Buddy DiFonzo and Grayson LyBrand DiFonzo met in their fifth grade homeroom class in New Braunfels, Texas. For Buddy it was love at first sight, for Grayson it was more like finding her partner in crime. They grew up as best friends until they left to attend separate universities. Buddy studied at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas while Grayson attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.

The summer after their Freshman year, a group of high school friends decided to float the Comal River back in their home town. When they saw each other again after a year of separation, they realized it was not just friendship. It was love!

Being raised in a small town, Grayson always had a passion to go out and see the world. She loved to travel as much as she loved fashion. Grayson completed her senior internship at Nicole Miller in New York City. She was dead set to move to New York after college until she realized that living in New York is only fun if you have money, and she didn’t have any.

After college graduation, Grayson obtained a work visa and moved to London. She left the day after her last class and never even walked the stage. When she arrived across the pond, Grayson walked up and down Bond Street handing out her resumes to all the high-end fashion houses. She finally landed a job with two shoe designers, Charles Jourdan and Kurt Geiger. Grayson stayed for a year soaking up everything she could learn about the fashion industry.

After her work visa was up, Grayson backpacked through Europe for a while before eventually came back to the U.S.

After arriving back home in Texas, one of her best friends was getting married on the Caribbean island of Saint John in the USVI. She had only been home a short period of time and didn’t have a job yet. She decided to fly out with her bestie ten days early to help with the final details of wedding planning. Grayson loved Saint John so much, she never boarded the plane to come home.

Buddy was finishing school during her travels so Grayson stayed in the USVI for two years working as a store manager for White House, Black Market. For his college graduation, Buddy’s parents bought him a one-way ticket to the islands to surprise Grayson. They spent some time living and working together on the island before moving back to Texas.

Grayson was set to start working at Neiman Marcus downtown Dallas when she received a call from a Dallas Market Showroom to see if she was interested in working with them. Grayson quit her job at Neiman’s before she even started and began working in the wholesale industry. Grayson immediately fell in love with the industry and never looked back!

Buddy and Grayson wed in 2008 and one year later they opened their own showroom, BuddyLove. Many people often ask how the company name came about. Growing up as best friends, Buddy was very close with Grayson’s family. Her family nicknamed him BuddyLove (they must have been on to something ). Thus, BuddyLove Showroom was the perfect name for a company who’s foundation was based on their love for one another.

BuddyLove began as a multi-line show room selling other designers’ clothing from all over the world. After a while, many customers started asking, “Where is the BuddyLove clothing line?” The questions sparked a new idea for Grayson!

At the time, there was a lack of contemporary women’s brands. There were no great, proven body styles or fun, bold prints. The industry had become rather stale. In 2012, she and Buddy decided it was time for her to launch her own collection. A collection with personality and passion!

Grayson had learned so much from her vast experience working with buyers at markets in Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York. She knew what the customer wanted and what she wanted to accomplish with design.

Each season, Grayson designs her dream wardrobe that she would want. You can definitely tell the BuddyLove line is heavily influenced by her love for the Caribbean. BuddyLove is known for bright, bold prints and colors that are all inspired by her love of travel.

Since starting her own label, Buddy and Grayson have planted roots in Dallas and have two beautiful, hysterical, and entertaining daughters, Lola Bett and Gigi.

Buddy and Grayson have created a company based on their love story and hope that each woman can relate to the brand!