Check Out Tiannia Barnes’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiannia Barnes

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
With her background in engineering and a love
for fashion that started at an early age, Tiannia
has created shoes that never sacrifice style or
comfort. As a trained shoemaker and industrial
engineer, she designs statement-making
silhouettes that feature quality materials, precise
patterning and masterful craftsmanship.
As a female founder, Tiannia created her
eponymous brand for today’s multi-faceted
woman who seeks timeless footwear of superior
design and function. Tiannia Barnes shoes are as
bold and unique as the women who wear them.
American footwear designer, Tiannia Barnes, traded in her IT/business project management career to pursue a dream sparked many years ago. Born and raised in Oklahoma City, her early talents were far from fashion, as she excelled in math and science. Tiannia discovered a love for design upon creating her own prom dress in high school but put the inclination aside as she went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in mathematics (Clark Atlanta University (HBCU)) and industrial engineering (Georgia Tech), and later an MBA (University of Maryland-University College).

Years later, while working as a program/project manager for a global business management and IT consulting firm, Tiannia found herself sketching once again. This time, it was footwear designs. Family and friends encouraged her to follow her talents, and in 2013, Tiannia attended shoemaker school in Cleveland, Ohio. Mentored by Sissy Puccio, a London-trained shoe designer/maker and certified Pedorthist, Tiannia studied the art of footwear design, fit and pattern development. Soon after launched her brand.
“Fashion has always had the power to make me feel beautiful, bold, authentic, and confident on any occasion. I want my shoes to offer that same inspiration to women everywhere when they wear our brand,” Tiannia says.
Tiannia Barnes has been featured and showcased in NYFW, Paris FW, Forbes, The Tamron Hall Show, Black Enterprise, Elle, Essence Magazine, Footwear News, Worth Magazine, British Vogue, InStyle, Amazon, and several other publications (print and digital). She has also designed a pair of crystal adorned custom shoes for Bevy Smith at the 2019 Camp MetGala, alongside her design team which included Dapper Dan for GUCCI. In June 2023, she was honored by the YWCA of Northern New Jersey as a “Woman to Watch”. Her eponymous brand has retail e-commerce partnerships with Amazon Fashion and Wolf and Badger.
Tiannia is an avid supporter and participant of many community civics relating to entrepreneurship, education, and youth empowerment. Through her eponymous brand she believes in giving back- 10% of her signature t-shirt sales goes to various local charities. She also supports various organization silent auctions that support programming for the underserved and educational scholarships. She has an interview on record as a HistoryMaker in the Library of Congress. She served on the Advisory Council for the Boys and Girls Club – Hartford, Advisory Board for the HistoryMakers – Beauty and Fashion, is an active supporter and volunteer for Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) programs, a guest lecturer at the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University, also served on several panels including Harlem’s Fashion Row’s annual designers retreat sponsored by Nike speaking on topics related to business/entrepreneurship and fashion/footwear.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey of entrepreneurship has not been a smooth road. There are highs and lows every day that you have to deal with and manage across all areas of finance, people management, collaborating, finding the the right resources/teams, trial and error in learning parts of the the business, mine specifically, footwear/fashion. My biggest struggle is finding the right team members that can successfully execute and deliver in my niche market. My customer wants an experience and I’d like to provide that in excellence. I believe the root of most of the struggles is financing. I’m able to pay a higher salary then it’s possible that I could find the right skillset without so much trial and error.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the CEO/Founder of Tiannia Barnes luxury footwear and accessories brand. I am most known for my statement-making heels that have graced the MetGala red carpet and several fashion magazine publications. I am most proud of pivoting from corporate and taking the leap to start a business where I had no formal experience in and watching it grow year by year. From designing a pair of custom heels for Bevy Smith for the Camp style MetGala to watching modern, self-defined women walk their path authentically in my shoes…it makes me proud and honored. I feel very blessed to find my passion and share it with those that feel a connection to my story and brand. We all deserve to love what we do and for that I’m grateful.

What sets me apart from others is my background and individual journey in life as a mom, designer and business woman. I put all of my experiences- my love of travel, culture, art- into my business and designs. My path is true to heart and authentic to me and my life. From engineer to entrepreneur is a big part of my journey but the discovery started in as a child and developed in high school and now it came to fruition with Tiannia Barnes luxury footwear and accessories.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
When I first started this business I did not have any formal mentors. I searched for some but didn’t find any willing to put forth the time and effort. Thus, I started networking, meeting people for lunch, asking lots of questions so in essence all of the people that I’ve met in passing, in a community or cohort, at a conference or that have worked with me building the business have taught me key insights. I enjoy learning directly from others that have had successes and failures or lessons as I refer to them, it’s been my best teacher!

Lots of credit to my dad who first believed in my vision and my friends and family that supported me when I launched. My son for being patient, flexible and supportive even at young age when I initially started the business. Every social media repost, share, review/comment is tremendous in more way than one. It not only helps to credit and validate the brand but it’s motivating to me to continue the journey, inspire and reach more milestones.

Pricing:

• $300 Italian crafted flats and sneakers
• $500-$600 Italian crafted heels and sandals
• $600-up Italian crafted boots

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tianniabarnes.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tianniabarnes/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TianniaBarnes/

Image Credits
Michelle VanTine Photography
Pablo Salazar
Alex Freund