We had the good fortune of connecting with Tammi Relyea and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tammi, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The evolution of the bra has changed over time, however I realized there was a lacking of stylish innovation specifically towards the actual bra strap. At some point, there was the invention of the “invisible” bra strap. Most women would agree that plastic bra straps aren’t necessarily a great solution or step in the right direction. Fashion trends come and go but what I’ve noticed is many women of all ages enjoy showing their shoulders. After years of hearing, “How am I going to hide these bra straps?” I decided it was time to transform them from just a functional part of the bra into a stylish and fashionable accessory. Introducing BRA-sériē – bra straps you can show!

What should our readers know about your business?
BRA-sériē is an innovative bra accessory line on a mission to reinvent the bra strap. BRA-sériē are uniquely stylish, interchangeable bra straps that easily attached to a strapless bra. We have styles from dainty to daring giving women the confidence to flaunt their shoulders without compromising style and fashion.

What sets us apart from others? With three awarded design patents, we are the trail blazers offering women a real solution to otherwise having to hide their bra straps. We are proud to be often described by our customers as a “game changer!”

As a woman-owned boutique brand we are thrilled about the growing interest from women around globe. We receive inquiries asking if we can ship our products abroad most recently to Mexico, London, Australia and India. Coming in second is being awarded three design patents for my brand’s signature styles.

Was it easy? On a scale from 1 to 10, ten being most difficult, I would say an “11.” The creation of BRA-sériē doesn’t fit into the current norms of fashion production and sourcing. I have had to get creative and “think out of the box” in finding solutions to the challenges I face with regard to manufacturing. As with most emerging brands, marketing with limiting resources hampers my ability to reach more women on a larger scale — that is for me a on-going frustration.

It takes grit, gratitude and grace to overcome the daily challenges as a business owner. Grit helps me see beyond the obstacles and having the perseverance to follow through while not allowing the fear of failing to take over. Gratitude keeps me positive and focused. Grace, first and foremost, reminds daily that I need to be kind to myself (mistakes are part of the journey) and that good leadership starts with treating people with kindness.

I want the world to know that my mission is to create a global company that inspires personal expression and promotes a positive self image for women of all ages. As a mompreneur, launching a business in your 50’s comes with all sorts of personal doubts, obligations and challenges. However, I knew that my craving to grow both personally and professionally, required me to step out of my comfort zone. If I can do it, you can too!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When visiting Northern California, there is a variety of destination spots that offer a variety of interesting, and fun experiences. Each region is surrounded by a variety of fantastic restaurants to accommodate almost every palette.

City Life/San Francisco:
Golden Gate Bridge – Welcome Center
Golden Gate Park
Palace of the Fine Arts
Embarcadero

Wine Tasting:
Napa/Yountville Area
Chandon Winery
Cakebread Cellars
Bouchon Bakery

Hiking/Nature:
Muir Woods National Park

Berkeley:
Claremont Hotel – Stunning architecture

California Coast/Monterey County:
City of Carmel
Big Sur

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shout-out goes to the amazing woman that nominated me – Cara Brzezicki, Author and Inventor (@carebear7154 – www.jazziebeans.com). Cara is a wonderful example of someone who genuinely advocates and supports other women.

I also want to take this opportunity to recognize the wonderful women who are part of the WO3 movement (www.wo3connect.com). WO3 is my brand’s annual gratitude project inspiring women to come together for just ONE DAY to partner, promote or support ANY woman-owned and/or female-led business. Our WO3 grassroots movement gives me the opportunity to learn and be inspired by women from around the globe. Lastly, my Shout-out Series would not be complete without the acknowledgement of my wonderful husband, Craig Relyea for his on-going support and encouragement.

Website: www.braserie.com

Instagram: bra_serie

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammirelyea/

Facebook: BRAserieCA

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.