SNACK MOM DADA Daily

As a self-proclaimed healthy food and fashion fascinated kid, DADA Daily founder and CEO CLAIRE OLSHAN managed to turned her interests into one of the most sought-after (and chic!) snack brands on the market. The new mom (to son, Maxwell) opens the doors to her stunning NYC abode and shows us how her passion for design truly carries over into every aspect of her life.

photography by LINDSAY BROWN

MINI | Thank you for inviting us into your home! Tell us about the place! How would you describe your home?

CLAIRE OLSHAN | Let’s start with an era (or two), 60’s decor meets Liagre’s Mercer hotel. Let’s continue with a vibe (or two), the zen of a Japanese rock garden meets the glitter of a 70’s disco.

MINI | Do you have a favorite room in your home? Why do you love it?

CLAIRE OLSHAN | Maxwell’s room is truly my favorite and it has all and nothing to do with the decor. I love the Clarence House drapes and lampshades, but honestly the room is filled with such joy, coziness, and love that every time I walk in, I feel the most at home. I also like the creamy buttercup neutrals in the carpet and the raffia wallpaper. It feels warm but also elegant.

MINI | What are some of your favorite elements in your home? Where did they come from?

CLAIRE OLSHAN | I’d have to say the art. My husband and I have chosen each piece together over 10 years and they all have a story. The one over the fireplace is by Isa Genzken, a fearless and forward thinking artist who has been pushing the boundaries of art for the past 40 years.

MINI | Tell us about your son’s room. What inspired you in creating the space and what are some of your favorite elements there?

CLAIRE OLSHAN | I started with animals. I am an animal lover and have always been drawn to them both emotionally and aesthetically, so I started looking for fabrics with animals. I didn’t want to do a wallpaper. It felt busy for a children’s room, but I wanted to find fun, corky ways to incorporate pattern. I spent hours in the D&D building with my close friend and decorator

Martin Brulé. When we finally found this fabric, I fell so head over heels in love, I even had an illustrator re-work it for Maxwell’s baby announcement and stationery.

MINI | We are so inspired by DADA Daily! Can you tell us how the brand came to be?

CLAIRE OLSHAN | I was always a healthy food fascinated kid. I loved the way good-for-me food made me feel, GOOD. I was also a design loving fashion fascinated kid, who appreciated a beautiful tablecloth as much as a cool pair of sneakers. Growing up, not only did it feel like these worlds never touch, but when health and wellness did start to become more mainstream, I felt like the other health food brands would subscribe

to a laundry list of should’s, and do’s, and don’ts, while always projecting this whitewashed January-esque “new year, new me” lifestyle and image. In my mind, healthy snacks never had to scream and yell out I’M HEALTHY LOOK AT ME! If anything, that perfect image always gave me anxiety. DADA is more about elevating moments, inserting decadence into your daily life and feeling that glittery, jittery feeling when you actually indulge in something. For us, indulging and decadence is not about doing something naughty, but rather putting yourself first, investing in high level snacks with great design and a great attitude and feeling flirty, chic, and also healthy. Most importantly, it’s about sharing that feeling with others. Hosting with DADA, like you

would pour a bottle of wine, serve caviar, and set the mood. For me, the aesthetic was maximillism, bounty, and abundance, rather than a stark, bare minimalism.

MINI | What has been the greatest lesson you’ve learned in business thus far?

CLAIRE OLSHAN | 99% done is 100% not done. I tend to get very excited about ideas and want to race to get them done and out in the world! I have gotten beaten down many times when I feed the impatience and make mistakes. I would reiterate the saying: If you’re going to do something, do it right.

MINI | What do you think about the idea of “having it all?”

CLAIRE OLSHAN | It’s strictly an idea. I have yet to see a human truthfully embody that. I try very hard to compartmentalize my two hats. When I’m at work, I try to be 100% at work and be extraordinarily efficient. When I’m at home, I am 100% in mom mode. I don’t do bath time while on a conference call or feed dinner half checked in. For me, the only way I really juggle is that I don’t juggle at all. I just set very clear boundaries between my time. Right now, during this crazy time, I have to say I have been doing a terrible job at creating boundaries. But I really do look at this 24/7 quality time with my son as something I could never have dreamed of, and I may never get again. So for this tiny moment of time, I am currently saying screw boundaries and that’s OK. M I N I s u m m e r ‘20 1 0 4

MINI | Let’s talk motherhood! What has surprised you most about motherhood thus far?

CLAIRE OLSHAN | My endless amounts of attention, my boundless amounts of love, and my utter energized joy to be with this little human who exhausts me and challenges me and cuts into all the things I THOUGHT I needed lots of in life (sleep, social life, travel, spontaneity), but haven’t thought about once since he was born.

MINI | What is your greatest parenting worry or fear?

CLAIRE OLSHAN | To instill a sense of grit into our children. To instill a sense of leadership and initiative, to never settle, never be lazy, always try to make the world a better place. I never doubt Maxwell is capable of all these things and more, I just worry about the endless distractions that kids have these days. So basically social media and Tik Tok… biggest fears.

MINI | What is most important to you in raising your kids?

CLAIRE OLSHAN | To live by a code of morals and ethics that guide their life. To understand the true power and love of family. To be honest, loyal and committed humans, both to their community and the world around them. To find their passion and make it their vocation. To live a life of love and happiness.

C L I C K H E R E TO S H O P S N AC K S F R O M D A D A DAILY!