About: TheMonA BY:Hector-Javier MonArrez
Designs Made for Different Women
Fashion designer Héctor MonArrez knows exactly what women like to wear
Héctor-Javier MonArrez is not exactly a new designer. Although he is a recent graduate of the International Academy of Design and Technology, he has been infatuated with the art of fashion design for many years.
In 2008, MonArrez won second place at his private school, also MonArrez won first place for IMAGINE 2009 Fashion Show, and at The annual Richard Driehaus Fashion Award Show. Driehaus, a chief investment officer and chairman of Driehaus Capital Management based in Chicago, hosts a fashion show every year to give new designers an opportunity to showcase their pieces. This year, MonArrez won first place in the competition. He was awarded $5,000 and was selected to represent his school for the Richard Driehaus Fashion Show.
“It really opens doors for you,” MonArrez said. “People recognize you and become familiar with your designs; that, to me, is something amazing that also enables you to keep moving in the fashion industry.”
MonArrez, who was one of the winners in last year’s Latino Fashion Show Student Competition, will participate year in “El Fin: Chicago Designers and Awards Presentation,” on Nov. 8. 2009
MonArrez, who was born in, México, there he specialize in bridal, leather construction, and corsetry. Later he moved to Chicago where I enrolled at a private school to major in fashion design. There he received the education he needed to specialize in pattern making, draping, fabric manipulation, textile and couture techniques. MonArrez said his styles are aimed at women between the ages of 25 to 45 and his focus is to make sexy clothes while maintaining a certain amount of elegance.
“What makes me different from other designers is that I don’t design things that I feel are popular. I design clothes that I feel people will like and wear,” MonArrez said.
MonArrez grew up in a household where he was the only male, and it was not difficult for him to find his inspiration and get a feel for what women want to wear.
“I’ve been around women for many years and I know they can be very particular about what they want; so I incorporate that into my designs,” MonArrez said. “For me, it’s not about competing with big designers. I compete with myself.”
When MonArrez makes a design, he does not think about what type of person is going to wear it.
“I’m proud of my heritage, but my designs are not aimed at one specific type of person,” MonArrez said. “It does not matter who wears my clothing. What matters to me is that people feel happy when they wear my pieces.”
After MonArrez’ mother passed away when he was 5 years old, he was raised by his aunt, who was a teacher and a seamstress. She sewed wedding and evening gowns and MonArrez, who admired his aunt’s work, was 6 years old when his interest for designing couture garment started. She would go on to become his main role model.
MonArrez recalls watching his aunt create many pieces, but was always afraid she would react negatively if he asked her to teach him, “That’s one of the barriers I faced and one of the reasons I decided to emigrate to Chicago – to take this profession seriously and make this dream a reality,” MonArrez said.
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