From Paper Dolls to Imperial Inspo - Lourdes Chavez

Imagine finding, at the age of five, something you love to do — even feel called to do — and it becomes your life’s work. For designer Lourdes Chavez, an innate desire to create has paved the way for making women of all ages look and feel fabulous.

“I was born in a small town in Mexico on a farm; there were no magazines or television, so I spent my time making paper dolls and their clothes,” Chavez says.  “And while I may not have known at the time what it might lead to, I knew what I loved to do.” 

Chavez and her family moved to the United States when she was nine. “As the only girl in the family, I wasn’t allowed to go outside much where we lived, so my mother made sure I kept busy doing what I loved,” she says. “Mother had a little sewing machine and she taught me how to use it, and any extra money I had I spent on leftover fabric from the town’s seamstress so I could create more clothes.”

As she began junior high and went into high school, Chavez never changed her focus or love of creating — she knew she wanted to be a designer. At 16, she began working in a high-end coat factory and worked there until she graduated from The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. 

Trained by some of the best in the industry, Chavez honed her skills in designing, sewing and pattern making, giving her a unique perspective on the entire process. “I know all the stops,” she says. “And that began when I was little, learning different tricks and techniques. I truly believe you are born with a gift, and you develop your technique and love for what you do with dedication and practice.”

After working with two prestigious houses in Los Angeles, Chavez opened her own house in 1997. “I want women to feel comfortable and beautiful and to be themselves when they are wearing one of my designs,” she adds. “Women know what they love and how they feel, and if it means changing a silhouette to give them what they need to feel their best, I do that. I want my clients happy and confident.”

The ultimate reward for Chavez is seeing a new generation of clients come for their first “Lourdes dress.” She smiles, “I have clients who have been with me through the duration of my business, and they are now bringing their daughters and granddaughters to see me. I can think of nothing more wonderful.”