Artisanal brand Lourdes Rios keeps Denver glamorous

by Andrea Mérida, Denver Fashion Beat Editor

There was a time that skilled craftspeople were born at their parents’ knee, watching closely, finally being allowed to actually hold the tools of the trade after what seemed an eternity. Products generated from such small workshops were true works of art, and some, like the Stradivarius violin, have not only held their value but have raised it astronomically. But in our post Industrial Revolution world, as we began to mass produce the same artisanal goods that were once the private domain of the small workshop, we began to lose the sense of the uniqueness of each product…the life that was breathed into each special garment.

The velvet and chiffon Larissa dress

Once upon a time, a girl named Lourdes learned to construct garments while watching her cousin cut and sew without a mannequin, her hands instinctively moving through fabric and trimmings as if they had a mind of their own. Lourdes’ world was filled with the glamour of the 1940s that still pervaded her Hispanic household, where women transformed themselves into sleek sirens, perfectly coiffed and made up. And so Lourdes decided to go to design school. Being the daughter of immigrant parents in Los Angeles, her father opposed such an idea and tried to dissuade her from such a fanciful, seemingly fruitless idea. But the design bug had bitten her too deeply, and she enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles to perfect the trade she learned at her cousin’s knee.

And thus, one of Denver’s most promising designers evolved.

The silk Lucy dress

Lourdes Garcia, the artist behind the Lourdes Rios brand, designs glamorous pieces for women that are not afraid of their femininity, who like a little extra color, a little extra drama, in the clothing they wear. Keeping in mind her mother’s mantra, “El que no exhibe, no vende (That which doesn’t show doesn’t sell),” Lourdes Rios clothes are sensuous. They allow the wearer to show that subtle glimpse of skin without being totally revealing. With details like a pencil skirt slit just so, or a little black velvet dress that teases the eye toward the décolletage, a Lourdes Rios garment can transform a woman into the siren she’s always dreamed of being.

The vintage touches that are so pervasive in Lourdes Rios clothes keep the old Hollywood glamor alive. Lourdes cites the movie The Aviator as one of her inspirations, for its use of lush costuming with impeccable tailoring and sleek lines. She uses luxurious fabrics, from silks to chiffon, charmeuse and velvets. Being dedicated to using natural fibers as much as possible, the wools she uses are either 100% wool or a wool-silk blend.

Even with such an eye for luxury, Garcia says, “I have to go green.” She is committed to producing in the United States to help sustain local economies and to reduce the brand’s carbon footprint. “We have to help our people,” she says. In a strange but exciting twist of events, Garcia is getting the attention of Chinese wholesale buyers that are looking for couture lines like hers, for the foreign-brand cachet that American labels now hold. With the amount of inquiries for her line, it is plain to see that she has attracted overseas attention as well.

The Lourdes Rios line is, thankfully, still available in Denver. Visit Eve Inc, Larimer Square, 1413 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80202 (click here for map), 720-932-9382; or Coquette, 3000 E 3rd Ave, Denver, CO 80206 (click here for map), 303-355-7770. http://lourdesrios.com.

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