Are you byen abiye? Are you a dandy type, the type who will not step outside your door, without giving yourself a multi-angle full-length mirror look over? Are you the renaissance woman type, who not only excels in being cultured, but being sophisticated and chic too? Dayanne Danier’s line Bien Abyé—spelled her way—is the way to go for you. The collection is made up of well-tailored silhouettes with a definite feminine look, with plenty of attention to fabric detail—of that Danier makes certain. Her hip, uniquely-made fashions have had participants at fashion shows crane their necks for a second look, and has socialites clamoring to get a piece from the latest creations in her latest collection, which she’s termed Amazon Come Alive. The collection thrives on bright colors, reminiscent of the liveliness of the jungles of the Amazon, but no savagery here. It’s all about the sophisticated, ready-to-wear look.

Born in Massachusetts to Haitian parents, Danier figured the fashion world would be her calling in life early on. Although her family was one the first Haitian families to settle in the predominantly white suburban area of the state at that time, she emphasizes that they were very, very Haiti-centric in their ways. For better or for worse, but mostly for better, little Dayanne grew up with a strong sense of personal responsibility that was bequeathed to her by her parents. She has a strong work ethic, thank you very much, even by designer working life standards. Her day starts easily enough, with the email checking, followed by an energy-boosting workout at the gym, but then the grueling part starts: staying abreast of the year’s fashion calendar, masterminding her newest collection, working with sample room on client orders, and dealing with the demands of a new season. More than being the designer extraordinaire is her interest in her fellow Haitian (a good 10% of her time goes into working with organizations that operates in Haiti). She is in the middle of a project that she’s been planning for Haiti for some time now. It’s taking a lot of time away from her line, but she’s confident that it will bring her as much satisfaction as dressing the sophisticated women of the world.

Q & A

How did you come up with concept and the name for the brand?
The concept for Bien Abyé really came from a void I noticed in the market. Women today are more active than before. We play major roles at home, at work, and in our community. Over the past few years, we have become such a casual and contemporary society; it became harder to find clothing that fits this new active lifestyle. Either brands are too casual for a woman to wear to work or too boring to wear out to an event with friends. There is a need for something in-between that takes women everywhere; from work to a night out on the town. She wants to be well-dressed at all times, and that is what Bien Abyé is, well-dressed! The name, I have to say comes with an interesting story. Like most designers, I wanted to use my name. When I went to trademark Dayanne Danier, my lawyer said it was not available. I almost laughed and thought he was kidding. Well, he wasn’t. And over drinks with a friend—Rum Barbancourt—to get over my sorrow, he asked why I became a fashion designer. When I told him it starts with my dad always saying: “Make sure you are Bien Abyé when you leave the house”, it just came to me that was going to be the name. Bien Abyé was born.

Did you feel that having a Creole name for it would become an obstacle, in terms of pronunciation—though the fashion world does thrive in exotic pronunciations?
I have had that question asked of me before, especially since it is not really 100% Creole but more “French”—Bien—-Creole—Abyé—and that is Dayanne’s version of Creole. [Laughter] But the beauty of being an artist is making up your own rules. And when I think of how I grew up, Bien Abyé was such an important concept in my life. The world will just have to learn this exotic pronunciation like the rest of the fashion brands out there. Also, growing up with the name Dayanne, I am used to bad American pronunciations.

Are you the one who selects the models when you’re having a fashion function, or for your print ads?
That all depends on the situation. I try to express my preference as much [and have as much] say as possible without being a diva and whatever I can’t influence, I go with it and make it work. There have been times when I am presenting my collection with a group of designers, so I can’t be too picky on model selection. When it is a fashion show I am planning, then yes, I pick the models. I try to be as diverse with my model selection as possible. Bien Abyé is not just for one demographic and I believe it is important to represent that on the runway or through presentations. When it comes to print for look books, I have a lot more say because I am the one setting it all up.

You attended Massachusetts College of Art, and earned a BA in fine arts with a concentration in Fashion Design. If you had to do it all over again, would you still do that? Or would you get a degree in something else…say business, and minor in fashion?
If I had to do it again, it would always be fashion! I was an artist at a young age. I was always the class artist since grammar school. By the time I got to high school, I still loved art. School was never a challenge, matter of fact I was the president of the National Honor Society. At the same time, I always found myself running to calculus class with pastel chalk all over my hands from art class. But I can’t lie, to satisfy my Haitian parents, I did apply to college for computer engineering. But dealing with fabric and paint was more fun. It was important to me to do something that had no formulas, something that was pure imagination. And so fashion was it. I do love pattern drafting so that must come from the side of my brain that loved calculus.

