Meet angelica curtis | Fashion Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with angelica curtis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi angelica, how do you think about risk?
Taking a risks has been the biggest pusher for my career. Over the years I have designed for large companies and lived comfortably with a consistent paycheck but I wasn’t fulfilled. Any time I saw an opportunity to follow my passion and leave that 9-5 structure I took the risk to bet on myself. There have been times when I failed but I knew it was the risk I was willing to take. I am grateful for the bravery to have the belief in myself and that is what keeps me going.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The path of my career has been an incredible one. After graduating the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising I jumped right into working under head designers for large manufacturing companies, climbing the corporate latter from assistant to associate designer. Some of my best work came from tough designers that pushed for excellence. With the skills and knowledge I gained I was confident to set out on my own to design an apparel brand completely produced in the United States. Although I had several set backs on my own I learned a lesson in each failure. Staying true to myself and not to comparing my business to anyone else’s has and is the biggest lesson I am learning. I have to trust I am exactly where I am suppose to be in my journey. Working for large companies I have seen an ugly side to the Fashion Industry, this is why it is so important to me to keep my manufacturing in the US. This ensures my apparel is produced ethically and sustainably with minimal waste. I keep a very hands on approach in my small business. Another great part of my business is that I am able to customize sizing for customers so that they have an opportunity to get clothing that fits them vs only standard sizing. As I continue to grow it is my full intension to keep these core values in my business.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The first place I would take my friend visiting would be Downtown Los Angeles to give them a tour of my studio as well as do some shopping in the Santee Alley. For late lunch/ happy hour we would go to L.A. Live to grab food and people watch. Another day I would take my friend to the beach where we would soak up the sun and enjoy the waves. I would take her to visit the Grove for shopping and good eats, Long Beach for cocktails and ocean views and possibly a boat ride to watch the sunset. Lastly I would take her to Disneyland because what a trip to California with out it!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to recognize my family and friends that have stuck by me through following my dream and motivating me when I doubted myself. My close circle has always shown up for me to every fashion show, pop up shop and launch of new collections. I would also like to give a personal shoutout to my Mother who has given me tools and encouragement for my creativity. I owe my skills and talent to her. I am forever grateful for everything she has done to support my dreams.

Website: curtisbrands.com

Instagram: @curtisbrands

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelica-curtis-2b587844/

Twitter: @1angelicacurtis

Facebook: facebook.com/curtisbrands

Yelp: Curtis & Company Apparel | Curtis Brands

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIB65ttWtTaOA9KvZgJTM9g]

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/curtisbrands