Conversations with Dena Lyons

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dena Lyons.

Hi Dena, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started painting when I was 2 years old. I love the beauty of the world around me and currently paint colorful portraits of flowers on canvas. A few years ago an onlooker on the street asked if I would like to put my paintings onto porcelain and pillows. This was the impetus for creating my scarf brand Dena Lyons. I work with local artisans in Italy to print my paintings onto the finest silk and cashmere. The luxurious fabric is then sewn into scarves, ponchos, dresses, blouses, and caftans.

Dena Lyons sells the collections to boutiques across the United States. CT Weekends in Cameron Village carries the collections.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been some growing pains on the road from painting to growing a scarf brand. One does not learn the management skills required to work with a team while painting by oneself in a studio. This took a couple of years to figure out how to delegate and to whom to delegate.

Covid impacted the fashion industry. Many boutiques went out of business. I had to look for other sources for sales. Also, the types of goods sold shifted. I added new collections to my line that matched the trends: masks, affordable decorative cushions, and now leggings.

Every day there is something to learn and an obstacle to overcome. It’s fun taking on new challenges and finding new solutions!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a painter, I create large-scale scintillating portraits of flowers. I am known for my bold color statements in my oil paintings. I am proud to be able to wake up with a meaningful journey each day to create something inspiring for others.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Make sure to have a plan that you can implement step by step to get to your goal. One day at a time…

Contact Info:

• Website: www.denalyons.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denalyonscouture/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denalyonscouture/