

Luxury Shoe Designer Tiannia Barnes On How To Launch A Successful Shoe Line
You get what you pay for.
That’s what I’m telling myself as Tiannia Barnes, footwear designer and owner of the Tiannia Barnes luxury shoe brand, explains to me why I should stop shopping for bargain pumps at ALDO, and start dropping $300 plus on a pair of quality heels that are relatively scuff mark and scratch resistant.
“I'm going to bring this right on in for you so you can go forth and be great in a super pair of shoes!”
Class is in session, and I’m all ears.
“You have to invest in your shoes. If I buy this classic pump for $350, this is going to last me and I'll be able to wear it with my jeans, with my skirt, going to church, going to work, wherever,” she tells me. “If you're going to invest in your shoes, you're going to invest in quality because your expectation is that they're going to last for a while. “
So no more $80 online shoe boutique shoes then?
“There's no way that I, personally, would spend a lot of money at a store buying a shoe that's like $80. Because in the next month, you're going to go and buy another pair that's $80, because that one is probably going to tear up or something's up with the material. It's not going to last you a year, two years. I mean, that's very rare."
I think about the neon green faux-suede pumps buried in the back of my closet, the ones with black scuff marks that the shoe repairman I took it to said wouldn’t likely ever completely come out. I wore them to a club in Atlanta. They only lasted one night.
And while I won’t be running to my nearest Louboutin store and whipping out my credit card, I’m already internalizing the quality over quantity lesson that was just schooled to me by the fashionista.
On any given day Tiannia is working tirelessly on her Italian-made shoe line, often burning the midnight oil long after leaving her 9 to 5 as an IT Program Manager and getting her 11-year-old son settled in for the night. Ironically it’s her corporate experience and background in math and industrial engineering that’s enabled her to transition into fashion. She’s crunching numbers, finalizing designs, working with a graphic designer to create the technical specifications for the shoe, and developing a solid supply chain system to help move her product from the factories of Italy and through her e-commerce website that she distributes. It also helps that she has her MBA, and has learned that setting up a business is more about the execution than the idea.
Despite always wanting to be an entrepreneur, her corporate path is what armed her with the knowledge and tenacity to follow through with her dream of being her own boss.
Before tapping into the industry, however, she first had to commit to her dream.
Growing up in Oklahoma City Tiannia remembers always having an interest in fashion. Her mom wasn’t big into the latest trends, but she describes her grandmother as fashion-forward. Her Barbie and Ken dolls were always dressed sharp, and in high school, long after her plastic childhood friends were laid to rest, she designed her dress for the senior prom in an effort to stand out from her peers dressed in their department store finds. As an adult she took a liking to Gucci’s timeless designs and Guiseppe Zanotti’s bold prints, starting her growing collection in college and later, when her career afforded her the opportunity to travel, incorporating shopping sprees into her vacation destinations.
“I would go to Miami a lot because I have friends down there, and I would just talk to the people in the stores. I'd walk into Jimmy Choo and connect with the salespeople,” she says. “I had a person in Vegas, Miami, and New York, that would email me every time they had that semi-annual sale, and that's when everything would be like 40% or 50% off, so that's when I would buy my designer shoes.”
As her collection grew so did her interest in design, and just as she did back in high school she found herself raw sketching her own prints as a creative outlet. Even then, she had no intention of becoming a shoe designer—she just had the passion for fashion, so much so that she took a class for shoemaking in Cleveland, Ohio, working with London-trained shoe designer, Sissy Puccio, in order to gain further knowledge and understanding about the business, from patternmaking to prototyping. It was then that she realized this was more than just a passion, this was a part of her purpose, and it was time to take it her visions beyond the paper and turn it into a tangible product.
“Once I took that shoemaking class, then I had to make a commitment to starting a business. I knew this was something I love and I had a passion for it. You've got to have that burning desire inside of you, that's what you should hone in on because many people start businesses, and that's fine, but the business that's going to be successful is the one that is deep down in you, the one that you have that intuition about because that's your real gift. So, I had to commit to starting a business.”
Without that commitment she wouldn’t have taken the necessary steps to be her own boss, because while many entrepreneurs boast about their flexible schedules and not having to answer to another, they sometimes fail to tell you is that the grind is real. Tiannia first had to research whether or not she should establish her company as LLC or an S-Corp, and go through the tedious paperwork process of becoming a real business. She then worked with a designer to create her logo and business cards to push her brand and researched her target audience to determine what kind of price point she wanted to sell her high-end shoes at. Once the foundation was established she then had to design the structure.
