Fashion designer, Nelissa Carillo shares her views from the pandemic
Although the global pandemic has derailed many lives and plans, the apparel industry has historically proven its ability to reinvent and adjust to where, what, and how consumers buy. We take a moment to check in with principals from the fashion design community through brief conversations, and views from within the pandemic. This time, we visit with designer Nelissa Carillo, the founder of CIPRIANAMÍA.
We first met Nelissa Carillo at Chicago's Fall Fashion Week 2013. Much has changed since then, including the fact that Carillo has rebranded and now owns CIPRIANAMÍA, a brand which takes notes from her Mexican heritage and explores themes of ancestral traditions, consciousness in self-representation, and the Mexican-American experience as a first-generation daughter. CIPRIANAMÍA invites us to punk through its questioning of tradition and luxury, as well as its approach to craftsmanship. Carillo's CIPRIANAMÍA uses handcrafted patchwork to breathe new life into forgotten pieces and thereby elevate tailoring, while simultaneously juxtaposing the inherited romance of Mexican culture - 'creating a duality in the feminine and masculine, the soft and rigid, and the old and new'.
Q: “Why” do you design?
Nelissa: I design because I have always felt fashion was the best outlet to express myself when words fall short.
Q: In the post-pandemic world, what do you believe you will value most as you prepare to re-awaken your career in fashion design?
Nelissa: I will continue to value creating a more sustainable community of local artisans; at CIPRIANAMÍA we are currently incorporating that value into our brand.
Q: Are you currently learning new skills or shifting your attention to new areas of interest? If so, what changes are you making?
Nelissa: I am currently teaching pattern making classes; to teach my skills to others.
Q: How has your creative vision been effected by the realities of the pandemic?
Nelissa: It strengthened it because I had to be more isolated with my thoughts and my skills so it pushed me to keep persevering.
Q: How do you see retail changing when we emerge from the pandemic?
Nelissa: I think everyone is starting to shop local or direct-to-consumer; so whoever had an e-commerce platform prior to the pandemic will continue to thrive.
Q: Are you changing the way you do business online?
Nelissa: We are continuing to strengthen our direct-to-consumer.
Q: Do you have any new plans for the short term? Any new products on the horizon?
Nelissa: We just dropped a denim mini capsule in mid February, then planning for our summer drop. Tons of side projects, so please follow us on Instagram for all updates @ciprianamia or sign up for our newsletter on our website at www.ciprianamia.com
Q: With the current environment set for telecommuting, flexible hours and emphasis on work-life balance, do you see a continued movement towards “casualization”? Would that ‘comfort’ lifestyle have an effect on your brand’s decisions going forward?
Nelissa: I honestly think people are craving drama, especially those who love fashion. We will continue to offer a selection of simple garments but continue to design our very artisanal pieces which have gotten the most attention. We will continue to find the balance of both.
To discover more from Nelissa, visit CIPRIANAMÍA’s showroom, located in downtown Chicago, inside the Fine Arts Building.