We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Larina Dailey-womack a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Larina , thanks for joining us today. Before we talk about all of your success, let’s start with a story of failure. Can you open up about a time when you’ve failed?

Man, my first drop was such a wake-up call. I was so excited about these t-shirts I had designed. I just knew they were gonna sell out. But when I launched, I only got one sale and it was from my girlfriend. I was lowkey embarrassed but also super frustrated because I had no idea what I was doing wrong.

After that, I decided to take a few months off to really study the game. I started researching marketing, figuring out how to connect with my audience, and learning what it takes to actually build a brand.

But honestly, failure is the biggest teacher. Now, every drop is a whole process, and I’m way more strategic. That first flop hurt, but it taught me so much, and honestly, I wouldn’t trade the lesson for anything. It’s all part of the journey.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Larina Womack, but most people know me as Pooh. I’m the owner of Objet D’Art, which is French for ‘a work of art’ (pronounced ‘ob-zha- där’). The name reflects everything my brand stands for creativity and turning clothing into something more than just what you wear.

I’ve always been a creative person. Growing up, I was into fashion, arts and crafts, and always finding ways to express myself. I had multiple side hustles, like customizing pants, making treats, and even cutting hair as a barber. Being a barber taught me how to connect with people and pay attention to detail, which I now bring into my clothing designs. My mom saw my potential early on and always believed I had what it took to start a clothing brand. That encouragement stuck with me and is one of the reasons I created Objet D’Art.

At Objet D’Art, I design clothes for the individual who wants to get creative with their style, express their unique self, and feel good while looking fly. I believe style is a form of self-expression, and I want everyone who wears my pieces to feel like they’re stepping into their most authentic and creative self.

What sets Objet D’Art apart is the personal touch and authenticity behind every piece. I’ve come a long way from my first drop where my only sale was my girlfriend, to seeing my designs worn by influencers, a WNBA player, and everyday people who connect with my vision. Along the way, I’ve learned from challenges like getting scammed by a manufacturer and taking months off to really study the business. Those lessons have made me and my brand stronger.

Objet D’Art isn’t just a clothing brand, it’s a movement for creatives and dreamers. My goal is to keep growing, keep inspiring, and keep creating pieces that help people feel creative and unapologetically themselves.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One thing that really shows my resilience is balancing a job with 10-12 hour shifts that switch between days one week and nights the next, while building Objet D’Art. It’s not easy— some weeks are physically and mentally exhausting. There are days when I get home drained, but I still make time to design, plan, or strategize for my brand because I know it’s what I’m passionate about.

Balancing both has taught me discipline and how to keep pushing, even when I’m running on little energy. It’s about staying focused on my goals and reminding myself why I started. Resilience, for me, is about showing up for what I believe in, even when it’s hard. I know the work I’m putting in now is setting the foundation for something bigger, and that keeps me motivated to push through.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

One of my favorite marketing stories wasn’t about a sale, but it was a big risk I took to get my pieces in front of two known rappers from my city, NoCap and Rylo Rodriguez. It was during a holiday, and I decided to make a five-hour drive to the studio where they were supposed to be recording, even though I had work the next day. I packed up my pieces , got a hotel nearby, and stayed up late, hoping to meet them in person.

When I got to the studio, I found out Rylo wasn’t there because he was off working on a feature somewhere else. I left my pieces with their manager and stuck around until about 3 a.m., waiting to see if NoCap would show up. When he finally came through, the manager told him I was a brand owner from Mobile who drove all those hours just to get my work to him. NoCap checked out my piece, said it was fire, and told the manager to tell me, ‘Don’t drive those hours again.’ Hearing that had me hyped—it felt good to know my effort wasn’t wasted and that my work was noticed.

Even though it didn’t go exactly how I planned, the experience taught me so much. It reminded me how much I’m willing to risk for my brand and the belief I have in what I’m building. Even if they didn’t wear the pieces right away, I knew I had done everything I could to make that connection. It was a big moment for me because it showed me the level of dedication I’m bringing to Objet D’Art, and that’s something I’ll never forget.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.objetdartt.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/objetdart.us?igsh=aXMzOTN0YWZvejJv&utm_source=qr

Image Credits

Kevontaize Rease