She connected with the Italian Trade Commission in New York to help refer her to the best designers and manufacturers to fit her needs. She then traveled to New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago to interview four different shoe designers and persons with experience in the footwear industry to determine who would best guide her through the process—she decided on a gentleman in Chicago who had a successful footwear business.
“It didn't matter that he had a men's footwear shoe line and that it was nothing like mine, what mattered is that he had the knowledge and the principles to get me to the next stage of getting my shoe made, because I was very green in that area.”
After going over her sketches and important details such as comfortability, quality, material, and the construction of the shoe, he worked with her to find a factory in Italy that worked with her to design the prototype. After a few back-and-forth exchanges where the prototype was marked up and redesigned, she finally had a finished product in hand after a few months, just in time to prepare for the launch of her Fall 2015 line.
But the work was far from over.
With inventory in hand, she now had to develop a website to push her products, which are exclusively sold online, and connected with a PR agency that scored interviews with Forbes and Fast Company, adding credibility to her budding brand.
Oh, and did I mention that this was all self-funded?
“The funny thing is that when I started my business, I said I want to self-fund my business because I didn't want anybody to come and take my baby. I don't want to lose control of anything; this is my vision,” she says. “So I said no, I don't want any investors. That was before I knew how much it took to actually start a new business—you know with the branding and the marketing and all of that stuff. “
Recently she was granted a small business loan but chose to only take out enough to get her to the next phase. She’s also let go of the “me only” mantra and has been taking meetings with potential investors, which has been a learning experience in itself since many investors are more concerned with their return as opposed to the idea in itself. She advises anybody looking for investors to be mindful of what outcome they’re looking for, and to find somebody who’s just as interested in your business as much as their financial gain. For those who may not qualify for a small business loan or aren’t able to lock down investors, start by reaching out to family, friends, or even tapping into a 401K.
“I really do believe in investing in yourself, that's a huge component because nobody knows your dream and vision better than you, and nobody's going to take care of it better than you.”
Tiannia, who recently relocated from Connecticut to New York for business reasons, is hoping that her hard work will soon pay off and allow her to transition into her role full-time. In the meantime, she’s directed her attention to her new collection, which will take her style options from three to ten. The collection includes a few surprise twists to her more classic designs, and a color palette inspired by the sunset, ocean, and vibrant colors ins[red by her travels to the Caribbean and beyond.
“Not to give a lot away, but there's some fur involved, I’ll just say that!”
Being her own boss has allowed the designer to tap back into who she really is outside of the college degrees and being a former wife. It’s helped build her confidence and get back to the foundation of who she is as a woman.
“Who is this new Tiannia? Who is Tiannia that's not the wife? All of this is a journey, and it's a personal journal for me to get back to who I really am, and what I'm really supposed to be doing with my life. When you follow what you're supposed to be doing, the universe or God will actually lay your path out, and I have a huge testimony about that.”
For a little girl growing up in the mid-west, the real journey started with fearlessly putting her best foot forward, one stylish shoe at a time.
Featured image courtesy of Tiannia Barnes
Kiah McBride writes technical content by day and uses storytelling to pen real and raw personal development pieces on her blog Write On Kiah. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @writeonkiah.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Your October 2023 Horoscopes Are All About Transformation & Finding Balance
With two Eclipses happening this month, this is one of the powerhouse months of 2023 and one that will be unforgettable for many. The month begins in Libra Season, and with Mercury also entering Libra on October 4th. When Mercury is in Libra, the focus is on keeping the peace, creating harmony, and finding the beauty in life. Relationships, finances, pleasure, and creation are all the focus during Libra Season, and this month overall will be creating a lot of positive change in these areas of life.
What October 2023 Has In Store For Your Zodiac Sign
On October 8th, Venus moves into earth sign Virgo, and love takes on a more serious and grounded tone here. Venus in Virgo has high standards and wants the best of the best. There is a possibility of becoming overly critical in love or relationships with this energy, however overall, Venus in Virgo will be focused on letting go of unhealthy behaviors in love and creating more positive ways of relating, giving, and receiving in relationships. A few days later, Pluto goes direct in Capricorn after going retrograde in Aquarius back in May, and fewer power struggles and obstacles are more likely.
With Pluto direct in Capricorn, it is easier to reach your goals, build success, and see your own self-empowerment in it all.
On October 12th, Mars enters Scorpio, and Mars loves being in this water sign as it’s the ruler of Scorpio. Mars in Scorpio is passionate and direct and heats things up when it comes to your relationships. Mars will be in Scorpio until November 24th, and a spark is definitely being lit. A few days later, we have a New Moon Solar Eclipse in Libra.
