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he is Alexia Uliabarri, whom we had the opportunity to interview in El Paso, Texas, a few days ago. Originally from Mexico City, she spent a large part of her life in San Luis Potosí. Since she was little kid, she had the pleasure of creating designs and sewing some clothes. “Before graduating high school, I already knew that I liked fashion; it was when I bought my sewing machine and just started creating things, dresses, etc., to later move to London and start my career as a fashion designer”, she explained to us at the beginning of the interview. As one the main referent of Latin American fashion, how have your Mexican roots and heritage influenced you? For all the contrast between the cultural theme of my roots and crafts that we have in Mexico and the technique that I learned in England, like the more Victorian pattern making. This is present in each of my collections. That contrast between the romantic and the folkloric and the cold and lineal themes of London. It's a punk-brush with a more romantic theme. This is something that Mexico gives me. What is your opinion of the creative industries’ drive to grow? We have been working for more than 10 years to be a country with fashion. It makes me proud as a Mexican to say I am now breaking borders. I didn't know El Paso, Texas, and for me it's incredible, because I realize the flavor it has for being next to Mexico. It is a mixture of the incredible that Mexico has, but with the theme of innovation that the border has. I like that as support for Mexican fashion to have platforms to be able to express and show the collections and the design. As a businesswoman, what do you feel has been your contribution? The issue of being a female or male designer is a somewhat complicated illusion. As a woman I think that for me the challenge is to have been a mother; for example, you have to continue working before starting a collection, there is no rest, it seems very easy, but in a collection, for example, there are more than 60 garments. Those must be very elaborate. In this case, it is Mexican hands that make my work, they are women like me, and I am happy. since we make a team and we know that it can be achieved from the people who cut, sew or embroider, or even the business system. I, who have all the creative side and business development, because I have to fight a lot to be able to compete in an international world of fashion, and that has been the biggest challenge. What inspired the Olimpia collection, which is presented at ELP? My dad is Greek. Olympia is the first collection that I completely dedicate to Greece. There is a mixture between my roots and my birthplace. I was inspired by Greece, by ancient Greece, and also by Olympus. In fact, the two prints in the collection have motifs of Pegasus and the gods of Olympus. What advice would you give to the new generations? Perseverance, without a doubt; and look for an original style and that they are not afraid to be "you" through what you express, what you do. The interesting thing here is to look for a style that has a brand identity, its own style, based on inspiration and trends. “I am very happy to cross the border and represent Mexico here and be part of this Fashion Show. Thank you very much to all the organizers and to you too”, added Alexia. “Many thanks to Border Heritage Magazine for the interest, and greetings to everyone on this border,” she concluded.
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