Some of my earliest memories were of my mom sewing clothes,
doodling flowers on a pad by a phone as she spoke, or folding roses from pink
strips of fabrics. My uncles would babysit my sister and me and copy sketches
from the Japanese illustrated hairstyle books my mom kept at home, and we would
follow suit. And growing up in my mom’s hair salon, which was my second home, I
was fed on fashion magazines, fairytales to keep me day dreaming, and of course
the delightful company of well coifed ladies. It was a creative environment
that nurtured a dreamer that wanted to become a fashion designer in Paris or
New York.
As I grew older and the time came to make a decision on what to
study in college, I tried to be practical and study biology while also
appeasing the creative side and majoring in studio art. Painting and sculpting
became my saving grace while I struggled in Pre-Med, knowing it was not the
right fit for me. Coming from an immigrant family that escaped a war torn
country, stability was the most important thing. While I understood that having
a stable job in medicine made sense, everything in me still fought and desired
to become a fashion designer. After graduating college and against a lot of
opposition, I started fashion school at the local community college where I met
a wonderfully supportive group of friends and professors. After two years at
Houston Community College, I applied to FIT and gained acceptance in 2006. It
was the most exciting news of my life, because I knew it would change
everything.
I left everything behind for a brand new start in New York. I
graduated from FIT in 2008, and afterwards I immediately started working at a
beading and embroidery house. Designing embellishments perfectly combined
elements of sculpture, collage, and detailed couture work that I so loved in
evening wear. Working at an embroidery house also meant that I got to work with
some of my heroes, such as Monique Lhuillier and Vera Wang. It really was dream
come true.
Taking things a step further, in 2010 I decided to create Bloom
Bazaar, a line of high end accessories. I dreamt of Bloom Bazaar being a place
to discover the unexpected, whimsical, and ethereal; a magical bazaar filled
with rare and lovely finds. Inspired by vintage heirlooms, fairytales, and
springtime blossoms, I began to make sparkling head pieces and sashes lush with
flowers. Things have come full circle and when I come home to visit, I find my
mom making flowers again. Together, we hand make each and every piece, me out
of my studio in New York, and she out of her salon in Houston.
