Name: Michelle Mangiliman
Age: 28
Shop Name: Dalaga
Shop Address: 150 Franklin Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222
What did you want to be when you were little?
Designer and boutique owner.
Like a lot of little girls i loved fashion and wearing my mom's clothing.
I remember drawing dresses on napkins and playing shop keeper with my sister in my mom's closet.
Adorable! I read that you are also a designer, do you sell your own pieces in the shop?
When I opened Dalaga, along with my husband and sister, about 70% of the store was of my own designs. At that time we manufactured everything ourselves in-house. The demand quickly became bigger than our ability to produce, which lead us to pursue other great lines, that fit our aesthetic and meet the demand of our clientele. We hope that soon after I deliver my baby girl to start designing again:)
Did you study fashion design?
Yes. But I never graduated. I studied fashion, textile, and knitwear design but was hungry to start selling my designs before I could graduate.
When did you decide to open up a shop and why Greenpoint?
When I was 2. It became a reality in 2006. My husband and I moved to Greenpoint from San Francisco in 2004 when there was one bar and one coffee shop on Franklin Street. We loved the people, history, and character of the buildings immediately. Our storefront in particular was something that caught our fancy years before we actually attained it. But the real story is that one of our friends had discovered this neighborhood years before and forced us to move here. We saw the potentional of what Franklin Street could be and the rest is history.
Any horror stories...or so far so good?
Just the economy. For the most part, the neighborhood is doing really well. We feel like we are in a bubble, separated from what most of the country is feeling right now. As for Dalaga, we are extremely happy here. We have expanded our store to sell soley women's fashion.
I feel like the decor and the clothes really compliment each other. You have a very distinct style, how would you describe it?
I really wanted to create a cozy comfortable environment. Much like you were entering a fabulous friend's boudouir in which you could immerse yourself in without feeling like a trespasser. I would say my style is elegantly sexy.
I would agree! Everything in the shop is delightfully affordable! Was having reasonably priced gems something in the plan from the beginning?
Most definitely. My Filipino-American parents raised me to be very resourceful. I grew up with modest means and my mom taught me that you didn't have to spend a lot of money to have nice things. So i've taken it upon myself to bring exceptional service, fierce fashion, in a beautiful environment, at an accessible price. As a consumer, these were things i've wished were available to me. People are often mistaken when they see our window displays. They assume that we are much more expensive than we actually are. But why can't you purchase an affordable item in a luxurious enviornment?
I first heard about your shop on Refinery 29's website in an interview with Au Revoir Simone. One of the girls said it was one of their favorite places to shop. Do those fancy gals come in regularly?
Those girls have such a fantastic sense of style. I've personally seen them in Dalaga a few times, but we try not to intrude on our celebrity clientele. We want everyone to feel comfortable while perusing our racks.
What's the best thing about owning a shop?
Being able to buy fashions that I love and sharing them with world. The store is like my sketchbook for all the world to see.
Favorite thing/place in Brooklyn?
Dalaga! - and everything on Franklin Street.
If you could open a shop anywhere else in the world where would it be?
Some place where it is sunny all the time and unicorns roam free.
Ahh yes, unicorns!
Thank you Michelle! Can't wait to meet your baby girl!
xoxo
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