Brandi Shigley | Founder / Dreamer / Doer
Fashion isn’t just for New York, Paris, and Milan anymore. Brandi Shigley is helping Colorado become an unlikely fashion hot spot as she celebrates 11 years of independent business in the world of style.
Colorado isn’t usually recognized as a trendsetter in the world of design, but Brandi Shigley of Fashion Denver is working to change that. With eleven years of style success under her belt and a newly expanded showroom space that offers the latest in local style, Brandi is a young entrepreneur determined to put Denver on the fashion map.
Adopted from the Philippines, Brandi found a home in Colorado where the growing community and supportive business environment helped in developing her own ventures. From being creative designer at an early age, Brandi began working for herself almost immediately out of college. She started her first business at age 23 by designing custom handbags under her label “b.shigley designs,” creating funky one-of-a-kind purses. A success both locally and internationally, Brandi’s bags were featured in Lucky Magazine, Denver Business Journal, 5280 Magazine and International Design. Popular with local fashionistas and beyond, Brandi’s bags were also sold in boutiques in Paris, London, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, LA, San Diego and her hometown of Denver. Her designs were also used as gifts for donors and performers at the Paris Opera. One of her greatest honors was receiving the Mastermind Award from Denver’s alt-weekly newspaper, Westword, for her business acumen and her efforts on behalf of the independent arts and design community.
As a designer, Brandi quickly learned the nuts-and-bolts of running a successful business and in the process gained a greater perspective on the world of fashion. Brandi opened Fashion Denver in 2004 as a way to use her knowledge and enthusiasm to grow the local community.
Brandi continues to share her expertise through the new Fashion Denver designer showroom as well as in her popular workshops and personalized business consulting for aspiring entrepreneurs. Quarterly fashion markets bring in shoppers from all over the area and offer designers a chance to promote their designs with fashion shows and performances. Brandi also hosts exciting events around town, such as Blingo—a fun and fashionable bingo event where participants win prizes donated by local businesses and designers. This event was recently featured on Channel 9 News in Denver, as well as their NBC affiliate station in Washington D.C., and her fashion markets are featured in local papers each season.
The Fashion Denver team continues to build on the eleven-year-long tradition of making Colorado a thriving place for fashion, locally owned businesses, and entertaining events. This year they are ramping up services—offering more marketing, consultation, and business development services to both aspiring and established entrepreneurs.
With long-term success as a young businesswoman and the recent expansion of Fashion Denver, Brandi is proving to other dreamers and doers that style and success can grow anywhere.
IN THE PRESS: Media coverage over the past decade.
*Honored to have my opinion viewed on CNN MONEY
2011
2/18/2011 Le Beau Mannequin: Business profile
2010
7/31/2010: The Examiner: Fashion Flash Mob
7/8/2010: Aurora Sentinel : Aurora Roots
4/1/2010: The Donnybrook Writing Academy: Music and Fashion
2/1/2010: Asian Avenue: Meet Brandi Shigley
2/1/10: 9 News-Getting Hip to Bingo
2/3/10: La Vie Cherie Magazine- The Cherished Life / Amazing People
2/2010: Life on Capital Hill- Openings
1/28/10: The Metropolitan- Sewing into community
2009
12/8/09: Denver Post How to wear a little black dress
10/11/09: Denver A La Mode Style Profile
10/9/09: Fashion Folio by Glorianna Schinagl
9/29/09: UCD write up about b.sous
6/23/09 Renee Mudd’s Style Profile for the Examiner
6/17/09 Kenny Be’s Hip Tip: Colorado Frockie’s #38 Ubaldo Jimenez
4/7/09 Purse Strings Radio interview
3/31/09 Denver Post b.sous review on show with Leslie and the Ly’s and Stereo Total at the Bluebird
3/18/09 UCD Advocate: ‘Fresh’ening up for Spring with Fashion Denver’s Brandi Shigley
2/23/09 my thoughts on why i am optimistic on CNN
2/5/09 westword and the fashion denver / opera colorado / library fashion show
2008
8/24/08 party central celebrity feed
4/24/08 rocky mountain news (spotlight)
4/08 image magazine (profile article)
2/08 westword (music article)
3/08 westword (bingo)
2/08 westword online (profile article)
Magazines
San Diego Magazine Best of 2004:
San Diego Magazine 6/04
Asian Arts Magazine 2/04
944 Magazine 11/03
San Diego Magazine 8/03
ID Magazine 2/02
5280 Magazine 2001
San Diego Home Magazine 2002
Mile High Weddings
Lucky Magazine 2001
5280 Magazine 2000
Newspapers
SD Fahrenheit 8/03
SD Downtown News 7/03
SD City Beat 11/02
Penisula Press 8/02
Denver Business Journal
Denver Post
Rocky Mountain News 4/00
Westword Best of 2001
Television
Denver’s Channel 7 5/07
Denver’s Channel 7 6/06
Denver’s Channel 7 7/01
WB Morning Show
Fox News at 9 (no pics)
