We recently connected with Tran Ta and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tran thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made?

“Invest in yourself, in your education. There’s nothing better.” – Sylvia Porter

E-commerce owners are always learning new skills, from marketing to website design. But the best investment I made for myself for my business was learning design. Not every fashion brand owner knows to sew. Some companies can do all of that for you, but I wanted to design my pieces from scratch. I can construct a design from beginning to end without help. I now have 6-7 years of design experience under my belt. Even after all that time, I still consider myself a novice and scour the internet for garment construction tips as if I was a complete beginner.

It took time and money to improve my craft, but it led to the unique opportunity of designing a custom wedding dress for one of my closest friends. I also got the chance to help these young designers start their own lingerie line. Another payoff of learning to sew was when I made over 500 masks to donate in March 2020 when hospitals needed them. That was incredibly rewarding!

The best investment is always in yourself. Even though my formative education is in the past, I consider myself a lifelong student. You don’t know what opportunities lie ahead when you keep challenging yourself.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Currently, I run an e-commerce business called Allettare that focuses primarily on lingerie. My interest in lingerie began when I discovered the world beyond Victoria’s Secret. At the time, I also had access to some of the most prestigious brands within walking distance of my Manhattan apartment. I loved looking at the construction and touching the finest laces from the luxury brands. I was determined to get myself into the intimate apparel industry. With persistence and a little bit of luck, I have worked for two lingerie start-ups and two independent designers.

I believe what sets Allettare apart is that it’s not too basic or too sexy. Customers have said that the brand doesn’t look like it’s trying too hard even when the sets are more provocative. The models look comfortable and natural wearing the pieces. I want to celebrate and respect the natural female form. Allettare offers bespoke services as well. The service is convenient for women in between sizes or looking to create something brand new.

Lingerie is often overlooked when people build their wardrobe. It is the foundation for a great outfit. That said, I am looking to expand to clothing and accessories within the next 12 months. I have made a few designs for myself and am excited to incorporate some of those designs into the business. One day, a customer can wear Allettare from head to toe. I am fortunate to be building this business.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to learn that trying to have everything perfect isn’t going to run a business. Don’t wait to start something because you don’t feel ready. Put yourself out there and be confident in yourself. You can improve your product and service as you go. Waiting for everything to line up will result in missed opportunities. For instance, I applied to do some pop-up shows thinking I wasn’t ready because I didn’t have enough pieces or my brand image wasn’t where I wanted it to be. I gained a lot of new customers from those shows.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

A few months before the pandemic, I had an injury that left me dealing with post-concussion. I had just launched new products, was published in British Vogue, and was ready to do an intense marketing campaign. Then came the injury, followed by the pandemic. I paused my business for a little over a year and a half.

During that time, I signed up for a real estate course for self-learning. I have an active license to practice real estate now. It’s been a rewarding journey so far. As an agent, I get to combine my analytical and creative skills to match clients with their dream homes.

Although real estate and lingerie are radically different industries, managing both careers has surprisingly made me more productive. Some of my role models manage multiple ventures or talents successfully so I’ve always wondered how they manage their time. I am excited to see how everything plays out.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.allettare.co
• Instagram: allettare
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Allettare
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allettareintimates

Image Credits
Amber Tice Ricardo Rosales