We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dakota Brewer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dakota , thanks for joining us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?
I have always had a love for fashion since I was a young girl. During the Covid lockdown, I, like many others, had lots of free time on my hands. One day, I decided to cut up an old Chiefs shirt to create a new design. I instantly found my “spark,” and ByBrew was created. I turned my basement into a clothing workshop and started to brainstorm. I loved the idea of creating “game day outfits,” because sportswear is traditionally very masculine and I wanted pieces I felt girly yet still sporty in. From there, I learned how to sew, heat press, screen print, and design clothing pieces from scratch. I knew this was something I wanted to do long term, not just as a hobby, so I went forward with making my dream into a real business. I have now been creating custom apparel for 3+ years and have had several of my pieces worn at past Superbowls!
ByBrew is such a great outlet for me to let me creativity fly! I am so grateful for the time alone during lockdown because I was able to find what I was truly passionate about. I am so excited to continue this journey and having women all over the country feeling confident on game days!
Dakota , 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?
My name is Dakota Brewer. I grew up with two brothers who were in almost every sport imaginable. As the only girl, I was dragged to each and every game to cheer them on. While winning the game was their main focus, looking fashionable on the sidelines was mine. Like many girls and women, I tried my hardest to tie up the large boxy sports shirts in a way that would look any better than it did. But it was hard to achieve a look I felt girly in. There, my idea of creating sportswear for women was born.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of creating custom sportswear is seeing pictures of the women rocking it at games!! Nothing makes my heart happier than seeing my idea and hard work come to life, and for my customers to love the pieces just as much as I do.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
In my opinion, the most effective strategy for growing your business is to get active on social media. It’s amazing what audiences you can reach when you create genuine content about a product you’re passionate about. It’s still amazes me to this day the amount of people who reach out and say they found my business from a TikTok, tagged post, or on Etsy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bybrew.etsy.com/
- Instagram: shopbybrew
- Facebook: ByBrew
Image Credits
LaynaWells Photography