Photos by Aidan Gallo
With Daily Dressings and Build The Table, Tiara Brown and her team are creating a platform where Black and Brown artists do not just survive, they succeed.
We’ve all heard the phrase “starving artist.” For some, it’s a romantic ideal, the tortured creative sacrificing everything for the appearance of authenticity. For others, it’s a warning sign, steering artists into “practical” jobs they often hate. Tiara Brown doesn’t buy into either narrative.
“I got tired of seeing brilliant artists with empty fridges,” Brown said. “This isn’t just about art. It’s about agency. We’re building platforms so that no one has to choose between their calling and their bills.”
Once a former tech professional, Brown walked away from the corporate world at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to launch Daily Dressings, a Black-owned jewelry lifestyle brand. Since 2020, she has served as its CEO, operating mainly online with select pieces housed at Vera Doyle in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood.
Brown’s work doesn’t stop at jewelry. Her initiative, Build The Table, was born from the same mission: to carve out space for Black and Brown artists and entrepreneurs to grow, collaborate, and make a living doing what they love.
“Tiara’s whole thing with Build The Table is putting people on. I think she’s never hesitated to collaborate with anybody,” said Anatesha “Mamacita” Wallace, a brand ambassador for Daily Dressings and Tiara’s best friend.
The need for such spaces is clear. A 2024 report by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance found that the region’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $3.3 billion, but much of that wealth doesn’t trickle down. Freelancers are often left without centralized resources, affordable healthcare, or access to income-generating opportunities. A recent survey by City Councilmember Rue Landau echoed this sentiment, revealing that many Philadelphia-based artists struggle to find consistent support and basic infrastructure to thrive.
On Saturday, July 12, that conversation took center stage at a collaborative event hosted by Build The Table, the United We Heal Film Festival, and the Philadelphia Film Society. The event, aptly titled Converting Art into Dollars, featured a series of film screenings and panel discussions focused on one essential question: how can artists generate sustainable income?
Panelists included photographers, filmmakers, and creatives like Brown herself, all of whom shared their personal journeys and practical tools for turning passion into profit. Business resources were also available, where attendees could visit a Free Library of Philadelphia pop-up to access business resources.
“I think that as artists, we a lot of times have the grand idea, but don’t know the next step.” Jeta Simone says. Originally a banker, Simone also left the corporate world behind and co-produced “United We Heal,” a short film that explores Black pain, grief, and healing in America, where it was also screened at the panel event. The film led Jeta Simone and Ebony Roberts to co-found the United We Heal Film Festival and host screenings of local films in Philadelphia.
“Art saved me,” Simone shared. “But it also taught me how to hustle. We’re here to show that creativity is currency and it’s time Philly treats it that way.”
One standout moment was the theatrical screening of the documentary Build The Table, which chronicles Daily Dressings’ rise from a pandemic pivot to a successful lifestyle brand. Originally premiered at Seek Studios in October 2024, the documentary was screened in a theater for the first time this past weekend.
The film offers a behind-the-scenes look at Brown’s creative process, from directing photo shoots to managing product drops, but its core message is about more than business. It’s about collective growth. Featuring influencers like Cuban Link and DJ Young Wavy showcasing custom jewelry pieces, the documentary underscores the collaborative foundation of Daily Dressings. Every shoot, every press release, every event is a team effort.
“Storytelling is what inspires me,” Brown said. “We tell a story through the brand; we tell a story throughout the documentary as we highlight the different stories of all of the entrepreneurs and the creators that are involved.”
The event, much like the film, emphasized the power of collaboration over competition. As Jasmine Hawkins, Director of Community Engagement at the Philadelphia Film Society, put it, “It’s so cheesy, but two heads are better than one. Being able to learn from other people, work with other people, tap into their strengths, and share yours definitely helps.”
Brown’s brand motto, “Stay Gold, Stay Solid, Grow Organically,” speaks directly to that ethos. For her, jewelry is just the starting point. The real mission is building a network where artists pour into each other, creating opportunities that no one could achieve alone.
“There’s enough for everyone. We want to help you. That’s the bottom line,” Roberts added about the event.
Daily Dressings and the United We Heal Film Festival plan on hosting more networking and panel events in the coming fall, inviting creatives to collaborate.
As Build The Table makes clear, Brown wasn’t interested in simply earning a seat at someone else’s table. She wanted to build her own, and now she’s pulling up chairs for everyone else, too.
Tiara Brown speaks at the Converting Art to Dollars panel event on July 12, 2025.
Anatesha “Mamacita” Wallace, a brand ambassador for Daily Dressings, showcases her custom jewelry with her children’s names at the Film Society East Theater on July 12, 2025.
Tiara Brown holds one of her jewelry pieces as she sets up her pop-up table on July 12, 2025.
Anatesha “Mamacita” Wallace cools off with her electric fan while the rest of the team members watch We Build The Table at the Film Society East Theater on July 12, 2025.
Jeta Simone begins moderating the Converting Art to Dollars panel event on July 12, 2025. Simone was a banker before co-founding the United We Heal Film Festival in 2021 alongside Ebony Roberts.
Tiara Brown speaks alongside Jeta Simone on July 12, 2025.
Im so very proud of EVERYONE that is a part of this TAKEOVER MOVEMENT !!!!
This article is an entire VIBE. Keep up the great work. Its time to take over the world.
LETS GGGGOOOOO!!!!!