By the age of 9, you already knew you wanted to become a designer?
Yes. I don’t know why, but I loved drawing clothes. My mom loved to sew, like every Haitian woman. There were always about 3 or 4 sewing machines in the house. But it wasn’t sewing that intrigued me; it was truly the designing part. Coming up with things from my own imagination. I always had a vivid imagination. But that is a whole other story.

When you were in high school, were you the type of girl who stood out among everyone else?
I wouldn’t say I stood out like someone who wore weird clothes. I was just active. I was the class artist, I was president of my senior class, and surprisingly I was on the basketball team. In high school I probably stood out because of my laugh. I love to laugh.

You didn’t sew anyone’s prom or cotillion dresses, did you?
[Laughter] Actually, I designed both my junior and senior prom dress. And once again, I designed it, not sew it. I always wanted something different. Not different crazy, just different…something no one had!

Before starting Bien Abyé, you worked for such fashion houses as Perry Ellis International and Philip Van Heusen. When you work for big mainstream brands like that, how did you keep your own independent vision as a designer in place?
I always say every experience in life is a learning stage and working for two big apparel giants was exactly that. I learned so much from each. They both opened my eyes to major elements of the apparel industry. A designer will always have their own vision, but one must keep in mind who their client is and those companies taught me that a lot. With both companies, I was a men’s wear designer. So of course, I was not designing for myself, but I never lost my vision. If anything, it helped me to discover how to morph my vision for whoever the client was.

What did you learn while working for those two brands that have helped you with Bien Abyé?
They both came with their own lessons. With Perry Ellis, I worked under the Latin brands Cubavera—which was great because Latin men know fashion—so designing for that demographic was exciting. Fabric development was a very important aspect of each design, so I got to really enjoy developing new fabrics. Philip van Heusen was a fabulous experience as well because they really put an emphasis on branding and always trying to stay brand focus. In this economy, with so many people just wanting to sell anything, understanding the concept of branding is very important to a designer and I am very grateful for having that experience.

Were your parents supportive of your career choice? Or did they buy you a stethoscope as a hint?
[Laughter] Wait [More laughter] Were my parents supportive? What Haitian parents are supportive when their child says, “I want to be a fashion designer”? What I had to go through to get my father to accept that his engineering dreams were not coming from me. I remember the day I told him what type of college I was applying to, he was not happy. I know he was worried when I graduated at first. But after [seeing me work for] two big American companies and me sending him clothes that I designed…he got used to it. It was having a Bien Abyé fashion show during New York Fashion Week—where everyone was there for me—which made him realize he doesn’t have to worry.

Some girls, some women will step out of the house any sort of way, convincing themselves that the way they’re groomed has no bearing on anything whatsoever. What’s your viewpoint on this? And what’s your advice to them?
I completely disagree. I feel your clothing is the first impression you make to someone before opening your mouth. If we all started off by walking into a room screaming and shouting statements, that would be one thing. And it would be a crazy society, but when one walks into a room, one is sized up immediately. If you want people to have positive things to say about you, then dress appropriately. Whenever I see someone in the streets who is dressed in an odd way, I say that they must have no mirrors in the house or maybe just face mirrors. My advice to people is: It’s all about setting the right tone, painting the right picture, and always being Bien Abyé!

You’re launching a new not-for-profit called Fleur de Vie
Yes, this year I started an organization call Fleur De Vie. It stems from over the past few years. I have traveled back to Haiti to plan a give back program with the community in a grassroots way. First year is an after school art program with children in school. Last year, it was pattern drafting with adult teachers. It is a way to ensure donations truly get to the end user and don’t get lost in “administrative costs”. Although, fundraising for Haiti is good, at the same time, as a Haitian living in the U.S, I feel it is important to connect direct with Haiti on the ground and help wherever possible. I also get frustrated when I hear about all the money that was donated to Haiti, but I don’t see where it went. But sitting on the side lines commenting about it is not going to help. Fleur De Vie’s focus is not just to raise funds and awareness. It’s to develop programs on the ground that reach out to the community. This year’s project is about “Back To School” and children. I strongly believe in education and mentoring at a young age. Children are the future of Haiti. How can we expect the future of Haiti to change if we don’t start to nurture the minds and dreams of children?

