The story behind Dahlia Selva
DAHLIA SELVA was conceived on the core belief that there is nothing more inspiring than a woman being unapologetically herself. We want to inspire people to discover and channel their own version of sensuality into a force of empowerment through distinctive designs. We strive to break stereotypes and encourage everyone to better express their own sensitivity, their romance, their edge and their poetic transgression to the world.
Modern Culture turned sensuality into a questionable attribute for empowered women. Sensuality is not sexism - but it somehow became guilty by association. Celebrating rather than rejecting it, is what drives the vision of the brand. We want to break uniformity, to unlock possibilities, to hint at multiple options because contemporary emancipation is about opening choices.
ABOUT THE NAME & THE BRUSHSTROKE
The name DAHLIA SELVA, who’s initials are a nod to the founders first names Danilo & Stephanie, was chosen based on the brand’s fundamentals beliefs. Dahlia, a beautiful flower that symbolizes elegance and standing out from the crowd is paired with the word Selva. Short for Selvaggia, it means Wild in Italian and represents an invitation to embrace your sensuality and uniqueness.
Just as a painter is the master of his canvas, our platinum colored Brushstroke on the outsole represents a subtle invitation for each of us to embrace our individuality. Because a brushstroke is never the same, it poetically symbolizes the infinite variations of sensuality.
danilo & stephanie
Born and raised in southern Italy, Danilo Giordano, Co-founder and Creative Director of Dahlia Selva, graduated from Polimoda in Florence, with a degree in Costume and Fashion Design.
Stimulated by art, music, history and the beauty of his beloved Italy, he decided to become a designer at the young age of 17. Early on, he developed a passion for accessories and shoes. For almost 20 years Danilo worked as a Footwear Designer for some of the most prestigious Luxury companies.
Endowed with the precious gift of a vast imagination mixed with a talent for drawing allows him to express his creativity to the fullest. During the creative process, Danilo also enjoys spending time at the factory in Italy to see his creations come to live.
After graduating with a degree in Economics from Bocconi University in Milan, Austrian born Co-Founder and CEO, Stephanie Roy-Heckl moved to NY where she pursued a career in wholesale at various luxury fashion houses. These years fueled a strong understanding of the overall competitive and complex landscape of the fashion industry. Believing that each successful brand is about so much more than just the product, it’s that “magic around it” that fascinated her the most. Today she is thrilled to not only tell a brand’s magical story, but to write and embody one herself. The story of Dahlia Selva.
