Happy International Women’s Day! To me, empowering women means lifting others up, sharing resources, and spreading the message of equality. This holiday is a reminder to celebrate the social, economic, and cultural achievements of women around the world, and that’s such a beautiful thing. The 2024 theme is #InspireInclusion, which aims towards a gender equal world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
Given this noteworthy day, it couldn’t be a more fitting time to share a few heartfelt pieces of career advice from my dear friend Valentina Perissi, founder and designer of DAFNE Italy. Her creations all carry the message of empowering women and following dreams.
We actually met on social media after I posted my Miami Diary on Art Basel back in 2019. Valentina was one of the designers featured in Patricia Field’s ArtFashion show. This goes to show that her longtime dreams turned into reality after years of hard work.
Recently, I met with Valentina Perissi of DAFNE Italy in New York, who shares her tips on empowering women and how to “make it”, no matter where in the world you are.
Empowering Women:
5 Career Tips from Valentina Perissi of DAFNE Italy
1. Believe in the Power of Your Dreams
At age 11, Valentina visited New York City for the first time from Florence, Italy. She came with her father, who worked as a fashion photographer. “I fell in love with the energy of the city and knew that if I were to ever do something big, it would be in New York,” says Valentina.
Over the years, the designer worked at the Italian fashion brand Roberto Cavalli for a decade, starting as an intern then working her way up to managing design, prints, and embroidery. She then decided to take a risk and moved to Milan followed by Tokyo to work with other companies. But for a while, she knew she wanted to start her own brand.
Eventually, she moved to New York to pursue that goal. “I think when you feel something from your core, you just have to do it,” says Valentina.
2. Venture Outside Your Comfort Zone
After moving to New York, Valentina started her first solo venture: DAFNE Italy. With her brand, she combined her love for design and hand-painting. Her pieces include handbags, wallets, backpacks, and her signature leather jackets. Many designs include quotes like “Believe In You” and “Women of Power” with colorful graphics and embroidery.
Back when Sex and the City aired and Patricia Field styled the show, Valentina’s designs for Roberto Cavalli were often worn by characters Carrie and Samantha.
Coming full circle, the designer later worked with Field for her ArtFashion collection, which features original pieces by a select group of artists. But it took years of reaching out and persistence before the collaboration came to its fruition.
“I know it’s hard sometimes, but what I hope is to teach people to never give up,” she says. “And if you really, really believe in yourself, you can make it.”
3. Practice Gratitude
Focusing on gratitude can come with so many benefits for not only your career, but your overall life and well-being. Looking on the bright side lets us appreciate what we have and realize how far we’ve come.
“In New York, you have to fight every day and remind yourself why you’re here,” says Valentina. “Some days are hard, some days are amazing. The highs and lows are extreme but the highs are what makes everything worth it.”
4. Self-Motivation Is Key
The first step in growth is realizing that your dreams are well worth it. Self-motivation is the driving force that keeps pushing us to move forward — to create, share, and continue evolving.
On the origin of her brand name, Valentina says, “Dafne is my middle name. My parents were supposed to call me Dafne but in the ‘80s it was a bit too different, so they named me Valentina.”
Dafne is a Greek name, a nod to her mom’s roots. The “A” in the DAFNE Italy logo is a triangle with an eye inside, symbolizing Valentina’s most valued sense: vision. “To me, the eye is about discovering your vision and meaning in life. “I always say, you only have one life—keep living and growing every day.”
5. Embrace the Idea of Women Empowering Women
Of course, a huge part of International Women’s Day is coming together as a community to motivate and inspire each other.
We all need a support system because the truth is, it takes a team to grow and scale any business. There will be hardships to any venture, but having empowering women by your side can make the journey so much better.
Why is Female Empowerment Important?
To delve deeper on this topic, women’s empowerment is important because building up fellow females can help motivate one another to achieve goals and feel a sense of community. Looking back on history and even now, not everything is fair amongst genders when it comes to human rights, opportunities, and pay wages. Supporting women’s empowerment, whether it be advocating for change, giving advice, sharing stories, or simply lending an ear to a friend in need, can make a great impact.
Shop the Story
As for Valentina’s future goals? To sell DAFNE Italy at Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, and more. You can find her one-of-a-kind hand-painted designs now at dafneitaly.com, which ships worldwide and to select stores in New York, Italy, and Miami.
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