You’ve also collaborated with Haiti Outreach Ministries and had seminars in Haiti to teach pattern drafting and construction techniques to sewing teachers there. Is that a prelude to something bigger?
I strongly believe in helping Haiti the right way. To me, education and training is the solution to a lot of Haiti’s problems. My time with Haiti Outreach Ministry was amazing. I thought teaching adults was going to be a challenge, especially since my Creole at the time was very weak, and that is putting it nicely. But in the end, when the teachers asked me to come back, I realized I made a carbon footprint. Being able to teach people something that can help better their life is amazing. It was a wonderful experience, because I learned a lot as well. Is it a prelude to something…hmmmmm? If I am brought to Haiti someday to have a school for design or shall we say Maison de Couture, then I would teach them the same way I was taught. It would have to cover the concept of color, the fine craft of tailoring and construction, the beauty of draping, the knowledge of textiles and production. It would definitely not be a three-month sewing class or a two-year degree. I don’t know if the patience for such a school exists right now. Engineering in Haiti is a five-year degree. I would love for them to look at apparel and textile the same way. And then, I would look into it.

As a clothing designer, you have often created designs based on shoes?
My other loves in fashion are accessories and shoes. They can be so much fun. There have been times that I have seen a shoe and the way it wraps the foot and it has inspired me for a new style and how to wrap the body. My inspirations come from all over the place because tailoring to me is another way of saying structure. So the structure of an object, in this example a shoe, can evoke other images in my head. I know it sounds strange, but…it works for me.

Do you have any counsel for the ladies out there who want to renovate their wardrobe?
My biggest advice for women who want to renovate their wardrobe is to make their wardrobe an investment. Buy amazing staple pieces that can last forever, styles that you don’t have to change that often. That is where you spend the money so the styles are durable and have some longevity. And spice it up with trendy pop pieces like prints and accessories and that is where you can spend the least amount. A person—women and men—should not have a wardrobe that is made of all fun trendy pieces. Those go out of style and will get boring. Which will cause one to shop more and spend more money in the long run. Buy core pieces that work and shop every season for the new trend pieces that one does not mind throwing away after a few washes.

You’ve visited Haiti several times. What has been your impression about fashion there? Did anything in particular strike you about trends and style there?
Fashion in Haiti tells me about one’s connection to the outside of Haiti. There are so many people traveling in and out of Haiti, nothing in particular stood out because brands you find in the U.S, you can find in Haiti. It might not be as accessible as it is here, but someone is either buying it while they are on vacation or will bring it to someone in Haiti. I wish as a country, they would support “Haitian made” more. There are a lots of talented designers in Haiti and the population should support them. I also notice the lack of shopping destinations in Haiti. People buy clothes hanging in the street. Everyone talking about investing in Haiti always refer to tourism, hotel, and factories. Why not invest in a shopping center that the majority of the population could afford the product? That way less imports of foreign brands and more support for domestic brands. There is a population of 8 million people. Can you imagine the underwear company that makes products for 8 million people? Some trends that I notice in my travels that did stand out quite a bit are the love for the color yellow and the fact that most women in the streets wear skirts. I noticed that ever since last year. This is very interesting considering I feel like the next big color in fashion will be yellow. But I could be crazy. And regards to the skirts, I don’t know what to say, I guess it is a cultural thing.

Naturally, we have to ask this question: Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
My inspiration comes from all over the place usually comes in layers. I have inspirations for individual designs and also inspirations for a collection as a whole. Overall, it really depends on what I am in the mood for at the time. For example, when it comes to the overall collections, Spring 2012 was the Amazon Rainforest, Fall 2013 is Picasso’s Blue Period, Spring 2013 is Aphrodite, the goddess of love. I just pick them out of my head in a way. When it comes to individual designs, I am really inspired by architecture and flowers, things with structure—since I have a fondness for tailoring.

Besides the Bien Abyé line, where does Dayanne Danier do her shopping?
Um, this is hard because I have not been doing much shopping considering my knowledge of the industry. My closest is really made of mostly Bien Abyé. I will have to say I have a love for Calvin Klein, but that comes with the years of work at PVH since they own Calvin Klein. I do find that having the perfect fit denim jeans is important and right now my brand of choice is Siwy Jeans.