This Solar Eclipse is creating a fresh start in love, but may also be bringing things to the forefront that are uncomfortable to see. A Solar Eclipse in Libra is relationship-oriented, and this is where you will be seeing the most impact now.
Before the month ends, Mercury enters Scorpio on October 22nd, Scorpio Season begins on the 23rd, and there is a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Taurus on October 28th. The end of October is when a lot of big moves are being made, and transformations are occurring, and it’s about letting go of baggage before moving forward again. The Lunar Eclipse in Taurus is another eclipse that has an impact on relationships, as both Libra and Taurus are ruled by Venus, the planet of love.
Through what is changing and transforming in some of your close relationships, this energy suggests there is greater love on the other side of it. Find gratitude in where you are, and stand in hope and self-belief for where you want to be.
Your October 2023 Monthly Horoscopes
ARIES
Your strength is needed this month, Aries. During October, the Sun is in Libra, meaning the Sun is in your 7th house. The 7th house is the house of love and relationships, but it’s also the house of open enemies and opposition. This month, you will be finding your balance between the opening you are seeing in your life right now and what still needs to be built.
On October 14th, there is a New Moon Solar Eclipse in this area of your chart, the 7th house, and this is an impactful time for you emotionally. The intentions you have been setting in your love life and financially are creating a new scene for you. This is a good month to do more of the things that make you happy, to get creative, and to notice the beauty in your life. Before the month ends, your ruling planet, Mars, moves into your 8th house, and things get deep and even more emotional for you moving into November.
TAURUS
October is a month of reflection for you, Taurus. There is a lot happening this month and a lot happening for you personally, yet you are taking the time to tend to your inner world and recreate your safe spaces. With Venus in a fellow earth sign and in your 5th house of romance for most of this month, you will be sure to have plenty of love in your life to help you through some of the downtime you are getting in October.
Mars moves into your house of love on October 12th, and this is heating things up for you in your relationships and sex life. Fuel your passions and notice what is lighting you up inside right now. Before the month ends, on October 28th, there is a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in your sign, and you are going through some major life changes. You are closing one chapter of your life of self-discovery and moving forward with a new view of yourself and the world around you.
GEMINI
This month is all about letting go, Gemini. You are moving through a time of releasing what has been filling your world with more chaos and confusion than clarity and are paving a new path for yourself. Your ruling planet, Mercury, is in your house of happiness for most of this month, and you are really thinking of the things that your heart wants and expressing yourself through this space of openness as well. Communication channels are exciting for you this month.
On October 14th, the New Moon Eclipse will be highlighting all of the energy of love you have been feeling this month and will be helping you hone in on your creative passions and hobbies as well. This month is surprising you on how well things turn out when you let go of what isn’t working. The second eclipse of the month is on the 28th, and this one for you is about laying the past to rest once and for all and giving yourself time to heal and process.
CANCER
October is an activating month for you, Cancer. There are some eye-opening moments happening, and a lot of things are coming to a head. The energy of the month is about letting things find their place and allowing yourself to be okay in the process. Venus is in your 3rd house of communication for most of this month, and you will be able to communicate more freely how you are feeling and what you need in your relationships right now.
With the Sun in Libra and in your 4th house for most of October, home is really where the heart is right now. Spending time in comfortable environments where you feel the most at ease is nourishing. Before the month ends, there is a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in your 11th house of community, and things are coming full circle for you. Lean on your support systems and community for an extra hand, and know that you deserve to take up space.
LEO
This is a month of things moving forward for you, Leo. Patience is still needed, as things may not be moving as quickly as expected, however, they are moving nonetheless, and you are leaving the space of stagnation you have been feeling the past couple of months. Openings are coming into your life, and with Venus now in your 2nd house, you are able to capitalize on what you have been investing in and claim your abundance.
The Solar Eclipse happening mid-month will be awakening something within you when it comes to expressing yourself. You are breaking free from fears, limitations, and self-judgments and seeing yourself as someone who deserves to be heard. The Sun is also in this area of your chart until the end of the month, and you have all the support from the universe right now to speak up and speak your truths.
VIRGO
October is a month of blessings for you, Virgo. This year has been a year of a lot of ups and downs for you, and in the second half of this year, you really get to settle into more stability and positive fruition. You are being guided to use your instincts wisely this month, however, so as to keep blessings rolling. Your ruling planet, Mercury, will be in your 2nd house of income for most of the month, as well as the Sun, and financially, this is a really good month for you.
On October 8th, Venus moves into your sign, and you are receiving and feeling the love right now. Venus will be in your sign until November 8th, and over the next month, this is a good time for your relationships and business, receiving positive feedback, and putting yourself out there. On October 28th, there is a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse happening in your 9th house of adventure, and you could be seeing some travel or education plans coming to fruition now. You are really ready to enjoy how far you have come this month.
