The “model-off-duty” look has taken street style by storm, with stars like Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner stepping out in simple yet chic white tank tops and leggings to prove that less is more. And although this trend is now just finding its way through TikTok and glossy magazine pages, it’s always been rooted in the DNA of cult-favorite athleisure brand, BRIAVIA.
Founded by stylist-turned-designer Brianna Via, the brand was developed to serve as a versatile, comfortable, and universally flattering go-to for the girl on the go. Post-pandemic fashion is rooted in ease, and BRIAVIA implicitly understands this. With a lineup of genuinely cozy collections that can be dressed up or dressed down no matter the occasion, there’s never a wrong time to grab a BRIAVIA staple from your closet.
“All of my basics are elevated with a small extra detail that easily allows you to take your outfits from day to night,” Via exclusively shares with WONDERLAND. “All the fabrics I use are extremely stretchy, ensuring that they move seamlessly with your body no matter what activity you are about to do. I love sharing content of different ways to style BRIAVIA with heels, sneakers, and more to help inspire my customers to style the pieces in their own unique way.”
The founder wholeheartedly understands her customers’ expectations, and she always rises to the occasion. “Ultimately, people tend to wear what makes them feel comfortable,” Via notes. “Although my pieces may seem simple to make, we undergo numerous rounds of sampling to ensure they fit and flatter the body in the right places!”
While the “model-off-duty” look has risen in popularity, May is also the perfect time to highlight Via as an AAPI entrepreneur, and someone who truly puts wellness at the forefront of her company.
We had the pleasure of hearing from her directly, in an interview below…
Tell us about your journey from stylist to designer. What inspired the birth of BRIAVIA?
While working as a stylist I learned that by helping someone find an outfit that they felt confident in, it could completely change their entire personality. But the tricky part of styling is even if the outfit looked good on the rack, it HAD to fit well on them. This is why we prioritize fit and ensure that our designs complement and enhance our customers. At the end of the day, even if the design is cute, if the fit is trash, it’s not a good design. Something that also shocked me was how fast fashion was moving to the point where brands would throw out garments since they went out of style. This was insane to me knowing how much clothing waste is in our landfills. To combat this, I knew I wanted to create timeless items that will always be in style. BRIAVIA was born to go against your typical brand and change the industry standard!
Your pieces are truly versatile – can be dressed up or down, and styled in so many ways – how did you set out to do this?
I make sure that all my designs can easily be worn a ton of times. For example, my designs all fall within the same neutral color palette so they are easy to pair with one another. I also have a theory that you’ll get more wear if pieces are less memorable. As much as I’d like to wear my hot pink top three times a week, someone’s eventually going to call me out on it haha. All of my basics are elevated with a small extra detail that easily allows you to take your outfits from day to night. For example, my Edison Flare Pant has a V shaped waistband to cinch and shape your waist and side slits on the bottom make it more dressy. All the fabrics I use are extremely stretchy, ensuring that they move seamlessly with your body no matter what activity you are about to do.
I love sharing content of different ways to style BRIAVIA with heels, sneakers, and more to help inspire my customers to style the pieces in their own unique way. Ultimately, people tend to wear what makes them feel comfortable. Although my pieces may seem simple to make, we undergo numerous rounds of sampling to ensure they fit and flatter the body in the right places!
What are some of your biggest influences as a designer?
Growing up, I really looked up to Alexander Wang and Helmut Lang. Both designers were known for a minimalistic approach to fashion with a focus on simplicity and clean lines. Their pieces were both elegant and functional, and I found myself constantly rewearing their clothing. I also was super inspired on how innovative they were experimenting with new materials and techniques which is something I try to do with BRIAVIA daily.
They were also ahead of their time making gender neutral designs that emphasized practicality and function, rather than traditional gender roles which is what I want to one day do in the future too. Both Wang and Lang were asian designers who I believe challenged the status quo and pushed the boundaries of traditional fashion and still inspire me today!
How do you strive to instill confidence within every BRIAVIA customer?
When designing, we make sure our pieces highlight specific features to make you look and feel your best! We are always experimenting with different style cuts, thick shaping fabrics, and prioritizing comfort. As a minority owned business, we make a conscious effort to feature diverse models to help our customers envision how they would look in our clothes. We aim to instill confidence in not only appearance, but also in their shopping experience by providing investment pieces that can be worn for years. Lastly, we are committed to our GO GREEN initiative and plant a tree on behalf of every order placed, giving our customers the satisfaction of shopping with impact!
Creating BRIAVIA seems like such a natural next step in your professional journey. When did you know it was time to make the leap and give the company your all?
While spending more time at home during the pandemic, my online business was the only option to work on. I was able to give my 100% to BRIAVIA for the first time. Of course i’ve heard of the saying that hard work and time typically correlates to success, but not sure why I haven’t ever tried it. I had been used to living a life where I was juggling multiple responsibilities, and didn’t realize the potential of focusing on one thing until I experienced it firsthand. While it was a risk to leave the security of my other jobs, it ultimately paid off. The success of BRIAVIA has exceeded my expectations and has allowed me to pursue my passion full-time. I now realize that taking the leap and fully committing to something can be scary, but it’s often necessary in order to reach our full potential and achieve our goals!
What does a day-in-the-life look like for you?
I like taking my time in the morning since I hate being rushed. I don’t start my workday until 10am which gives me plenty of time to indulge in some coffee, walk my dog, and get ready so I can start my day super relaxed and focused. At BRIAVIA, my primary duties include managing production, designing, and creative marketing strategies. I’m usually in the office every day, but some of my employees work part-time which makes every day a little different. I’ll usually start to focus and move onto my other hobbies like interior design and making TikToks around 4-6pm. Once I get home it’s either cooking a healthy balanced dinner or dinner with friends!
Your brand has a very “model off duty” feel and is making everyday wear chic and bold again. How did you set out to establish your signature style as a brand?
When developing BRIAVIA’s signature style, I began by identifying my target audience, which was myself! I focused on creating neutral toned, flattering silhouettes that can be easily styled, almost for my own convenience. To establish a clear brand identity, I wanted to reflect my personal style and values. We showcase a cool and effortless look in all of our content we produce and repost. You’ll notice we’re often styling pieces with sneakers, baggy pants, and keeping it simple. Lastly, we share behind-the-scenes glimpses of our operations and design process on social media, to show our customers this brand is a truely a lifestyle the team is living that we want you to be a part of!