A lot of people are their own persons when it comes to fashion, whereas others are often afraid to take risks.
This goes back to my comment about how your clothes speak for you before you open your mouth. Those who often are their own person, like a Lady Gaga, their fashion speak to their personality. Whereas those who are afraid to take risks with fashion, are often afraid to take risks in life…Either way, there is a place for all types of people and a client for all types of fashion.

Trends come and go. What do you feel will never go out of style?
Wow! There are so many things that will never go out of style: denim jeans, little black dress, white buttoned-down shirt. And the list can go on.

How has Haitian culture influenced your designs?
Haitian culture has influenced my designs in many aspects. What is Bien Abyé? You say that to any other culture and they take time to come up with a vision in their head. You say Bien Abyé to Haitians and we just know what the word really means. So that in itself is a strong, strong influence. It’s interesting in the states. The image portrayed about Haitian culture is so wrong. I often hear non-Haitians [being] amazed at the fact that after the earthquake, people living in tents, can still get up and go to work or go to church and their clothes are nicely pressed and still look well dressed. Or at 8 A.M., when you are driving throughout Haiti, all the children are in uniform. To them, it is amazing; to them it is astonishing. To me, it’s Haitian culture. I learned the concept of Bien Abyé from my Haitian parents which raised their kids in the only culture they knew, the Haitian culture. So when people ask me has the Haitian culture influenced my designs, the only answer is of course [yes] because I am Haitian.

Growing up, who was the most fashionable person that you knew?
I would have to say my dad. My dad looks great all the time. Image was so big to him. Bien Abyé, Bien Abyé! Growing up, he would have all his suits tailor-made. He would go to parent-teacher meetings in a three-piece suit. My dad bought his first pair of jeans after he turned 50. Looking appropriate was always a priority for him and it is a fashion he passed on to his children.

You often speak at fashion design schools. What advice do you have for up-and-coming designers?
My advice to up-and-coming designers is to be as individually creative as possible while knowing the market. I am very big into branding. Too often young designers make one beautiful piece after another with no connection to each other and when you ask them is the client for each piece the same person, they say “yes” immediately, but in reality, they’re not. That’s the lack of knowledge of branding and knowing one’s client. And my other advice would be to have patience! This industry is a jungle and if a young designer thinks they are going to strike it big immediately, they could get burned quickly.

The road to success as a designer is not always filled with pretty fabrics and gorgeous lace. What difficulties and obstacles have you had to overcome?
As a designer, there are many challenges and obstacles. Marketing, I would have to say, is a major one. Large brands have big budgets to put towards marketing and so do the celebrity brands out there. Small designers like me face major challenges trying to compete with a brand that has lot of dollars to spend on marketing. And marketing is everything. Without it, you don’t have a business. I would also say the quantity issue in combination with overseas production. Brands that are well-known are getting order requests that make it easy for them to produce in places overseas, whereas a small brand like myself will most likely produce in the U.S.—which I like because I strongly believe in “Made in the USA”. At the same time, labor costs in the U.S are a lot higher. I someday want to move production to Haiti, but still waiting for quality standards to meet high-end demand.

As a kid, did you wish that your Dayanne was spelled “Diane?”
Are you in my head you and you didn’t tell me! Yes, as a kid, I always questioned why my parents spelled my name such an un-ordinary way. But then I found out the history behind the spelling and as an adult, I loved the spelling of my name.

Do you have any regrets about your life?
I try not to regret any aspect of my life. I will say the death of my mother at a young age often makes me wonder how my life would be different if she were here. But losing her as a child made me the woman I am today. And I accept that. There are a lot of experiences and decisions we make in life that we wish we could change, but that is life and we just have to live.

What’s the best thing about being Haitian?
The best thing about being Haitian is the sense of resilience. Haitians never give up. I don’t know if I could be in the industry if I were not Haitian-American. I was focused at 9 and I am focused now. I said I wanted my own business and…voila!

What’s next for the brand?
What is next for Bien Abyé? To be a national brand in the US and develop a worldwide presence. I would love to have Bien Abyé free standing stores. Although the internet is taking over consumer spending, I want to bring back the concept of amazing client service. If a woman is spending money on fashion, she should have someone advising her the right way on how to spend her money. A wardrobe should be an investment, not this disposable product we have all over the place. The only way people will start to dress better is if they buy better clothes and people often need guidance on how to buy and wear quality clothes.

