Envious Designs was founded by Edward Smith and Vidia Acosta-Smith. While Eddie sparked the idea for the business, it is Vidia who is the true visionary behind the brand.
Vidia shared:
"I wanted to create a business that builds self-esteem in our youth as they embark on new journeys in life. My focus has always been to uplift the entire brown community—a community that is often overlooked and faces unique challenges. As a Black and Belizean woman, I am a living testimony to those struggles and triumphs, which I’ll speak more on shortly."
"My goal was to ensure that regardless of budget, every young person could experience the moment of feeling seen, celebrated, and fabulous. That feeling of being uplifted should be accessible to everyone—not just the fortunate. From the start, Envious Designs was envisioned to serve those with limited means, offering them the same level of experience and confidence as anyone else."
"When I say 'brown community,' I mean our extended family—Black, Mexican, Asian, and more. I wanted everyone to feel important, valued, and visible. I found a way to make that happen through fashion. We offer the same quality dresses as top designers, but at a fraction of the cost."
"With my background as a Vice President of Sales, I had the knowledge and business acumen to build Envious Designs with intention and integrity. But above all, I built it with love."
"I also carry a deep personal loss that fuels my mission. My brother tragically lost his life when a Metro driver saw him fall onto the tracks and chose not to act. Despite being radioed over ten times across a 20-minute span, she dismissed him, saying, 'Yes, I saw him. He was Black and I thought he was homeless.' This heartbreaking incident went viral across social media and news outlets nationwide."
"We begin to win the battle by reclaiming our power. My mission is to impact as many young lives as possible—boys and girls alike. I want them to become addicted to the feeling they get when they dress up, when they feel seen and empowered—because that feeling can drive them to chase their dreams. And I want them to chase those dreams all the way to the finish line."
"A single moment of feeling seen, heard, and valued can be the spark that leads to a life of success."
