Meet Maria Ornelas | Architectural Designer and Knit Designer

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

Hi Maria, what’s your definition for success?
I moved to Los Angeles from Mexico in 2005, and my perception of success was graduating college, get a job, get married, and buy a house. It was the “typical” American Dream.
My future seemed very blurry at times, because it seemed like I was working towards something unreachable. Eventually I got accepted into Architecture School, and I graduated, and I got a job in that field.
I also met my husband and we got married, and although it seemed like I was getting all these pieces that would contribute to my “success” I still felt like I was not fulfilled or like I was not pursuing my true purpose in life.
Today, almost 20 years after I moved to the US, the land of the “American Dream”, I define success differently. To me, my success is in the peace I feel every day when I wake up. It is hard work and it takes a lot of discipline, but to me success is not in the end result of the goals I had set when I moved to LA. Success to me, is in my journey towards those goals, no matter the end result.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Currently I have 2 brands. One in Architectural Design, and one in Knitting Design. I learned how to knit and crochet thanks to my grandmother, my aunt, and my mom. When I was younger, I was always intrigued at the possibility of creating something we could wear with just a thread and a hook or a needle.
I went to Architecture school because I thought being a “career woman” would bring me more success and satisfaction in my life. But, during the pandemic, when my fulltime job hours were cut by half, suddenly I had extra time to think about how fulfilling was my Architectural career at the moment.
I started knitting and crochet again, just as a hobby. Then, one day, my mom gifted me a box with a bunch of scraps of yarn, and I said, what can be done with these? They were all different, and there was not enough of each yarn to make something. As I was learning how to knit a sweater properly, I grabbed three strands of yarn together and I started knitting. I said, this will be a “practice” sweater. I started adding all the scraps my mom gave me, and eventually I finished the sweater. When I looked at the finished product, I was amazed! I had created something, like a work of art. The colors blended beautifully, and the sweater was truly one of a kind.
I decided at this moment that I would want to create more of these sweaters. So throughout these years I have been experimenting with different yarn textures and colors, What I want everyone to know about my creative process, is that I never know how the sweater will look like at the end, and I do my best to source scraps of yarn because these materials deserve a second chance to be part of something not only useful, but also beautiful and one of a kind.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I have lived in Los Angeles for almost 20 years, and currently, I live in the Arts District. If my best friend came to visit, I would take them to Little Tokyo to try Ottoro Sushi, and Daikokuya. I would also take them to the Asian market on 3rd and Alameda to explore all the different ingredients they sell there.
I love coffee, and there’s so many options in our neighborhood, Verve, Groundworks, BOXX, Concierge, they’re all amazing. For a fancy dinner, I would take them to Manuela, which is a southern style restaurant across the street from my house, inside the Hauser and Wirth Gallery.
There is also amazing choices on the streets, taco trucks, pupusas, etc. I like variety, and I like supporting small businesses who are also Latinos.

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 am where I am today thanks to my parents. When I got accepted to Cal Poly Pomona as an Architecture student, I did not qualify for any financial aid. My dad worked very hard so that he could pay for my school. He supported me on my choice of major, and he trusted me that I would finish school and get a job.
Thanks to my parents, who did the best they could, with whatever they had, for risking it all for me. I inherited their determination, and will to work everyday for the dreams I have had in these 20 years.

Website: https://luluhandmadeknits.com/

Instagram: @luluhandmadeknits

Image Credits
Photographer: Cecilia Ornelas