ARTISAN SPOTLIGHT
Tell us about your background.
I am originally from Colombia, South
America. When I was 9 years old, my
parents left everything in Colombia to
give my brother and me more oppor-
tunities and a better life. A lot of my
design choices and style stem from
my childhood. The drastic cultural life
change has really shaped me and still
influences the way I think and create.
What was the first dress you designed?
The first dress I ever designed was for
my dance partner. I used to compete in
ballroom dance competitions and trav-
eled quite a bit. The first time we went
overseas, my partner needed a dress.
I took a chance, deciding to design
and make her dress. I was about 16 at
the time. My mother taught me to use
a sewing machine, and I did a bit of
research. That’s all it took for my first
creation to come to existence. I had
always been quite crafty and involved
in art in school, so I felt like a dress
would be a fun project.
How did your career take off after the first
dress you made?
The first dress received rave reviews.
This gave me a great deal of confidence,
HOLIDAY 2019
75