FASHION & STYLE
FALL FASHION SPOTLIGHT
M
St. Louis Native
Louisa Rechter
estiza New York’s fall collection, with its
sophisticated detail, ornate textures and bold
necklines, is a fashion must-have this fall.
The collection, available at Neiman Marcus, was
created and co-founded by St. Louis native and
Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School and Washington
University alumnus Louisa Rechter. Mestiza has caught the attention
of big-name celebrities such as Kelly Osbourne, Chrissy Teigen and
Molly Sims. Rechter will be in St. Louis on Thursday, Sept. 21, for a
presentation of her line at Neiman Marcus, Plaza Frontenac. each other. We knew that no matter what, failure wasn’t an option to
either of us, and we were both going to live and breathe the business. It
took some time to figure out our strengths and weaknesses, but
once we did, we divided and conquered. I handle the business side,
and Alessandra handles the creative. Naturally, we are flexible in our
positions, depending on the workload.
Gazelle: Tell us a little bit about your family.
Louisa: My father was born and raised in St. Louis, and my mother Gazelle: Who is the ideal Mestiza woman?
Louisa: We design for women like ourselves. Our customer is career-
grew up in the Philippines. I inherited my style and good sense of
craftsmanship from my mother and my business mind from my father.
Retail is actually in my blood. My grandfather founded and operated a
chain of Midwest stores called Rechter Brothers Department Stores.
They’re no longer in existence, but my father always says how proud my
grandfather would be of Mestiza. oriented with a busy schedule full of after-work drinks, dates, cocktail
parties, charity events, weddings and vacations. She wants to look
extraordinary without breaking the bank. She appreciates quality and
beauty in what she wears.
Gazelle: What inspired you to create Mestiza?
Louisa: When I moved to New York just out of college, I began my
career in fashion. I worked for a successful fashion house that was
about 10 years old, but management operated the business much like
a startup. I learned everything about fashion - from lugging samples
around the garment district to watching the models strut down
the runway. I always thought to myself, “I could do this! I could start my
own business.” Several years later, I launched Mestiza New York with
my college friend and business partner, Alessandra Perez-Rubio.
In 2014, after being burned-out by our jobs, Alessandra asked me
if I wanted to start a fashion company with her. It was during a time
when all of our friends started getting engaged and throwing black tie
weddings. The beautiful dresses and gowns that really resonated with us
were unaffordable - we couldn’t spend two month’s rent on a dress. The
dresses we could afford seemed to be lacking in quality and branding.
That’s when we discovered a void in the market for beautifully designed
cocktail attire at an accessible price point.
We spent a few months building and planning Mestiza before we
quit our jobs in January 2015. A lot of people told us we were crazy, but
we didn't listen. It was a huge risk, but so far, it’s been worth it.
Gazelle: It is challenging running a business, but it can be
even more challenging with two people at the helm. How are
you able to successfully handle a co-partnership?
Louisa: In the early phases, we recognized passion and dedication in
Gazelle: Who was the first celebrity to wear your designs, and
how did that happen?
Louisa: We have an amazing public relations team in Los Angeles. They
have great connections with celebrity stylists who visit their showroom to
pick up clothing to dress their celebrity clients. One of the first celebrities
to wear Mestiza was Chrissy Teigen. She actually wore my personal
rehearsal dinner dress. She looked amazing. She broke the internet in that
dress. A lot of publications took note, even Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar!
The sales on our website were crazy! It was a “pinch me” moment. I wish
she’d wear something of ours every week.
Gazelle: Why is it important for you to integrate your Filipino
heritage into your work?
Louisa: My mother grew up in Cebu, and Alessandra is from Manila.
Growing up, I would hear enchanting stories about the Philippines, and it
grew to be a meaningful place to me. Because so much of the inspiration
behind our brand is from the Philippines, we wanted to pay homage to
it and support it in a meaningful way. We decided to partner with Habi,
the Philippine Textile Council, to bring an altruistic cause to the brand.
Gazelle: What inspired you to use the brand to support
female textile weavers?
Louisa: Habi, the Philippine Textile Council, consists of women in
different regions of the Philippines who congregate to weave in a very
traditional manner. We donate to Habi every year so the organization is
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GAZELLE STL