Fashion designer Dayanne Danier is known for her chic women’s fashion line Bien Abyé. But she’s always wanted to intersect it with philanthropic activities. Enter her non-profit organization Fleur De Vie, which when translated means Flower of Life. The organization’s name is very telling of its work in Haiti. It strives to help young women to dare to dream of bigger and better things.

Q & A

How did the idea for Fleur De Vie take shape?
The idea of Fleur De Vie came from a number of influential moments in my life. After watching Oprah’s first Christmas in Africa special, I was inspired to reach out to my own community in a similar way which led to first sponsoring a number of children in Haiti. Later, I felt that writing checks to an organization was not enough. I really wanted to get reconnected with Haiti directly. So I traveled to Haiti for the first time in 25 years in July of 2009. I had such a remarkable and emotional trip that all I wanted to do was schedule a return trip immediately. I didn’t realize that coming back would be that soon, but when the earthquake took place, it did not just crush Haiti, it crushed my heart. My aunt told me about the MEVA school and how they lost their building and the children were suffering emotionally. So Jenny Batista—the cofounder—and I decided we would go spend a week with the children. After spending a week and seeing how they had no dreams for their future, we knew at that point, we had to do something. I remember it like it was yesterday; I sat on the balcony of my uncle’s house and told him I wanted to start Fleur De Vie. Jenny was right there with me and said “and I want to help you.”

What are some of the must-hit goals that you have for the organization?
Some of the must hit goals are to promote sustainability, to be transparent to our donors, and to assist those who need help in a way that will effect positive change in their life.

In terms of the response you have gotten, what’s the general reaction towards Fleur De Vie?
Overall, the general response we have received has been very positive. Our donors are very happy that they are helping effect an individual’s life and that they can visually see that what we say we are going to do, we actual do. Our volunteers in Haiti are so happy that many of them ask when the next program is scheduled. They like the idea of being a part of something positive, they want change as well. The volunteers that come from the United States welcome the opportunity to not only volunteer on the ground in Haiti, but see a different side of the island and culture that is not often portrayed in the media. The recipients of our aid are extremely pleased because the types of projects allow their students to have a different experience in their life which they might not ever have.

You are also the mastermind behind your own fashion line Bien Abyé. Is it hard being an in-demand designer, and one who is so heavenly involved in philanthropy?
This is extremely hard. Time management is a must in such a situation. I have to admit, Bien Abyé took a slight back seat to Fleur De Vie in its first conception year. Planning an event internationally is not easy and I found myself traveling back to Haiti quite often, that I now can’t stress enough the need to build partners on the ground. At the same time, the theory of giving back is very important to me as an individual. It is something my parents taught me ever since I was young. My parents came to the United States because they wanted a better life for their future family. I have a strong passion about wanting to complete that circle and say thank you by giving back to the place that made my parents. I hope I can find diaspora who feel the same way and want to join Fleur De Vie on this mission.

Fleur De vie has a great many events and activities and projects to help it achieve its goals. Can you please discuss them?
Sure, in the past we have done so much, usually reaching out to children. The first project of the official organization was the Back To School Recreational Day event in September. This project was focused on preparing children for the upcoming school year while getting them excited about education. We took 500 children to a huge open field, thanks to Fabrice Rouzier who was open to us using Sun Auto, and had a day filled with fun activities, music, and food. We also incorporated a health awareness aspect with basic screening and dental care promotion. It was like an education party! The day ended with every child getting a new backpack which contained school supplies. The children and volunteers had such a good time. We can’t wait to do it again this year. December of last year, we returned in collaboration with the Consul General of Haiti New York office and did a True Noel Day. Again, we reached out to 500 children from 5 different schools/organizations and spent a day at each organization doing arts and crafts activities, sang Christmas carols, and gave them each a gift from Santa. That week really made the holidays something special to these children and to the team.

The focus of Fleur De Vie is to promote positive change mostly through educating communities on all topics that can help improve their lives. At the same time, when you see a child’s face light up just because we made them feel special from a small activity, all the hard work to make these programs happen are so worth it. For [this year], we have repeat activities planned and some new ones as well. Overall, we try to do better and better each year to promote positive change. So that just means the projects will get better and better each year!

