Inspiring Lives Magazine Winter 2017: Issue 3 | Page 84

She ’ s Got

HEART

By Tarra Flores Sloan

Located in the heart of Midtown , Sacramento , California , stationed amidst the buzz and construction of the new Golden 1 Center arena , anchored between Jack ’ s , Chipotle , and various state offices , people shop Heart Clothing Boutique . “ Will travel for stylish fashion ” is the mindset of these loyal patrons from as far away as Roseville , Elk Grove , Folsom , El Dorado Hills , Rocklin , and Granite Bay .

“ Location is so important — do or die , specifically with retail , to be very visible to as many people as possible ,” Vanessa Lopez , Heart ’ s owner , said . “ I grew up in Midtown . Most people migrate here . After scouting many locations , none had the vibe to match my vision like this one .” Lopez was groomed for fashion from a young age . After high school she ventured into merchandise marketing in San Francisco , and even before she graduated , she was picked up as a buyer and trained as a manager of Ikon , where she clocked in 6 years of experience . “ They believed and saw something in me that allowed me to help take their unknown name and brand it .”
Always with the ultimate goal to have a store and style of her own , Lopez decided to open Heart Clothing Boutique in 2010 . “ The idea was always there . Since I couldn ’ t imagine working for anyone else , I put my ideas out there to the universe and manifested it . Sometimes I can ’ t believe it . I said I would , and I did . Now it ’ s like an addiction . What else can I throw out there ?”
Driving down the street , you might blink and miss it . The tiny shoe-box boutique hardly matches the benevolent name and person behind the vision , who consistently gives of her time , mentoring , and resources . Teaming up with Glenda LaMarr with the local chapter Mission I ’ m Possible — a collision of fashion , sport , culture , and community running group — Vanessa uses Heart ’ s location as a hub before runs to feed the homeless in the community .
In addition to helping others , Heart ’ s sponsorship of 15-year-old Marina Becerra led her to win the Miss Cover Girl competition for Northern California as she modeled Heart ’ s casual attire during the show . Marina now graces the cover of
82 INSPIRING LIVES WINTER 2017
Photo : Amanda Lopez