Last night, I drove into L.A. to meet with fashion designer Ximena Valero. We first introduced you to this Mexico City-native a few weeks ago at FBI in the California Market Center. In our first review, I promised you more in a one-on-one interview. So between managing her recent show schedule, creating marketing materials and keeping up on orders, we tracked her down to talk with us.  This time, I met Ximena in her own environment, her design studio. Her studio is exactly as I pictured it. Her assistant, her dog and four mannequins greeted me at the door and took me past hundreds of spools of thread, tables, and racks of gorgeous evening wear to a separate room where I waited for Ximena. I sat on a couch with her adorable chihuahua watching a slide show of some of her recent work on a nearby Mac. I was totally at home! I could feel the creative energy buzzing.

We had a great time talking and I soon launched into some of the big questions:

LDB: We know that you’re originally from Mexico City. Did you know at a young age that you would be a designer?

XV: When I was nine years old and living in Mexico, my mom enrolled me in a sewing class. I really didn’t want to go because I thought it was something old ladies did. But soon I discovered how much I loved it. I loved fashion and creating pieces that represented my own personal style. It was a creative outlet for me. The first pieces I ever made were a T-shirt and pencil skirt and I still have them.

LDB: How did you get your business off the ground?

XV: I started as a stylist for a fashion photographer and doing hair and makeup which led to an internship at Victoria’s Secret. Eventually, I worked as a designer on the Very Sexy and PINK lines. It was great experience for me and it was here where I decided that I wanted to go big with my own line. I would say that I went about it backwards creating collections for shows I booked in places all over the world. I started my career in NYC, but also designed collections for Miami, Mexico City, Asuncion and now Los Angeles. I would say that a big turning point for me was when John Casablanca of Elite Model Management requested that I dress all of his new models for New York Fashion Week. I had only three weeks to pull it all together, but I did it.

LDB: Have you thought about branching out further into other lines, as well? Or do you see Ximena Valero as an evening wear/swimwear brand?

XV: I would love to have many different lines from cosmetics and perfume to swimwear, evening wear and more.

LDB: How is this new collection different from your past collections?

XV: I’ve taken some of my favorite pieces from the past as inspiration for this collection. The pieces are simple and classic. I love that six pieces in this collection can be worn up to ten different ways! As a stylist, I learned to pin and tuck and I translated those skills into this collection.

LDB: In ten years, what do you think the Ximena Valero brand will look like and what do you hope it will do for women?

XV: Hmm. I would say that it is most important to be true to myself as a person and I’ll continue to do what makes me happy. In ten years, I would hope that I’m doing what makes me happy and I’ve created a brand with many lines that reflects who I am. Ultimately, I would hope for Ximena Valero to be a benchmark for fashion in Mexico and proudly represent the women there.

You can look forward to seeing more from Ximena at Mexico City Fashion Week in September…as well as others, I’m sure.

Ximena’s pieces can be washed at home and don’t require ironing! I love that! The ready-to-wear line retails between $125-$350 and her gowns start around $600. Click here for more retail/wholesale information.

Thank you, Ximena, for taking the time to talk with LDB and for inviting us into your studio. We wish you the very best in the fashion biz!