What would you say is the organization’s greatest need, or needs rather?
There are two greatest needs of the organization and the most important, is volunteers! The reason I say that is because of the strong need for positive reinforcement in the lives of the people. As you see, our numbers are not small and we want it to only grow bigger as far as people we connect with. But we can’t do it by ourselves. The more people willing to travel with us will create a bigger impact in Haiti. It is all about numbers working together for a greater cause.

Also, of course, donations. One of the things we try to do the most is buy supplies on the ground in Haiti. It helps support the local economy and also cuts cost on shipping. The schools and organizations we work with are really in dire need of help. I will never forget the time I went to visit one of our schools, the conditions of the benches literally brought me to tears. I was so embarrassed talking to the principal with tears coming down my eyes, at the same time I could not believe the conditions these children where learning in. It just broke my heart. And just when I thought it was an isolated issue, we returned in December to go to one school in Mirebalais where the benches were no wider than seven inches and the material was just untreated, rotten wood. These images drive me insane and I wish we could do more. When these schools say, “Thank you so much” for just a backpack or arts and crafts activities, I feel so sad because to me, I wish we could do more. One day, I hope Fleur De Vie receives enough funding to cover the back to school activities and the hardware needs for some of these schools. If we want to effect positive change, we first have to change the way the population learns in their foundation years and that means helping schools with children.

Volunteers are without a doubt huge contributors to the organization.
Oh yes, of course! We like to have volunteers for a number of reasons. Number one, it promotes transparency. With so much bad press surrounding where funding to Haiti goes, it is very important to have volunteers see the proof in our work and the size of our projects. It is also a great way to connect the world to Haiti. We like to promote both Haitian diaspora and non-Haitian people to join us because we want the world to see a different face of Haiti. Many people are interested in going to Haiti, but they hesitate to travel on their own. This way, they travel in a group, get to see numerous sides of the culture, and reach out to the Haitian community directly. We also love to get the volunteers who are on the ground in Haiti. They are so eager to help their country in a positive way, that they are usually the first people to contact us and say, “What is next for Fleur De Vie?” There is a positive energy over Haiti. People just need to get on the right path and work together for the change that is needed. With the right volunteers, this can all happen.

What are your future plans to add more buds to Fleur De Vie?
I love this question! It can be viewed in so many different ways. I will first say the buds can be compared to the different project. So for [this year], we are adding a few new projects to our list which are very important. One is donating Reading Centers to school. Many of the schools in Haiti don’t have a library or books for children to read for pleasure. And with literacy rates so low, Fleur De Vie will like to promote reading by donating a center directly to school. Also, we are brainstorming on a “Tools of The Trade” classes for young adults because education is important at all levels. So any knowledge we can give to the community that can help better someone’s life is important. I am also trying to come up with a program that does outreach to young adult women. The lack of role models that show the young girls to “use your brain not your body” drives me bananas and I would really like to do an event geared to young woman. I haven’t come up with anything yet, and this is news to my board as we speak. [Laughter] But it is so needed and I will not rest until I come up with something.

The artist in me comes up with some really creative programs so hopefully whatever it is will make an impact. I am very fortunate to have a strong board of individuals who share the same drive as me and who is usually in agreement to my crazy ideas. For that, I am truly blessed!
The other way to refer to the “buds” is through volunteers. And for that we are always open to accepting new volunteers to join us on our trips to Haiti.

You can check out the Fleur De Vie website HERE to see how you can help with its initiatives.

This Sunday is going to be lived fabulously by Fleur de Vie and its founder-designer Dayanne Danier. She’s gathering the Haitian-American community from New York, and surrounding States to draw attention to her biggest cause: the education of children in Haiti.

Above: Fashion designer Dayanne Danier at an event for her organization Fleur de Vie.

Let’s have a discussion with the designer-philanthropist about this event!

Above: Kids in Haiti play at one of the many events planned by Fleur de Vie.

Kreyolicious: So, I think that the last time we talked about Fleur de Vie, it had just been launched. What has the organization been to since then?
That’s so true. Where did the time go? It’s been a little over three years, and yes, we have done so much since then. When we last spoke we had two schools in Port Au Prince and one after-school program in a province outside of Mirebalais. We were just focusing on one program which was the Back to School project. Now, we have added on another school in Port Au Prince and we connected with an organization in St. Marc. We have also started a new program called Reading is Fundamental, which focuses on literacy and teacher training.

