Community Highlights: Meet Alison Bruhn & Delia Folk of The Style That Binds Us

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Bruhn & Delia Folk. They and their team shared their story with us below:

Delia decided she wanted to pursue a career in fashion, so she moved to NYC for an internship with Versace & started her career at Barneys New York on the buying team. While there, she worked in Beauty, RTW & Jewelry.

Alison helped Delia prepare for her multiple internship interviews (learn more about this here: https://youtu.be/r1XxSc4BEr0) and through that process rediscovered her love of fashion. She received an Image Consulting Certificate from FIT and became a personal stylist at age 50.

In late 2016, both Alison & Delia started separate blogs: Alison was answering style questions her clients frequently asked her and Delia shared how she broke into the fashion industry and what it was like once you were in it. She also interviewed the designers she was meeting on the buying team at Barneys so her audience could discover under-the-radar brands before anyone else.

In April 2018, the mother-daughter duo combined to launch The Style That Binds Us and brought their blogs to life with a podcast and YouTube channel. In September 2018, Delia left Barneys and Alison & Delia went on a Fashion Month adventure traveling to New York, London, Milan & Paris for fashion week (as seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8ifGjcrXbU&list=PL51hAy7vV36Qm1xfcBxgA-bLLgSMqDkew). When they returned, Delia became a full-time entrepreneur and started consulting with brands on their wholesale & marketing/D2C strategies.

When Alison & Delia returned from fashion month, they started hosting events with their favorite brands and inviting their community to experience the brand and meet the designer. Alison was still living in Birmingham, AL, and Delia in NYC. Alison would frequently visit for styling appointments with her clients and to host or attend events, conferences, etc.

In October 2021, at age 60 Alison moved to NYC! They could not believe that the longtime dream of both Alison & Delia living in the same city was realized!

In December 2023, Alison & Delia launched a Mini Mag showcasing of everything you need to know each month (https://thestylethatbindsus.lpages.co/april-2023-mini-mag-issue/).

The Style That Binds Us is on a mission to ensure everyone lives their most stylish & fearless life.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Entrepreneurship is NEVER a smooth road! You constantly have to put yourself out there, never give up and believe in yourself. You have to MAKE IT HAPPEN. You are responsible for every $ you bring in whereas if you work at a company, you are most likely on salary or know your hourly rate.

You have to pay attention to what’s going on in the economy as well as the cultural zeitgeist to figure out what your audience needs from you and what they’ll want next. You need to determine where we are heading as a society. You also have to understand who your audience is and get to know them REALLY well. You have to figure out what they want without them asking you.

Struggles include things such as figuring out how to grow without large marketing budgets, cash flow, how to grow all of our revenue streams as well as pinpointing how to pivot as the world changes and evolves.

Some days you wonder if it isn’t going to work & if you need to find a job and make this into a side hustle so you can have more security in paying your bills. On other days there is so much momentum, and you must trust that the money will come and that everything will work out.

Entrepreneurship is a journey that can be filled with questions and self-doubt. There are always so many questions & no clear answers. You don’t have a boss determining the direction/strategy; that’s on you. You make your best educated guess to decide on a direction using the information you have at the time and set a time period when you’ll revisit to determine if it’s working.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Style That Binds Us is a media company & consulting agency offering both style & brand consulting We have a website, podcast, newsletter, Mini Mag, social media, and a YouTube channel and we host events We are a mother-daughter duo from Alabama & both live in NYC. We are known for taking the stress out of getting dressed as well as introducing our audience to the latest & greatest in fashion and style.

We are most proud of the fact that we have lasted 5 years and that we are still in business, and not only that, GROWING with a lot of opportunity ahead. We are 2 financially independent females who created something from nothing and are able to support ourselves & also make a difference in our audience’s lives. The Style That Binds Us is about so much more than just fashion; we believe that a rising tide raises all ships and have an underlying theme of empowering women to live their most stylish & fearless life.

Our personal styling services include wedding styling & executive/professional styling as well which can be conducted in person or digitally. Want to come shopping in NYC? We can curate a special experience giving you insider access to the fashion industry that is usually reserved for a select few.

https://thestylethatbindsus.lpages.co/vip-shopping-day-nyc/

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Self-confidence. Stamina. Industriousness. Attention to detail. Creativity. Positivity. Curiosity. Kindness. Self-love.

Being humble. Not caring what others think. Wanting to help/serve others. Leadership. Self-motivated. Self-awareness. Knowing who you are. Resourcefulness. Discipline. Empathy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thestylethatbindsus.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/thestylethatbindsus
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Style-That-Binds-Us-374143669728760/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/11836203/admin/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tstbu
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChFVuT_XmJMPPnrK7rjGbIw
• Yelp: https://thestylethatbindsus.lpages.co/march-2023-mini-mag-issue/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Izw4ABg0P1WwX903lv56T?si=6CAVm5OYTPC_i2gwD3JVpQ
• Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-style-that-binds-us/id1385819832

Image Credits
Junior Jiminez, Diana Davis, Tracy Dungo, Kassidy Gibson, and Anneliese Gartner