The Meaning Behind the Di Manno Designs Group Shot

Just in case you were wondering who all these people are in this shot, I wanted to fill you in.

When I decided to do a photo shoot, after launching my wristband and headband collection, I wanted to do a group shot of everyone wearing my accessories and I wanted to do it with friends. Hiring models was an option, but I wanted there to be meaning to it. I wanted the people who have been my support system, my closest friends, who have been here with me from the start of me launching Di Manno Designs in the shot. These are the people in my life who have been here for me on a weekly basis seeing the progress of my company, all of it, the ups and the downs! They have all offered me great advice and have been tremendously helpful in assisting me with great ideas for Di Manno Designs.

(From left to right)

Yonit Miller and I became close a couple years ago, I think mainly because we had the same needs, we loved to hang out, go out and meet new people, so we pretty much did just that every weekend. We bonded when I went to spend the weekend with her, her mom and her dad in the Poconos. We would talk ourselves to sleep, which is a wonder for me, because I usually have to watch TV before bed! lol We also spent a weekend in Miami together at her brothers where we celebrated her b day. She has been a school teacher for 8 years in NYC and recently just moved to San Francisco to start a new chapter of her life with a guy she met and fell in love with in Cabo when we went last summer together! Goes to show you never know when or where you will find love:) I will miss her dearly, but am planning on going to visit her soon! Thanks for all your helpful advice with DD:) In the picture, Yonit has on the Black Crystal Covered Headband and matching Black Crystal Covered Wristband.

Angela Di Manno, right next to her is my sister who I live with in NYC. We have been living together for about 8 years now! She is the person who knows me the most since she is family so I always know I can count on her for honest, real advice. She works at Mt Sinai in the psych unit and also sees clients privately on the side for therapy sessions. She is great at what she does. Anyone need a therapist, let me know, I will give you her number! This was her first photo shoot! Angela is wearing the Black Patent Wristband in this shot.

Tori Famuyiwa and I have been close friends for a few years now. We met because we were always at the same parties and just started a friendship from there. We were roommates on a Royal Carribean cruise we took with some friends and have fond memories of all of our times together. We always seem to laugh and enjoy ourselves wherever we are. Tori is a stylist who styles shoots here in NYC. He also does beautiful unique, handcrafted memory/scrap books. If you are looking for something like this for a special occasion, let me know, they are wonderful. I already told him he is doing mine for my wedding when ever that is! lol He was the stylist for this shoot. For those of you that don't know what a stylist does, he picked out everyone's outfits and paired my accessories with them. Good job Tori! Tori is wearing the Red Patent Wristband in this shot.

Walt is a close friend I have known for a long time, since my University of Miami college days, where we hung out and even went on a road trip to Mardi Gras together with some friends. When I moved to NYC, he was one of the only people I knew here. He is completely genuine, laid back and has been helpful no matter which industry I am in! He does consulting work for companies in NYC. We actually had the photo shoot at his loft in Soho. Thanks Walt for hooking it up!:) He is wearing the Black Leather Wristband in this shot.

Zivile Rezgyte and I became friends a couple of years ago. We actually met at a Soho loft party that I went to with Walt. She knew him as well, he introduced us and we talked all night, realizing we had a lot of the same values. She is from Lithuania, used to be a professional gymnast, lives in NYC and works in residential real estate. If you need a house in Queens, let me know! We have been hanging out every week since we met. Just was with her this past weekend in the hamptons for July 4th. Thanks for hooking it up Z:) Zivile is wearing the White Brass Studded Headband and matching White Brass Studded Wristband.

Juan Castro I have known since University of Miami as well. We lived in the same dormitory together freshman year. We spent a lot of time together then and have been inseparable ever since he moved to NYC about 4 years together. We have even managed to live in the same buildings in NYC! lol We love to laugh together a lot, so we pretty much have fun doing that wherever we are. Juan has assisted with booking at companies like Wilhelmina, has been in the financial industry as well as sales. He also loves dogs, so if you need a dog walker, let me know! He invented "the snappy that makes your hair happy" on my site. Thanks Juan:)

Juan is wearing the Black Silver Studded Wristband.

Brenda Versoza and I met years ago while I was doing a liquor promotion at a bar with a friend of hers. She started a model staffing company at that time, which I did some work for and then awhile after she launched Soza Models, a model staffing company with her partner Rich. We have had many good times together, including a trip to Miami, which was her b day gift to me a few years back. She moved to Tampa, FL with her love and has been there for 2 years now. She visits NY a lot, since her main office is here, so we get to see each other quite often. She is the one who inspired me to come up with the concept of Di Manno Designs. I was helping her move out of her apartment in West Village, over a bottle of wine, I told her I wanted to have my own company, she suggested I think of my daily routine and see if there was anything I wanted or needed...I did that one day while getting an acupuncture treatment and it was then that I came up with an idea for a leather covered ponytail holder because I was so sick of wearing my hair back in an elastic band! Thanks B:)

Brenda is wearing the Red Leather Wristband and Red Leather Ponytail Holder (standard).

So this probably gives you a better idea of why there is so much meaning in this picture and who the people are and what they represent in my life. It is never a one man show in any company, so I just wanted to share with you a great source of my support system, who are my friends who have helped me, each in their own way with Di Manno Designs. Thanks guys!

PS I have on the Python Wristband in the shot.