Houda Dahhou

Houda Dahhou is the founder of Bellar, a luxury fashion brand specializing in elegant, travel-friendly accessories. With a background in global grain trading and a B.A. in Financial Economics from Columbia University, Houda spent over five years managing commodity markets across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Her career sharpened her skills in logistics, risk, and international business, but her entrepreneurial spirit remained strong.

After reading 100 Side Hustles, Houda began exploring creative ideas beyond her 9–5. A lifelong hat lover, she was inspired to create her first product after a beautiful sunhat was crushed on a trip to Mexico. Realizing that no elegant, packable alternative existed, she decided to invent one herself. The result, after years of trial, error, and design refinement, is Bellar’s patented collapsible boater hat, a product that folds flat yet retains its sculptural shape and luxury appeal. Beyond travel, it's also practical for everyday living, designed to store easily and beautifully without cluttering your space.

Houda's journey blends strategic thinking with personal elegance, solving problems through beauty, durability, and smart design. Today, she shares her insights on entrepreneurship, product innovation, and building with purpose, especially for women creating brands that move.