Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Dunn
Hi Olivia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story to becoming a designer is a bit unconventional because I never went to traditional fashion school. I grew up in Round Rock, TX but I did high school and college in upstate New York where I studied Public Relations, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship.
In 2018 I moved back to Austin and worked as a Fashion Agent repping photographers, stylists, and tailors in the industry. Working so closely with my tailors inspired me to get a sewing machine and in 2020 I taught myself how to sew.
When I first started I would go to local thrift stores and rework the items and sell them via depop and local pop-ups. I eventually grew my skills and started my own made-to-order swim line under the same name, Dose of Subtle.
This lasted for about a year, and then I shut it down because I was juggling this with a 9-5.
In my career I eventually transitioned to becoming a Copywriter and that is now what I do full-time working on campaigns and social media for Ralph Lauren.
In November of 2024 I decided it was time to launch Dose of Subtle but this time as a made-to-order womenswear brand specifically using deadstock, repurposed fabrics.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being self-taught means that there is no specific blueprint I can follow to reach my goals. A lot of it is trial and error and every single day I’m learning something new. It takes a lot of time and that is one of the things I’ve struggled with the most—having all these ideas but not being able to execute them all quickly. But also there is such beauty in that because it allows me to filter and focus on what truly matters to me. Each day I’m laying one brick at a time and I know that eventually it will all come together and that it is going to be a great moment because I know I’ll have worked so hard for it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
So, in addition to running my womenswear brand, I’ve also, over the past year, started creating and publishing content online to teach others the basics of sewing under the username @OliviaSews_. It really started as a way for me to document all the things I was making, and very quickly, I realized how many people also wanted to learn how to sew. Being self-taught, I know the struggle of putting together the puzzle pieces in teaching yourself this skill. I felt like there needed to be an easy-to-follow, accessible, and straightforward resource that people could come back to time and time again to learn how to sew.
By doing this I’ve been able to help others tap into their creativity and that is such an amazing feeling because I love helping others accomplish something they never thought was possible. I’ve also really advanced my own skill sets which has only made my designs even better. And I love being able to share the entire behind-the-scenes process. I hope that when someone watches my content, they say, “I think I can do that,” and give it a try. I want people to know that any dreams they have are possible, no matter how big or small—you might just have to get creative with how you go after them.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
The number one way to support me is through purchasing my designs online at DoseofSubtle.com. If you’re someone who wants to learn how to sew you can follow my free tutorials on my instragram page (@OliviaSews_). I will also be releasing an e-book this year that is a complete handbook for sewing basics. It’s going to be an incredible resource for those who want to learn how to sew.
A few of my goals this year are to inspire creativity, build community, and empower women, so I am always open to collaborating on anything that supports these goals. Whether that is hosting an event in my studio, doing a pop-up, or even doing a small sewing class. I’m always open to ideas!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.doseofsubtle.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviasews_/
