owned by a native Australian. When I say that, the fashion industry in Australia seemed new to everyone- well here it is.

But just remember, ten years from now I think that my personal branding will be the same but Aviana Unlimited will change a bit. I want everyone to take part of Aviana Unlimited.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

If I get the question right. It’s when I had to re-learn the lesson again. That would be when not everyone has the same principles as mine. I’m not even sure if I’m allowed to say this without miscommunicating it being too frivolous.

Every encounter I made sure that no one felt like they are left out, but sometimes other people take the wrong idea- that’s if they don’t know your intentions are. That’s pretty normal. But I needed a bit of reminder sometimes. It’s about communicating with partners or clients or whoever that doesn’t have the same interest as you- and I fell into the trap a lot of the times. I had to re-learn my lesson again.

It will have a huge patch on my business if I ignore the signs again.

But then again, these negativities will never ruin your career. I remembered that.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Branding did help me. I go to law school, and I had a barrister at the talk said that reputation is everything for a lawyer- he is right. You cannot undo reputation and that’s how it is very expensive.

I believe that the only way to ruin your reputation is by being dishonest to yourself and others. I try not to be like that. When I know that could ruin this then I don’t do that.

Collaborating with Modest Fashion Designers Production last year made a good branding move for each of us as well. More like brand positioning which is often irreplaceable like reputation.

I’ll learn a lot of building a reputation later on. I am still learning.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.avianahermawan.com.au / www.avianaunlimited.com
• Instagram: @avianahermawan / @avianaunlimited
• Facebook: Aviana Unlimited
• Linkedin: Aviana Hermawan / Aviana Unlimited
• Twitter: @avianaunlimited
• Youtube: Aviana Unlimited TV