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

Hi Jessica, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Some people have this all planned out. For me, that was not the case. Yes, I had dreams of going to fashion school when I was younger. I remember I would sit and draw sketches when I was 9. However, I knew this would be difficult to achieve. Growing up, my dad was the main bread winner and so a college fund was something out of reach. My mom raised us while my dad worked. I think a part of my love for fashion comes from my mom. She always wore the coolest outfits. To this day, she is the most fashionable woman I know. My love for fashion resurfaced after I had my first daughter. While I loved everything sold in stores, I always felt a rush when I found something unique, special, and one of a kind. I started watching sewing turtorials, visiting fabric shops, and trying my hand at sewing. My great grandmother used to make my mom’s clothing when she was a child. I guess creativity has always ran in the family. I soon realized that my creations were something I wanted to share with other moms. I also knew this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My small business specializes in handmade girls clothing. I create high quality garments that are made of 100% woven cotton fabrics. Most of my fabrics come from designers such as Riley Blake and Robert Kaufman. Each piece is carefully crafted with attention to detail. I would describe my style as simple, but with a little surprise. I love to throw in a little detail such as a trim or cute button here and there. I am a one woman show and wear all the hats. This includes anything from sourcing fabric, to creating social media content, to shipping.

Creating and running a business comes with many challenges. One thing I have learned, is to give myself grace. I do not have a degree in marketing, sales, etc. I did not go to fashion school, I am not perfect. I have learned to be patient with myself. If there something I do not know, I will research and learn. Learning is a lifelong process. However, I do know that I love what I do! I am aware that success does not happen overnight, and I am truly happy with where I am right now in my little small business journey. I am taking it one day at a time, enjoying every minute of it, and always giving my 100% to everything I create.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of my favorite places to visit is the Kimball Art Museum. I love to see all the beautiful colors of pieces from Claude Monet to Pablo Picasso. This is truly a great place to go that is full of inspiration. My family and I also enjoyed walking through Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth. Here you will find many small businesses, restaurants, as well as live music. The 82 ft. Christmas tree during the holidays is absolutely breath taking. If you would like to see cattle, check out the Fort Worth Stockyards. Within, you can visit the Stockyards Museum with it’s growing collection of artifacts, exhibits, and photos that document our Native American Connections.

If you have kids who are into planes, I recommend the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas. With over 35,000 artifacts and many aircrafts from WW1, WW2, your kids are sure to have a fun and educational trip. Another family favorite is the Perot Museum of Narure and Science. Enjoy 5 floors of exhibit halls and 6 learning labs. Learn about the human body, weather, or dinosaurs.

These are just some of our favorite places to visit but there is much more to see!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I definitely have to give a shout out to my family. To my husband, for supporting my little dream. For taking over on the days when I choose to sew over making dinner. To my kids, who always understand that some weekends I need to fulfill orders over taking a stroll through the park. Running a business sometimes requires missing out on other moments. I am still working on finding that balance between my family and my business (as well as my other full time job), so I appreciate my family for being patient with me. I am also very lucky to have my amazing customers. I would NOT be here without them. The ones who support me by not just purchasing from me, but also by liking/commenting on my social media content, by sharing my posts, and leaving reviews. These are the people that make my small business grow. A big THANK YOU to all!

Website: https://www.camilaalexisclothing.com

Instagram: @camilaalexisclothing

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

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.