WHERE IT BEGAN
Davi&Bar started the way a lot of meaningful things do—over coffee and a shared feeling that something was missing.
Founded by Dana Davidson and Itay Barash, the idea came toward the end of 2019, right before COVID changed everything. At the time, we were constantly ordering workout sets that looked great online but never quite fit right in real life. Every package felt like another letdown—nothing flattered the body the way we hoped it would, and nothing felt elevated enough to become a true go-to in our closets.
We kept coming back to Alo Yoga because nothing else really compared. One afternoon at a café, we realized almost every girl we knew wore Alo… and only Alo. It became clear that the market was missing something: more activewear brands that felt fashion-forward, refined, and intentional. Instead of just talking about it, we decided to build it.
FIGURING IT OUT
The very next day, we drove to Downtown LA with no experience, no connections, and no real understanding of how clothing was made. We parked in the Fashion District and started knocking on doors, asking strangers if they were seamstresses or pattern makers.
Our first samples were terrible. They didn’t fit, didn’t flatter, and didn’t reflect our vision. We were overcharged, delayed, and disappointed—but we kept going. After five failed rounds, countless discarded samples, and a lot of money we didn’t have, we finally found a team that understood what we were trying to create.
And then COVID hit.
BUILT AGAINST THE ODDS
Los Angeles went into lockdown. Factories shut down. Timelines disappeared. Still, we kept moving forward.
At the end of 2021, we launched our first collection with a very small production run—no investors, no ad budget, and no formal marketing plan. Our first sales came from friends and family, and word of mouth carried us forward. Slowly and organically, the brand began to grow.
Then something unexpected happened. We started receiving organic posts and gifting placements from influencers like Melissa Wood and Victoria’s Secret model Sara Sampaio. Within months, we sold out our entire first collection.
FINDING WHAT WAS MISSING
Restocking wasn’t easy, especially with factories still struggling post-COVID. While we waited, we designed a second collection and relaunched in early 2023. But by then, the activewear market had become oversaturated, and something no longer felt fully aligned.
We didn’t feel different enough.
We didn’t feel specific enough.
So we made the decision to pivot.
Pilates has been a major part of both of our lives for over 10 years. It’s more than a workout—it’s a lifestyle built around intention, movement, and balance. We realized this was the missing piece we had been searching for all along.
MOVING FORWARD AS DBPILATES
We reimagined the brand as dbpilates, creating pieces designed to move seamlessly from studio to street—clothing that feels just as natural grabbing a matcha after class as it does during a reformer session.
Itay completed her Pilates certification in Los Angeles and opened dbpilates Studio under the brand. Dana completed her certification in New York. We didn’t just want to design for Pilates—we wanted to live inside its world.
Every dbpilates piece is designed with real bodies in mind. We obsess over fit, lines, compression, softness, and how each piece truly flatters. Our goal is for women to feel confident, supported, and elevated—without compromise.
dbpilates is about intentional movement, modern femininity, and pieces that move with you through your entire day.
And this is just the beginning.
— Dana & Itay
