Business

Latinas in Action: A Gypsy In Stilettos

By Farzad Farrokhnia | bio | contact

When I first spoke to Luciana Cazares on the phone to set up a time for our interview, I could already feel that she was such a warm person, full of energy, life and love. When I walked into her home, I could feel that my prior sentiments were right on target. Cazares is a woman with many loves– love for her four children, love for travel, food and family, and the list goes on and on. Formerly the owner of Fiori, Luciana sold her business shortly after her daughter’s illness was diagnosed. She knew it was time to focus on more important things. Creating various textiles, refurbishing and redesigning furniture and being amazingly creative in so many other aspects allowed her to do something that she loves as well as spend time with and care for her daughter.

Our interview took place in her living room, where she had many of her pieces on display. With a glass of fresh iced tea, we got started, and she immediately began to tell me all about the sofa we were seated on…

Luciana Cazares: This is a vintage cotton and linen blend from the 1970s.

Su Voz Latina: Where do you find fabrics like this?

LC: Vintage stores, online, traveling…most of them are remnants. Sometimes I’ll be fortunate enough to get a really big piece of fabric.

We moved on to the next couch…

LC: This one [couch] is very special because its from the 1940s. In this case, I already owned had the sofa, but. Iit was just the frame. and I happened to find the fabric, a vintage Italian velvet, also from the 1940s.

SVL: I never would have guessed that it was vintage.  It looks amazing!

LC: All of the products are in line with the consciousness of promoting and supporting the eco-friendly lifestyle. This pillow, for example, is made of recycled men’s ties. Of course, some pieces have flaws…

SVL: That just gives them more character…

LC: Exactly!

SVL: What is your favorite piece?

LC: I love them all! Everything becomes my favorite the moment I make it. I always say “This one’s for me!” and my family says, “I knew she would was gonna want to keep it!” [laughs] I just love things that look bohemian and gypsy-ish.”

SVL: That pillow over there is great!

LC: That fabric is actually from Oaxaca.

SVL: What is your favorite region to get textiles from?

LC: I’d have to say central Asia because of the history behind it. All the cultures and kingdoms that influenced that region left so much art behind. I can see that there is a lot of passion that goes into these textiles. I actually like to mix them with Mexican textiles, Turkish textiles…I just love textiles.

SVL: This sofa is fantastic!

LC: This one is really, really special. I found it at an estate sale, and the frame was going to be thrown away. They sold it to me for very little because it was just the frame. I knew I could use it with this Suzani [fabric], and I mixed it with Belgian linen.

SVL: How long does it typically take to create a piece like this?

LC: This piece took me about 6six weeks. Something I learned [when I started making the furniture] is that you have to be very careful when working with vintage fabrics. Also, when you have to redesign furniture, it really is more tedious than starting from scratch. You have to try to save the integrity of the original design; what you’re doing is giving it a new life.

SVL: You’ve got furniture, you’ve got jewelry, you’ve got hair pieces. I feel like there’s something you’re not showing me…

LC: There is! Working with fresh flowers for so many years, I challenged myself to make something that went with eco-design, so I created a bridal bouquet using vintage brooches. I know there are more than 70 vintage brooches in this particular bouquet., but no more than 75!

SVL: How much does that bouquet cost?

LC: This one is over $1000 because some of the brooches are actually from the 1800s and they were very pricey.

SVL: Do you find a lot of materials to work with here in El Paso?

LC: I’d like to say that I do but I really don’t. Estate sales here are actually very good for brooches. This necklace, for example…

SVL: Is that a purse strap?

LC: …it is! You’re the first one to have guessed that!

At the advice and with the help of her 24-year -old daughter, Luciana is opening up a Gypsy In Stilettos boutique this summer in the King Williams District of San Antonio. “I’m sad to leave El Paso, but it’s something that we have to do,” said Cazares.

After our interview, I was surprised to find that Luciana and her family had prepared a table full of delicious food for us to enjoy. As we enjoyed our meal, I learned a bit more about her home life and her family. It would seem that the creative-bug has bitten her children, too. Her 7-year -old daughter, Alondra, shared some of her own bracelets that she’s been making, and her eldest son has his own line of screenprinted t-shirts, some of which are actually on display at the El Paso Museum of Art.

Luciana has the spirit of creativity and of love, which is very fitting for a mother of four and an eccentric, innovative powerhouse, such as herself. Cazares can always consider herself to be a proud El Paso native, wherever she calls home.

Photography by Omar Mena for Mena Video and Photography