Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Ann Tooker.
Hi Mary Ann , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
If someone had told me years ago that I’d be hand-printing inspirational apparel in my Connecticut studio, I probably would have laughed.
My career began in fashion. I earned a degree in Fashion Merchandising and spent decades working my way up from buyer to Vice President, overseeing women’s knitwear and working with factories around the world. I loved the creativity, the people, and the fast pace, but eventually I realized I wanted to build something that reflected who I was—not just what I did.
In 2019, I took a leap of faith and started Daisy-Bella.
I wasn’t interested in creating another graphic tee company. I wanted to create clothing with purpose. Every design begins with words because words have the power to encourage someone, remind them of their worth, or simply make them smile on a difficult day. If a message doesn’t move me, it never makes it onto a shirt.
Today, every piece is still designed and hand-printed by me. I’m a one-woman business, so I wear every hat—from designing and printing to packing orders, answering emails, setting up at craft festivals, and running the website. It’s a lot of work, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
The best part isn’t selling a sweatshirt. It’s watching someone read a message on a shirt, pause for a moment, and quietly say, “That’s me.” Those moments remind me why I started.
Looking back, every step of my career prepared me for this. The fashion industry taught me how to create quality products. Life taught me the importance of kindness, resilience, and making people feel seen.
Today, Daisy-Bella is where those two worlds come together.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not. Building a business by yourself is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
When you’re a one-person company, there isn’t a department to hand things off to. One minute I’m designing a new collection, the next I’m printing shirts, answering customer emails, updating my website, packing orders, troubleshooting technology, or loading my car for a weekend craft festival. Every success and every challenge lands on my desk.
There have been plenty of moments when I’ve questioned myself. Technology doesn’t always come naturally to me, and there are days when I’m convinced everyone else has it figured out. But I’ve learned that asking questions isn’t a weakness—it’s how you grow.
One of the biggest challenges has been balancing growth with staying true to what Daisy-Bella stands for. It would be easy to take shortcuts, lower quality, or chase trends just to sell more products, but that’s never been my goal. I’d rather grow more slowly and create something I’m genuinely proud to put my name on.
What keeps me going are the people. I’ll never forget the woman who read one of my shirts, looked up at me with tears in her eyes, and said, “I needed this today.” Moments like that remind me that what I’m building is about much more than apparel.
I’ve learned that success isn’t always measured by sales. Sometimes it’s measured by the conversations you have, the encouragement you give, and knowing you made someone’s day a little brighter. Those are the moments that make every challenge worthwhile.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
People often think I sell apparel, but I like to think I create conversation starters.
Every design begins with the message. Long before I choose the garment or the ink color, I’m thinking about the words. I want someone to put on a Daisy-Bella shirt and feel seen, encouraged, or reminded of who they are. If a message doesn’t move me, it never makes it into a collection.
Everything is still designed and hand-printed by me in my Connecticut studio. I’m particular about quality because I believe the experience matters just as much as the message. From selecting soft, comfortable garments to inspecting every piece before it leaves my studio, I want people to feel the care that’s gone into it.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a particular design or collection. It’s the connections I’ve made along the way. At craft festivals, I’ve had complete strangers share stories about their lives because something they read on a shirt resonated with them. Those conversations are a reminder that kindness, encouragement, and genuine human connection still matter.
I think what sets Daisy-Bella apart is that it was never created to chase trends. It’s built on purpose. Every message is designed to uplift, inspire, or simply make someone smile. If someone walks away wearing one of my shirts and feels a little more confident, hopeful, or understood, then I’ve done exactly what I set out to do.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be this: don’t wait until everything is perfect before you begin. If I had waited until I knew everything, Daisy-Bella would never have existed.
There will always be something you don’t know. Technology changes. Marketing changes. Social media changes. Instead of letting that intimidate you, be willing to ask questions, keep learning, and keep moving forward.
I also believe it’s important to build something that’s true to who you are, not what everyone else is doing. It’s easy to get caught up comparing yourself to bigger businesses or chasing every new trend. I’ve learned that people connect with authenticity. They don’t remember perfection—they remember how you made them feel.
One thing I wish I had understood from the beginning is that growth takes time. We often see someone else’s success without seeing the years of work, mistakes, and persistence behind it. Don’t measure your progress against someone else’s timeline. Focus on getting a little better every day.
Finally, don’t let fear make your decisions. You’ll make mistakes—I certainly have—but every mistake teaches you something. Some of my best lessons came from trying something that didn’t work. If you’re willing to learn, no experience is ever wasted.
Success isn’t about never falling. It’s about getting back up, adjusting your course, and believing enough in your vision to keep going. Don’t give fear more power than your dreams.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://daisy-bella.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_daisybella/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaisyBellaLifestyle/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/daisybella_/
