We had the good fortune of connecting with Daisy Hartmann and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daisy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started my first business (a lingerie and swimwear line) within a month of graduating from college, along with a friend of mine from my class. We were coming out of school in 2011 when job prospects still weren’t looking great after the market crash of 2008 and neither myself nor my business partner at the time wanted to go into the fashion industry as it was, working for some big machine. We wanted to be designers in our own right; and we preferred hustling and working multiple jobs in order to pursue our dreams, rather than do the 9 to 5 grind. Although, at times I certainly yearned for the security and benefits that those jobs had to offer. I worked a corporate job for a few years after moving to California, but after the pandemic hit and I was furloughed, I decided to launch my own venture.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started my current business a bit out of necessity; as I mentioned before I had been furloughed from my corporate job during the pandemic and started taking on work from people I knew, mostly by word of mouth. Then I found a little store-front space in my town when I realized I was outgrowing my home studio and I wanted to do something more substantial, and most notably I wanted to be designing clothes again. I also had inherited my grandmother’s portfolio of hand-painted textile designs from the 1960’s and 70’s and I knew I wanted to get her designs out in the world because they were too beautiful to just be collecting dust.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This would be kind of the ultimate tour in my opinion (not venturing further than an 1 hour in any direction by car), obviously there is so much more that i’ve left out, like other gorgeous towns in Marin, places in the East Bay, Napa and even northern Sonoma) but since it’s only a week stay this is the most realistic but still jam packed itinerary I could come up with!

Monday
Visit and soak in the Hot Springs in Calistoga for the day (Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort)
Lunch at Sam’s Social Club or House of Better
Walk around the town (very cute old town in Napa, nestled in the mountains)

Tuesday
Drive out to Stinson Beach, hike the Dipsea trail
Lunch at Parkside Cafe (or the Siren Canteen when it re-opens)

Wednesday
Legion of Honor Museum in SF
Dim Sum in the Richmond District
Thrifting on Haight St.

Thursday
Drive up the 1 and visit Tomales Bay
Eat at The Marshall Store or Nick’s Cove
Hike or Bioluminescent nighttime kayaking across the bay if feeling adventurous (its an amazing
experience!)

Friday
Walk along the Presidio Tunnel Tops in SF (amazing view of the Golden Gate view and overall gorgeous, clean park, great for dogs and kids too)
Food trucks for lunch
Dinner at Stillwater in Fairfax
Catch live music at Peri’s or the Papermill Creek Saloon in Lagunitas

Saturday
Visit Wineries (& Art) in Sonoma: Gundlach Budschu, Scribe, Abbot’s Passage, The Donum Estate
Places to eat (hard to choose one): El Molino Central, Valley Swim Club, Valley Bottle or Lou’s
Luncheonette if stopping by the Di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art.

Sunday
Farmers Market at the San Rafael Civic Center (a beautiful building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright)
Relax and cook at home!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d have to say my formative years as an entrepreneur were definitely shaped and molded by and alongside Elizabeth Cauthen who is my good friend and former business partner. She now runs an atelier and boutique out of Tyler, TX, where she lives with her musician husband and 3 dogs.

Also since moving to the Bay Area and settling down in Fairfax, someone who has been very inspirational and supportive of me is Kris Galmarini, a friend and owner of a local and very successful business, Longway.

Website: kambricgoods.com

Instagram: instagram.com/kambricgoods

Image Credits
Melissa McArdle

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.