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

Smith, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

The summer before I started college, I was making these quirky button earrings — think chandelier-style with buttons of every color. Mind you, I never had any plans to sell them. It was just a creative outlet, and I thought they made for fun, unique baubles I couldn’t find in stores. But to my surprise, when I started college that fall, many of my new friends would ask me to make them a pair. So, I started making them for people I knew, and then, quite remarkably, I was making my little button earrings for stores around town! I will never forget getting my first real order — 27 pairs (I still remember the number) — and I ended up staying up all night trying to complete the order! Looking back, I do think that first foray in running a small (very!) business gave me a real taste for it, and however far it is from what I do now, the button earrings were absolutely pivotal in getting me started.

Smith, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a textile designer. I create prints in watercolor and then use the patterns I come up with to design wallpaper and fabric. At the University of Alabama, however, I studied Apparel and Textile Design, and upon graduating, I set out to create my own line. Literally the day after graduation, I was on a plane flying to Bangkok in pursuit of an affordable manufacturer. My older sister was living in Thailand at the time, so it seemed like a natural choice…as well as an excuse for an adventure. Once I had made the proper connections and found a good partner to produce my clothing, I set up shop in Atlanta, where I officially launched my business and line of dresses (made with Thai silk). Then the hard work began. My dear friend and roommate at the time, Collier, drove with me all over the place, selling my dresses to boutiques across the Southeast. As the business grew, it started to make more and more sense to move operations and manufacturing to New York City. And it’s there where I probably learned the most as an entrepreneur — how to hire people, how to run the full production of a line (from fittings to the final items on the rack), how to sell a product, how to overcome product issues, and how to build and market a brand. With a little luck, my line got picked up for Miami Fashion Week and was featured on MTV (think the The Hills era). And things took off! I did that for seven odd years until I decided to pivot into print design.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I come from a family of creatives, and I know many creative people, but very few have been able to translate their talent into their day job. For my entire professional life, I’ve had the rare privilege of being a working artist, and that’s something I’m incredibly grateful for. It has made for a very fulfilling career.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

As I said earlier, I made the pivot from clothing to textile design. The timing could have been better. I was pregnant with my oldest child at the time and so was not exactly in the best position to shake things up. That said, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and I credit my dad for giving me the encouragement I needed. I was flirting with the idea, but it was only after having a long chat with him that I knew I wanted to pursue prints. Still, I tested the waters by doing a few designs for children and women’s clothing companies before officially launching my own line. And I haven’t looked back! I love creating and really enjoy what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://textilesbysmith.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/textilesbysmith_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/textilesbysmith

Image Credits

Photography: Mary Margaret Smith @mary_margaret_smith
Styling: Katheen Varner @kathleen_varner