Donna Mizani

“How I’m Making It” is a new feature where we interview young people making a living in the fashion industry and pick their brains about how they got there. First up, 24-year-old LA-based designer Donna Mizani. Mizani designed her first collection for her eponymous line in 2008, and debuted at Harvey Nichols Hong Kong in 2009 when she was 22. Now you can find her collection at Kitson, Revolve Clothing, and she just shipped to Nordstrom's. Why fashion? I always wanted to be in fashion ever since elementary school. I never thought about doing anything else. We had career day and everyone had to come dressed as what they wanted to be when they grew up. Everyone walks in as a teacher or a doctor or a lawyer and there I was saying that I was going to be a fashion designer and I was dressed up as a little fashionista. I wore a button-down plaid Calvin Klein mini dress, a little scarf around my neck in a bow, and a slicked back high bun. I was in fourth grade. Everyone was very confused. I think people laughed at me.