Bold and Empowering: Delia Folk’s Journey Through Fashion Entrepreneurship
Since graduating from William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business in 2014 with her degree in marketing, Delia Folk’s mission has been to empower women “to live their most stylish and fearless lives.” In fact, this mission became the cornerstone of her company, The Style That Binds Us, which helps women find their style and learn how to dress for their body types and transform their overall aesthetic look.
Recently, Folk participated in the Mason School’s annual Women’s Stock Pitch, an event that brings together small teams of ambitious future female business leaders to compete against one another as they present to a panel of judges their stock pitch, an argument on why an investor should consider buying shares of a specific stock.
Following the event, Folk took some time to sit down with the Mason School and share more about her journey to become a fashion entrepreneur, how curating a visual brand can empower women in the workplace, and her thoughts on the intersection of fashion and finance.
Finding Footing as a Fashion Entrepreneur
Folk’s career began with a solid foundation in marketing at William & Mary, where she honed skills that would become crucial in her professional life. “What I learned at the Mason School has helped in too many ways to count,” she said. “I have put the knowledge taught to me by my marketing professors to use when speaking to groups of women, giving them the tools and motivating them to be the best versions of themselves, how to set themselves up for success, and be thoughtful about understanding the messages they are sending nonverbally.”
Her education taught her the fundamentals of business and the importance of personal branding. “We each have to be able to ‘market’ ourselves, especially professionally, and present ourselves in the best light possible to showcase our accomplishments,” she noted.
Following graduation, Folk gained valuable real-world experience in the fashion industry through an internship at Versace and working on the buying team at Barneys New York, which provided her with an insider’s view of the fashion industry. At Versace, she was exposed to the intricate details of high fashion and luxury brand management. In contrast, at Barneys, she experienced the commercial side of fashion, working closely with emerging designers and gaining an understanding of market dynamics.
It was during her time at Barneys that she and her mother, a personal stylist, started separate blogs. Eventually, they decided to merge the blogs and create a joint venture, The Style That Binds Us in 2018.
The Style That Binds Us started as a blog where Folk shared her insights on breaking into the fashion industry and interviewed up-and-coming brands. Her mother, meanwhile, answered common styling questions from her clients. Recognizing the potential to further combine their expertise, they created a comprehensive platform which offers digital styling courses and public speaking engagements all aimed at empowering women through their visual presence.
“Coaching women on how to present themselves with confidence is an important part of preparing for any event, in any arena, especially in stressful ones when first impressions are made within seven seconds,” Folk explained.
Empowering Women Through Visual Branding
Folk’s mission is clear: to empower women by providing them with the tools and confidence to use their visual brand as a superpower. “How you present yourself is the ultimate reflection of who you are,” she emphasized.
This philosophy extends beyond just attire. It encompasses posture, body language, and overall presence. Studies have shown that how one dresses and presents oneself significantly impacts confidence and performance, which is especially important in male-dominated fields like finance.
Which is why she got involved with the Mason School’s annual Women’s Stock Pitch event because it aligns with her mission to support and empower women. Coaching women on how to present themselves with confidence is crucial for any professional setting, particularly in high-stakes environments like the competition.
“I think women are bold and brilliant and deserve to have a place at every table,” Folk said. “I also unfortunately was reminded that there are still biases against women, many of which don’t realize they have. There is still much work to be done in that area, and the group of women participating in the stock pitch will be part of those that make strides in lessening the discrimination by being an example of all that is possible when you have a woman on your team.”
Folk’s philosophy also aligns with the Mason School’s “Own It!” framework, which is a unique way to create a culture of professionalism. Students are encouraged to embrace the pillars of communication, substance, initiative, details —and appearance: Look sharp. Dress appropriately. Send the right message.
Folk explained further that the connections between fashion, confidence, and professional success are profound. “Clothing can be your armor. You can use your clothing to craft the story of who you are and who you are not.”
Fashion, Finance, and Empowerment
By helping women develop a commanding presence, Folk enables them to visualize themselves in leadership roles and gain the respect they deserve. One example she shared is of Alison styling a woman who had just made Managing Partner at her law firm.
“My mom helped her create a visual representation that sends the messages she wants to send, to be taken seriously and thought of as an equal, and someone to whom attention and respect should be given,” Folk said. “Creating this visual brand for her helped her confidence soar, gave her the strength needed to handle the challenging times that will inevitably come her way as the only woman in her role.”
But her work with The Style That Binds Us goes beyond simply fashion advice. The platform’s digital styling courses and their public speaking engagements on “The Transformational Power of Style – Unlock Your Potential Through Your Wardrobe and Visual Brand” aim to provide comprehensive guidance on leveraging style for personal and professional empowerment.
“I hope through working with me that others leave feeling bold, brave, empowered, strong, worthy, courageous, and galvanized to dream big, work hard, and reach their potential in whatever field they choose to pursue,” she concluded.
