hummingbird lizette

Fabulous Designer: Lizette Gonzalez

Phoenix Fashion Week, the leading fashion industry event in the Southwest, returns Oct. 20 and Oct. 21 at Chateau Luxe. Today, meet participating designer Lizette Gonzalez of Hummingbird…

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

What is unique about your brand: Each [item] of Hummingbirdā€™s collection expresses flamboyance and power through its complicated embellishments, embroidery and rich colors. The construction of the garment is very precise, only a skilled couturier can attain.

What is your brand’s style: Itā€™s associated with smooth, elegant, sexy, yet innocent at the same time using vibrant colors to give that feeling of freedom and joy.

First fashion job: Team Apparel in Phoenix; Arizona Broadway Theatre, costume stitcher

When did you know you had a passion for fashion: At a very young age. I have always loved art but thereā€™s a piece of me that was missing. In high school, I wanted to take a different vocational class but there was no room for me. Therefore, my counselor recommended me to take fashion class and immediately I fell in love. I discovered that I can turn my art into reality.

Person who has impacted your fashion life the most and why: My grandma. She was never a professional fashion designer, but she gave a piece of her sewing love to me. I would watch her crocheting while rocking her chair every day and that was already a love connection between my grandmother and I.

Your biggest fashion accomplishment in your eyes and why: Graduating as a fashion designer is one of my biggest accomplishments. I have gained experience in sewing, and since then I have obtained a lot of job offers.

The biggest fashion obstacle you have overcome: My biggest obstacle in the fashion industry was not getting a role in acting or modeling due to my height and weight. I felt unhappy and hurt. I lost hope then I decided to take a different path: fashion design.

A designer who inspires you and why: Oscar de la Renta. He spent his time creating glamorous masterpieces using embroideries with rich colors. He is an example of how I want my collection to look.

Favorite quote: ā€œI donā€™t design clothes, I design dreams.ā€ –Ralph Lauren 

Advice to someone pursuing a career in fashion as a designer: Donā€™t hold back, risk it, take it. We all go through difficult times but in the end, itā€™ll all be worth it.

How has the Phoenix Fashion Week #DesignerBootcamp impacted your brand? It is a lot to take in. I did not imagine that it will be hard. Itā€™s not just focusing on the collection for the runway; itā€™s knowing how to run a business and be prepare for your future.

What can fans expect to see from your collection in October? Hummingbird will share a story that was inspired by the Mayanā€™s myth in artistic expression by mainly using neutral to vibrant colors, layering of fabrics, beads and embellishments. Hummingbirdā€™s clothing line gives that feeling of freedom and joy-wear and that is the purpose of the brand: to express themselves in a way hummingbirds express by their actions and appearance.

See this runway brand in person! Purchase tickets for Phoenix Fashion Week 2022 at eventbrite.com. Use promo code FABAZ for a $25 gift card good toward any seat (not applicable toward VIP front-row tickets).

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