LIBRA
This month is all about creating your dreams, Libra. This is an exciting month for you and one where you are healing your inner child, gaining a new perspective, and manifesting your life. Libra Season is fully underway, and this is an impactful Libra Season for you, as there is a New Moon Solar Eclipse happening in your sign on the 14th. This Solar Eclipse is your time to shine, to bring your dreams to the forefront, and to let go of the past that doesn’t resonate with you anymore. It’s all about the vision this month; focus on the best one for yourself.
With the Sun and Mercury in your 1st house of self for most of the month and Venus in your 12th house of closures, you are finding your balance between the new and the old. You know there is a lot to release emotionally in your life still, but you are also giving yourself the space and freedom to soak in the good that has already arrived and making you happy right now. On October 23rd, Libra Season ends, and you are ready to focus more on your plans for the future.
SCORPIO
October is a month of rebirth for you, Scorpio. This is one of the most powerful months for you and one where you are starting fresh in many ways. Mercury is in your house of endings for most of the month, and your mind is focused on your spirituality, finding solutions, and letting go of perspectives and habits that don’t serve you or your health. Through the transformations that are occurring right now, new life is coming to fruition.
Mars and Mercury both enter your sign before Scorpio Season begins on the 23rd, and by the end of October, the energy moves from release to receive. You have more energy at your disposal when Mars is in your sign, and you are moving through a time of passion, action, and making things happen for yourself. This Scorpio Season for you is one where you are creating a new life for yourself and following the dreams you left to the wayside.
SAGITTARIUS
Sagittarius, October is all about the heart and about showing up. This month for you is a time of support, friendship, and community, and a time where you are really discovering who your people are. You are awakening to what your inner child needs to heal and are seeking forgiveness this month. This is a time for you to move toward a new path in your life, one that feels more fulfilling for you and your well-being.
Venus is in Virgo and in your 10th house of career this month, and you are seeing some positive changes within your professional world. You are being received especially favorably right now, and this is a good month to ask for a promotion, network, or redefine your career goals. On October 14th, there is a New Moon Solar Eclipse happening in your 11th house, and your hopes and dreams are coming true for you. The clarity you gain this month is life-changing.
CAPRICORN
This month is all about patience, finding your peace, and exploring the world, Capricorn. You are focusing a lot on your belief systems, your intentions, and what goals you have set for yourself and your life. Venus is in your 9th house of adventure for most of the month, and you are really thinking about the big picture right now. You are doing more things differently this time of the year, thinking outside of the box and allowing your intentions to come to fruition.
On October 10th, Pluto goes direct in your sign. Pluto retrograde entered your sign in June, and you finally get to settle into the transformations that have been occurring since then. You’ve had a lot of moments of self-clarity and change, but now you are ready to live in this space and experience fewer changes to your environment. On October 28th, there is a Full Moon Eclipse happening, and this Lunar Eclipse is a time of love coming full circle for you. Relationships are developing at the end of October, and you are letting go of the past in love.
AQUARIUS
October is all about allowing life to unfold effortlessly, Aquarius. The path of least resistance is the most rewarding one, and this month, you are tapping into your inner faith. You have truly been trusting the process, and with the Sun in your 9th house for most of the month, the divine guidance is there for you right now. This month is about trusting that things are coming together for you and enjoying your life how you can right now.
On October 14th, there is a New Moon Solar Eclipse happening, and this eclipse is helping you build new foundations in your life. You have goals you want to set, places you want to see, and people you want to meet, and this eclipse is highlighting all of that for you. The second eclipse of the month is happening on the 28th, and this Lunar Eclipse is about letting things settle in, finding your ground, and nourishing your inner world. You are going within a lot this month, and through the new insight you have found, you are ready to make some concrete decisions that have been needed.
PISCES
October is a time of compassion, nurture, and love, Pisces. You are putting the love into your life and feeling this energy come back to you as well. Venus is in Virgo, your opposite sign, for most of the month, and this is good energy when it comes to your relationships and your love life. Your focus is on the people in your life and where you want things to grow in love, and you are putting in the effort to make your dreams come true for you here.
With the Sun also in your 8th house of commitments for most of the month, another love area of your chart, you can expect this to be a more emotional month for you. You are getting vulnerable, expressing where you stand, and creating a new slate for yourself in love. On October 28th, there is a Full Moon Eclipse happening in your 3rd house of communication, and the messages and insights you have been looking for are coming in.
The end of the month is a busier time for you, and you will be suddenly seeing everything you want to do and plan right now.
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Featured image by Kyra Jay for xoNecole