Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Arellano.
Laura, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I fell in love with sewing when I was a little girl. I still clearly remember sitting with my grandmother while she worked the sewing machine almost daily. She was my first teacher and to this day, I still incorporate much of what she taught me. I mastered my skills at the International Academy of Merchandising and Design in Chicago.
My dream was to eventually design clothing for a major brand like Coco Chanel or Marc Jacobs, that I would be able to spot people walking down the street wearing a piece of clothing I created. In 2012, I decided it was time to open my own shop that would not only showcase the items I made but merchandise that other artists created who share the same passion I have for art and fashion. I called my shop Blue Betties Boutique, a store where women of all sizes can come in and find something that will make them feel confident and that will allow them to let their personality shine. I take inspiration from the pin up models of the 1950, Betty Page and Jayne Mansfield are style icons in my eyes and their influence is evident in every skirt and dress I make.
After some time, I realized that Blue Betties Boutique needed a change of scenery, so in 2017, I moved the business to San Antonio. My business and I have achieved so much in the time since the move, more than I could have imagined. From growing my book of business to being showcased in local magazine publications to collaborating with prominent local artists. The sky is the limit for Blue Betties Boutique and I am excited for 2020 will bring.
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s never a smooth road when you decide to open up your own business. When I opened up Blue Betties Boutique, I did so with no guidance and very little money. Like with many startups, the first year is all about recouping the money spent to get the business up and running and trying to find new and creative ways to set yourself apart from the competition. There were nights where I had to sleep on the floor because I didn’t make enough to afford a mattress. Uprooting a business, much like uprooting a family is difficult. When I moved to San Antonio, I didn’t have friends or family to help with the transition so it felt like I was starting the business over again, Blue Betties Boutique didn’t have a presence in this market so it felt like it was back to square 1. My drive and determination is what carried me through the rough times and is why my business is going on eight years and counting.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Blue Betties Boutique story. Tell us more about the business.
Blue Betties Boutique makes clothing, hand-crafted jewelry and home decor. All the items are made by hand, every piece of jewelry, every article of clothing. My specialty is custom work, clients can come to me with specific prints or fabric and ideas for necklaces or bracelets and I bring them to life. The items that I’ve become known for are definitely my skirt and earring designs. The fabric I choose reflects my personality and upbringing, patterns that depict images from my Latino heritage and my love of the pin up girls from back in the day. I make the earrings to stand out and be seen, I believe they should make a statement and my customers appreciate how unique and fun they look. It’s hard to keep a business successful over a long period of time, Blue Betties Boutique is going on eight years and counting and I’m very proud to have kept it going for this long. Transitioning to a new city and striving makes me feel better about my commitment and contributions to my business and helps me stay motivated after all this time. I don’t believe anyone pays as much attention to detail as I do, every piece of merchandise that is made is done so meticulously and methodically. If I’m not satisfied with the quality, it won’t make its way to the clothing rack. For me, nothing would be worse than having a customer feel like they’re not getting the best value for the money they’re spending.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I believe retail shops are becoming a thing of the past. People aren’t visiting stores like they used to, they prefer 1-click purchases instead. Eventually, all clothing stores are going to abandon the brick-and-mortar approach in favor of online stores. In terms of fashion, I find it to be very cyclical. Styles from previous eras have popped back up and then go away after a while. Modern vintage is constantly evolving with the times.
Pricing:
- Skirts range from $25 to $85
- Men’s ties $35 to $55
- Earrings $5 to $65
- Bracelets $10 to $55
- Necklaces $15 to $125
- Rosaries/Malas from $35 to $85
Contact Info:
- Address: 106 Meadow Drive Converse,TX 78109
- Phone: 7734697139
- Email: bluebettiesboutique@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bluebetties
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bluebettiesboutique
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/bluebetties
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
