Meet Monika Quintero | CEO, Founder

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

Hi Monika, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I had a young son and a baby on the way and was in the process of taking classes towards nursing school. I wanted to continue to work while i went to school, but do it from home to be there for my boys. I had always been a fan of vintage and band tees and i started slashing them into cute sexy upcycled tops and selling them on ebay. The bids for them were wild. Excited I wanted to expand my product selection so I asked my mother Silvia, ( a hobby seamstress) to make some of these tees into halter tops, dresses, crop tops etc. I envisioned fabrics like lace sleeves and skull patterns to be incorporated into the tees and my mom took my drawings and made them come to life. This went on for 6 years- growing, hiring seamstresses and help with logistics until I made it into a formal business in 2012- Demi Loon was born. The name inspired by a perfect half moon while I was on a jog ( Demi Lune) I changed lune to Loon and it translated into “half crazy” because in the middle of it all i had dropped out of the path to nursing, signed up for a graphic design class to make my own graphics, and go all in to a career in fashion.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Art is something I’ve always gravitated towards. I love to paint with acrylic on canvas being my medium but I never thought I would have a career in “art”. In my graphic design class I felt right at home, the concept that I could take the ideas in my mind and bring them onto a digital format for t-shirt graphics was thrilling. On the first day of class I created the logo we still use today and it was the foundation of where I learned how to create the graphics for our tees. What makes me very proud is that I took this class because i was threatened with lawsuits twice from band merch lawyers saying I could not repurpose their licensed designs. It scared me, and I almost gave up, but instead is what ultimately drove me to create my own graphic designs. It made me value the importance of creating my own brand with my unique spin that nobody could take away from me. I took my love of vintage band tees, added an edgy sexy vibe and I applied it to biker babe styles, gothic pinup girl and grunge country designs. What makes Demi Loon stand out is we have these distinct niches that can be totally different and separate in their own right, but what brings it all together is most of our tees especially our slashed apparel is purchased for events like festivals, concerts, moto rallies etc. So it comes together as this brand built for celebrating life through these events while looking sexy, confident, and showing your unique spirit with our apparel. Our slogan “Life is a Festival, Dress Accordingly” embodies what Demi Loon stands for.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My mind immediately goes to downtown LA. Its a short 30 minute trip up the 11o from where I live in Southbay. It has some of my favorite spots so let’s start there. The last bookstore- its this magical place that makes you feel like Alice in Wonderland lost in a harry potter novel The Perch, a fabulous rooftop restaurant you walk through an unassuming looking building, get in the elevator, go all the way up to the 13th floor, get off that elevator, get on another elevator where it opens into this magical chic space with great views, strong drinks and the tastiest brunch. La Descarga- walk up dark & narrow stairs and through a closet that transports you to what I describe as 1920s Cuba- a multistory club with salsa dancing, endless mojitos and a great time. Going back toward my bubble would be RAT beach (Redondo and Torrance Beach) its where the two cities beaches meet, i love it because its far enough from all the people and tourists and its right next to Malaga cove- where the cliffs of palos verdes meet the sea rocky beaches that make you feel like you are transported to the coast of Italy. There’s also many hiking trails in PV that have the most stunning views that light up your soul and inspire you in a very spiritual way that I think are a must see for anyone visiting the area.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This person is by far most definitely my mom, Silvia, She has been there with me since the beginning in some form or another, whether taking product photos, helping me with my boys, and later sewing product, now as a project coordinator, jumping in to help fulfill orders, countless LA trips to source materials, meetings with our sewing team and cutting service, including all the ups and downs of the business and everything in between. She is talented, sharp and has been an inspiration since I was a child watching her sew and take custom orders from her own customers, and of course allowing me to “design” my own clothing as a kid and pick my fabrics. She is truly my super hero and my inspiration. I don’t tell her this enough, but she is truly amazing and I will be forever in her debt.

Website: https://DemiLoon.com

Instagram: @DemiLoon

Facebook: https://facebook.com/demiloonclothing

Other: tiktok @Demi_Loon

Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/demiloon/

Image Credits
ill upload images separately -on another computer