When people ask how Dornell Studios began, we always smile, because the story still feels as fresh to us as the day it started.
Back in Austin, Texas, I (Mara) was working late nights at my kitchen table, sketching ideas and sewing small runs of clothing. I kept seeing the same thing. Friends, neighbors, and strangers juggling busy lives, wanting to look put together without feeling restricted or uncomfortable. That thought kept me going: What if clothes could look incredible and still let you live in them?
A few years later, fate stepped in. That’s when I met Grant. He came from a different background, but with the same obsession for quality, fit, and style that feels effortless. We talked for hours about design, fabrics, and how fashion didn’t have to be about chasing trends. It could be about creating timeless pieces that people would reach for year after year. That’s when we decided to make it real. Dornell Studios was born.
We started small, just a few racks of clothes, a handful of designs, and a lot of heart. The first store opened in a quiet Austin neighborhood. Then another, and another. Soon, we had several locations across the U.S., each with its own loyal customers.
Those early days taught us something important: people don’t just buy clothes; they buy how those clothes make them feel. In every store, we heard stories. Women who wore one of our jumpsuits to a wedding and felt amazing all night, men who found a jacket they finally loved enough to wear every day. That’s when we knew we were onto something worth growing.
As much as we loved the face-to-face connection in our stores, we wanted to make it easier for people everywhere to find us. Going online wasn’t about replacing that personal touch, it was about expanding it.
Now, whether you live two blocks away from our first shop or thousands of miles across the country, you can still explore our collections, learn our story, and bring a little bit of Dornell Studios into your everyday life.
We design for both men and women, for weekdays and weekends, for quiet mornings and special nights out. Everything starts with the question: Would we wear this? Would we love it?
We choose fabrics that are soft, breathable, and durable. Cuts that flatter without squeezing or clinging. Details that make you smile. A hidden pocket, a vintage-inspired print, or that perfect shade of blue you didn’t know you needed.
Our goal is simple: when you put on something from Dornell Studios, you should feel confident, comfortable, and completely yourself.
Taking Dornell Studios online is just the next chapter in our story. Our dream? To become a name people think of when they hear “timeless, comfortable style” not just in the U.S., but around the world.
We’re so glad you’re here, and we can’t wait for you to find something you’ll love for years to come.
Mara & Grant Dornell
Co-Founders, Dornell Studios
