Meet Isabella Manning | Fashion Designer and Stylist

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

Hi Isabella, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am from Sacramento, CA. It’s a pretty small town. My mom is Sicilian and Mexican and my Dad is Irish. They sent us to private Catholic School and were extremely strict. I didn’t know that being a fashion designer or stylist was even possible for me. Every step of the way was exciting. My first job at 15 1/2 working at the Arden Fair Mall at Abercrombie. That was how close I could get to fashion. I never take opportunities for granted and think every job is a jaw dropping dream. Fashion was always my escape, a lighter space I could enter. I escaped my strict, chaotic, and heavy household by locking myself in my room and collaging, cutting out pictures from vogue magazines and pasting them into a notebook. I tested limits at my private uniformed school with striped tights and unique ways of layering. Constantly facing detentions and public shame, I always felt uncomfortable in my body, until I found fashion. It was my power.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am most proud of leaving my corporate job as a designer and facing all of my personal fears and starting my own brand. I am shocked, grateful, and in awe that my first piece I released sold out in a week. I am really excited and proud of this swim collection I am about to release. I think I am in this position today because I tried so many different jobs in college. I interned everywhere, for free. I learned what I like and didn’t like and knew that having my own brand was the only way to really feed myself creatively and professionally. It was so difficult. Learning how to trust my gut and make decisions was probably the hardest part. I overcame all these scary new things by going to therapy, never giving up, and putting all my emotion into my art. I have learned how to trust my gut and how everything always works out, but nothing ever goes according to plan. I want the world to know that I will only make luxury items with the finest quality construction, sewing, and materials. There is a soul to what I make and I hope that magic makes people feel more excited about living and being who they are.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to Leo Carrillo, in Malibu for a surf. Potentially Rincon, if it’s breaking. In LA, I would insist on Maru for a morning Matcha and a hike around Elysian park. After that, hot yoga at Kinship in Hyland Park. The best hot yoga in LA. I love the hot bar at Erewhon, sue me. Maybe there for lunch? Kick it at the Silverlake meadows with some wine. I would love to take them to a sick little warehouse show in the evening or a show at Zebulon. Perhaps a dinner at Kismet. OOOO and we are definitely going to the Getty to frolic on the grounds.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate this to anyone who took a chance on me and saw my talent. Everyone who answered my questions, texts, phone calls and followed through.

Website: Santeliaclothing.com

Instagram: @Isabellamanning @santeliaclothing

Image Credits
photography of Grandma, Ali Maister