Meet Esmeraldad Gutierrez | Designer / Creator

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

Hi Esmeraldad, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
If there’s something that sparks joy in your life, nourish it, share with the world. From a young age, I had the freedom to explore my creativity. I was (and still am) a DIY type of girl. There’s something about having an idea and seeing it come to life that makes me smile.
From my late teens throughout my early 20’s, I began to step out of my comfort zone and took on projects that challenged my creativity and these projects eventually turned into commission work. I simply did these for fun and truthfully for some extra pocket change. After a few failed projects and a few soul crushing jobs, I took a step back and gathered my thoughts. I was blessed to be working in my dream industry, but this dream quickly became a reality and I realized my creativity was no longer being nourished, it was being ignored.
My goal at a young age was to work in a creative field. The moment I decided to move to Los Angeles was the moment I realized I needed to work hard to make my goals a reality. Yes I was lucky to be part of amazing design teams, but I wasn’t designing anything that sparked joy. Discovering what I disliked about my industry help me discover what I did enjoy; creating fashion in a sustainable manner.
Lonesome & Thread was created with the idea of designing without waste. Taking scarps of fabric and bringing them back to life. Using materials that others consider trash simply because they are not in season and turning them into fun ready-to-wear pieces.
Having the flexibility to design how I wanted and when I wanted was the push I needed to launch my website. By going live to the world, it meant not only creating a sustainable brand, but educating people on the differences between fast fashion and slow fashion. As slow fashion brand, I have the ability to control the number of items being produced all while listening to what my customers want. I have the ability to adjust sizing, learn what works for you so I can give you a product that sparks joy and adds color to your wardrobe. Every item is made from locally sourced materials, sewn either by me or my talented friends in downtown LA. Lonesome & Thread is here to keep fashion fun, but more importantly, sustainable.

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.
Having my own brand has been exciting and stressful all at the same time. Learning to break away from industry rules and refocussing my thought process is what has set me apart from others. I love colors, mixing colors, colorful prints, etc. Being comfortable in creating garments that are too “loud” for most was a test I needed to do not only for my brand, but for myself. Why should we only wear bright colors during the summer? What you wear is a form of self-expression, I know my brand isn’t for everybody and I’m perfectly fine with that. I want you to wear whatever makes you happy., regardless of the season. To my customers who have shopped and supported me, you have made this design process a lot less stressful by allowing me to see YOUR excitement with my apparel. I am now more comfortable in mixing and matching all sorts of fabric qualities and prints thanks to you.
I design fun pieces to brighten up your day that I hope you can create fun memories in.

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 ideal itinerary for me would be starting the day off with brunch. Bottomless brunch is always a winner! One of my favorite spots has to be Escala in K-Town. They’re a Colombian-Korean fusion restaurant I didn’t know my world needed. My go-to dish is their Bandeja platter while sipping on a Refajo and/or indulging in their bottomless mimosas. Did I mention they also have a Dj? Good food, good drinks, AND a Dj = perfect brunch spot.

After that, do a little shopping at some of my favorite markets: Los Feliz Flea or Silver Lake Flea Market.
Or simply enjoy the day by walking around Silver Lake.

Once we’re done shopping, I would head over to the Arts District. This has to be my favorite little neighborhood in Los Angeles. Fun breweries, cute shops, and new restaurants always popping up.

Lastly, I would end the day by heading back into K-town for some Korean BBQ. It’s hard to chose, but I would recommend Quarters or Mun Steakhouse.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to the 3 main ladies in my life: From my abuelita (RIP my beautiful angel) who introduced me to sewing, to my mom and sister who taught me to speak up and never settle for less.

Website: https://www.lonesomeandthread.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lonesomeandthread/

Image Credits
@filmambitions