Eloisa Diaz is the designer and founder of her self-named label, Eloisa, based out of New York City. She is a multi-disciplinary creative and skilled in fashion design, graphic design, and illustration. After graduating from FIT in New York with a degree in Fashion Merchandising Management, Eloisa headed to FIDM in Los Angeles. She earned a fashion design degree from FIDM in 2004 and continued her studies at Central Saint Martins in London.
Eloisa has worked in the private label sector in New York for American brands sold at Macys, Nordstrom Rack, and Lord and Taylor, among others, and worked for Spiegel and Newport News. Additionally, she has an apparel line Shein X Eloisa with retailer Shein.com, and she oversees her own label, Eloisa.
Sassy & Co magazine recently caught up with Eloisa to discuss her journey in the fashion industry, and here’s what went down:
How did you get into the fashion industry?
As a young girl, I always dreamed of working in fashion. I used to design and make my own doll clothes. Once I got older, I decided the right path for me was to study fashion and make my childhood dreams a reality. After graduation, I got my first design job in New York City; the rest is history!
What do you like most about being a designer?
What I love most about being a designer is the ability to take an idea and bring it to life. It gives me great satisfaction when I see the final product I designed. I also like that every day is different and challenging; it keeps me on my toes.
Downside to being a fashion designer?
Facing a creative block can be a downside for me. When your job is to create all the time, it can get a bit stressful if the ideas are just not coming through. When that happens, I find that disconnecting from my work and then returning with a fresh mind helps.
What has been the most memorable experience of being in the fashion industry so far?
My most memorable experience in fashion thus far was having my collection produced by SHEIN. It was such a great experience to work with their team and see my vision come to life! I am grateful that SHEIN gave me a platform to show my work on a global level. It was one of the highlights of my career thus far.
Who have been the most interesting people you’ve met so far?
Some of the most interesting people I have met thus far have been some of my colleagues. A few years back, I worked for a brand where my colleagues had diverse skills and backgrounds outside of fashion. Working with people with different areas of expertise outside of fashion opened my mind to other possibilities and new ways of thinking.
What has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned while in the fashion industry. This can be about the industry or about yourself.
The most valuable lesson I have learned in the fashion industry is always to be humble and kind. No matter how talented you are, humility and grace can go a long way. It is important to have your talent match the beauty of your personality.
Is your family supportive of you being a fashion designer?
Absolutely! My husband and daughter are my biggest fans! They are used to living with a designer, so my daughter runs around with a tape measure and measures everything! I must say she is slowly becoming a pro!
If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?
That is a great question. During the beginning of my career in Manhattan, there was a time when my confidence as a designer was really shot. If I could go back in time, I would remind myself that creativity is always subjective to opinion. What works for one client doesn’t work for another. So, rejection is unfortunately just part of the process. The good thing is that there is a place for everyone in the fashion industry, and eventually, you will find your place.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
The best advice I have ever been given is “no one can drive you crazy unless you give them the keys” That advice stayed with me because sometimes, when you listen to too many outside opinions during your creative process, you can lose perspective and really drive yourself crazy. So, it is important to be in control of your own thought process and be assertive when needed.
What are your future plans? Inside your career or out of it.
In the near future, I plan to continue expanding my fashion line. I also plan on learning new skills related to fashion to keep up with the changing times. I would love to learn CLO-3D, so that is definitely on my to-do list. Outside of fashion, I plan to travel more with my family. The best thing is, is that the future is still unwritten! I have plenty of time to think about it and work towards these goals.
