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

Hi Alicia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After I had my second child, I was working in a corporate job, and half of my salary was going to go towards childcare. I was already taking sewing jobs on the side to help make ends meet. After some soul searching, I decided to pursue my sewing and design business full-time, in order to stay home with my kids when they were little. Vanya Designs started out as a custom sewing business where I would sew anything and everything people needed. However, my passion has always been bridal and formal so I started advertising that was my specialization. Fast-forward 16 years and we are now 100% bridal and formal; we do both couture wedding dresses and specialized alterations.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Couture wedding dress design is truly an art. It took me many years after starting my business to truly see myself as a designer. I thought I needed a job where someone gave me that title. After several years of bringing my clients dreams to life from a sketch, to pattern making, to creation; it was a team member who brought it to my attention that I needed to call myself a designer, as I was way more than just a ‘seamstress’. As I am sketching for my brides, they express complete disbelief that I’m able to draw exactly what they have been looking for, but haven’t been able to find in the stores. Although I can sketch, my strength is in the sewing and construction of the design. I love the process of cutting and draping fabrics and laces and placing them just right to create something new.

The thing that sets me apart from others is my ability to get inside my clients head and truly bring her vision to life. I am never married to any one idea that I think is best. I will ask questions and work closely with her to create her own unique work of art. My years of experience in fit issues and body shape concerns have allowed me to become highly proficient at knowing how to cut and sew any style of dress to the proportions of my client, regardless of her size or shape. The art lies in those details – where to place the applique’ and beadwork, how to cut the neckline or sleeves just right, where to make the skirt hug the body in the most flattering way. It’s not unusual for a couture wedding gown to have 40 hours or more of design & sewing work.

I didn’t learn this overnight. It took years of trial and error to learn what looked best or how to adjust a garment to make it look the most flattering on each clients unique body shape. Not only that, but also what made her feel beautiful and confident. My mission became to help each woman feel beautiful and loved in the gown I create for her, so that when she looks in the mirror she sees the beautiful women that her friends and family see. And the key to that is giving her the confidence she needs by listening to her concerns and then creating something amazing just for her!

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?
People don’t usually think of Wichita, KS as the destination of their dreams, or to have anything to do with fashion! However, we have a lively art and fashion scene with fashion show pop-ups and art shows happening all the time. Just search for events in Wichita for any given weekend and you will find anything from comedy shows, to live music, to shopping, food, and art. I would start by taking my guest to coffee at Cocoa dolce Downtown on a Saturday morning, where we can sit outside, sip our coffee, and watch the sun come up over the city or nestle inside and watch the chocolate being made in the large kitchen viewable behind floor to ceiling glass walls. We would have to pick up a package of handmade chocolates to enjoy later. Next we would go for brunch & mimosas at Homegrown and order off their locally grown and sourced menu. I personally love vintage shopping, so we would hit all the little upcycled clothing stores like Recycled Threads & Worn Again. We would finish the day with dinner at any number of restaurants depending on our mood, most likely George’s French Bistro, and then catch some live music & dancing at Brickyard. Must see places to visit while in town: Luciano’s Italian Restaurant in Mulvane, followed by ice-cream at Duece’s Scoops, a day trip to The Arboretum in Belle Plaine, make dinner reservations with wine parings and a farm-to-table menu at Elderslie Farm, check out the Botanica Gardens in Wichita, and Exploration Place or The Kansas Aviation Museum just to get started.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are a few key people who have guided me along my way. The first being my 4-H sewing leader who began investing in me and nurturing my love of sewing from the age of 7. She taught me that mistakes can always be fixed, and sometimes the end result after a “mistake” becomes more beautiful than the original design. Second is my husband of nearly 25 years, who encouraged me while we were still dating to pursue my passion and enroll in the fashion design program at Kansas State University. He has been beside me through every up and down of business and is still the primary one I turn to for advice on communication, team management, production processes, and the never ending handyman list!

Website: https://vanyadesigns.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-ybarra

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanyadesigns/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC40RMRu-Kt7qVisxfq1jiaA/videos

Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/vanyadesigns/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vanyadesignsbridal

Image Credits
Derek Davenport

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