Above: The gala being held by Fleur de Vie today, will raise funds for activities like this one.
Kreyolicious: Do you feel you have accomplished all your goals for Fleur de Vie?
DD: We wouldn’t go as far as saying we accomplished all our goals, we are still at the tip of the iceberg. There is still so much that needs to be done when it comes to social education. What we would say is that we are happy with what we have accomplished thus far and definitely committed to continuing. We have touched the lives of many students in Haiti. We are happy to say we haven’t done this alone, we have built great relationships with partners on the ground and our volunteers are more than just volunteers to us now. They are crucial members who strongly believe in our mission and want to see change in their country.

A sample of what attendees can expect at the Fleur de Vie gala at the Alliance Francaise in New York this afternoon.

Kreyolicious: You have an event coming up soon at the French Institute in New York. What has it been like putting this event together behind the scenes?
Yes. We have our La Palette Saisonniere De Chef food tasting fundraiser. This is the second year we are doing this, but on a larger scale. Our focus with this event was to bring the community in the Tri-State area together, and share the work we have been doing over the years. Of course, this is a fundraiser. At the same time, we wanted to do unique events that allow people to want to come out to support a great cause. So we brought together executive chefs, David Destinoble and Lucmann Pierre to create delicious [treats] for our guests. Culinary is a big part of the Haitian culture and sharing the talents of these chefs offers a different view of Haiti to the New York area. We are happy that Mikaben will join us for a performance and the Ambassador Paul Altidor is our special guest. So, there’s a lot of planning that goes into this. It can be a bit stressful. But still easier than planning an event for 600 students. [Winks] My team is great, and we have worked hard to make this a successful event. We are still selling tickets on the website!

Above: Singer Mikaben is scheduled to perform a set, his first appearance since signing with Warner Music France.

Support Fleur de Vie and its founder! The Fleur de Vie event will take place at the French Institute/Alliance Francaise today Sunday, Aug 21. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets and support this fund.

Fashion designer Dayanne Danier held a spectacular event at the French Institute of New York last night. Complete with delicious plates, wine tasting, and a performance from singer-songwriter Mikaben, things were looking more “up”, than the Manhattan and South Beach skylines combined.

Check out the interview below in which the designer talks about the books that have impacted her, balancing her work as the designer behind the label Bien Abyé, and running Fleur de Vie, her non-profit organization.

Kreyolicious: As time has gone by, do you feel that you have a better handle on how to manage your career as a designer and as a non-profit founder?
I definitely feel I have a better handle on how to manage my career as a designer and non-profit founder. The best way to describe is exactly that, managing. I love when people ask me this question because when you stop and look at some of the best designers out there, or at least my favorite ones, they are designing numerous brands and involved in so many initiatives. So to me, it’s the same and more about how do I bring them together, and in a way I am working on that. I love working with textile artisans in Haiti, and I am looking to engaging them in the production of Bien Abyé. At the same time, I believe nonprofit organizations need to keep sustainability as a key element of their infrastructure. So my focus is on how to bridge those gaps between Bien Abyé and Fleur De Vie.

Above: Participants at a Fleur de Vie event.

Kreyolicious: What book would you recommend that female leaders read to get a better handle on things?
That is a great question. Wow! I love reading so mmm, let me think a moment. My all-time favorite book that I find myself reading every time I am going through a new chapter in my life is The Alchemist. I actually first read it on the plane to Haiti when we did the first Back to School program five years ago. I loved it because the idea of seeking out one’s true destiny and never giving up. As a leader, one sometimes has to make hard decisions that the team might not see the vision or the end result. It is up to the leader to have the intuition, the direction to know what to do and accept what will come next through your actions. I can name so many other books, but I would say that is my favorite…To the point I have shared it with our volunteers in Haiti and have been thinking of incorporating it with our teachers and students of Fleur de Vie.

A Fleur de Vie Back to School event in Haiti.

Kreyolicious: Where do you see Fleur de Vie two years from today?
God willing, I would like to see Fleur De Vie grow to have a school in the south and in the north of Haiti. I would also like to grow our on the ground members to a larger scale. It is important that the community be involved in the promotion of social education to the youth. It’s all about nurturing the next generation. I would also like to see Fleur De Vie be more financially sustainable. Our programs require funding that is really not coming in at the rate we need it to. Two years from now, I would like to come up with a way to solve this issue.

BE SURE TO CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE FLEUR DE VIE WEBSITE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT DAYANNE, AND HOW YOU CAN HELP HER ORGANIZATION!