After reaching a career dead-end as a real estate executive, Elene Cassis was in search of a new path. As fate would have it, she caught an episode of "The Martha Stewart Show," featuring Tim Gunn and several students of Parsons The New School for Design.
It was, as she described it, "the perfect advertisement" for the prestigious academy in New York, and within six months she was enrolled as a fashion design major.
Cassis launched her self-titled line in June 2009, quickly realizing that there was a lot more that she needed to learn.
"It was expensive mistake after expensive mistake," she said. "I knew how to drape, but I didn't know anything about how to market, find buyers or where to show my collection."
Thanks to hard work, determination and an experienced mentor, Cassis has finally gotten the hang of things. Her Spring 2011 collection brought in revenues of $250,000 -- up from $50,000 from her previous collection. And her sexy-chic designs have become a favorite of young celebs including country music megastar Taylor Swift and Cheryl Burke of "Dancing With the Stars."
These women, made famous through modeling, show they have brains as well as beauty when it comes to business.
