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Marta's Bridal owner says goodbye after 25 years
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Posted by r0rt1z Mon Nov 21, 2005 09:37:16 PST
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0 responses 0 comments María Concepción Chipres opened her bridal and formal wear shop 25 years ago to serve mostly Spanish-speaking Latino customers who were celebrating bodas, quinceañeras y bautismos.

But, over the years, Marta’s Bridal — the Bakersfield business that Chipres named after her daughter — has grown to serve second- and third-generation Mexican-Americans and English-speaking customers of other races and ethnicities. Customers have traveled from throughout the Central Valley to order a special dress for a prom, wedding or other important event.

And Chipres has managed to do it all with limited English-language skills.

That goes to show one thing:  You can overcome any barrier to reach your dream.

At least that’s the legacy the former farmworker turned successful businesswoman hopes to leave behind now that she is retiring.

“Patience and perseverance can get you anywhere,” said Chipres, the 64-year-old who is known by family, friends and clients as “Concha.”

Chipres recently closed Marta’s Bridal at 17 H St.  In its place is Maria’s Bridal, and new owners, husband-and-wife duo Gerardo Nieves y María de la Luz .

Marta’s Bridal was known for its wedding gowns, quinceañera dresses, tuxedo and other special occasion accessories.

Chipres loved clothes and making them, inspired by an aunt who taught her the ropes. She even remembers spending hours making dresses for her dolls as a little girl.

Chipres opened her Bakersfield store in 1997, although the history behind Marta’s Bridal goes years back.

The Lamont resident originally started her clothing business in 1981 in the comfort of her home.

Already used to making most of her children’s clothing, she decided to jump into the business when she found herself constantly working as a seamstress on the side after days spent toiling in the fields. Her Lamont neighbors inundated her with requests for wedding gowns, First Communion outfits, quinceañera dresses and alterations.

Chipres became well-known for her designs after she made a beautiful white First Communion dress for her daughter, Marta, when she was a little girl. Marta Escobar, now 35, is the eldest of her three children. Chipres’ other children are Salvador, 31, and Sergio, 29.

Little Marta’s dress changed Chipres’ outlook on life.

“Being a farmworker was not enough for me,” Chipres said.

A year after she started her home business, she opened Marta’s Clothing, her first clothing store on Main Street in Lamont.

Unlike Marta’s Bridal, Marta’s Clothing in Lamont sold high-end clothes from such famous designers as Armani, Dior and Versace, among others.

“I think I was the only Latina doing business at the time in Lamont,” she said.

But the business had to close when Family Bargains arrived in Lamont, and people flocked to the new store for much cheaper prices, she said.

Despite the limited clientele at Marta’s Clothing, the veteran seamstress had not given up on owning her own business.

Her next move was to close the Lamont store and open Marta’s Bridal in Bakersfield.

Business in Bakersfield proved much more profitable. She was able to develop a strong clientele. And despite her limited English, she was able to handle the business successfully.

“I never learned English because I never needed it. My clientele was Latina most of the times,” she said.

Besides, she added, her fully bilingual children and husband, Salvador, helped her to manage the business and fill out any documents, permits and orders she needed.

A native of Michoacán, Chipres came to the United States when she was 17 years old, having only a third-grade education. She arrived in Coachella, where she started working in the fields before migrating to the San Joaquin Valley.

She moved to Lamont in the late 1960s, then temporarily to Fresno, where she met her husband of 37 years.

In 1971, the two settled in Lamont. In Kern, the couple worked in the fields for years before starting the business. Her husband also went to school at night to learn English. He now owns a construction company and several businesses in Lamont.

One of the greatest motivations to get out of the fields, she said, was encouraging her children to continue with their education.

“I never wanted my children to work in the fields,” she said.

And it never happened.

All of her children are college graduates and working professionals, she said. Marta is a credentialed teacher and now a realtor. Salvador Jr. is a broker. And Iraq War veteran Sergio recently completed his enlistment in the  Army.

Working from 5 a.m. until midnight, Chipres said she’s proud of her accomplishments. But she said now it’s time to sit back and relax.

“Now I want to spend more time with my husband and grandchildren,” she said.

Added her husband, “I also want my wife to stay home. I think she’s worked too much already.”

Meanwhile, Gerardo Nieves y María de la Luz  will rent the former Marta’s Bridal location to operate Maria’s Bridal.

In addition, Mirella and her aunt Carmen Adame, former Chipres’ employees, will rent Chipres’ former clothing store location in Lamont. The two will run Bella Bridal and Tuxedos. Bella is name of Chipres’ granddaughter.

“I’m very happy that Concha and her husband are giving us the opportunity to start our own business,” said Mirella, 31.

Mary Lou Resendez, a longtime customer and now friend of Concha, said she’ll miss seeing Chipres in her element.

“I’m one of the biggest admirers of Concha because she turned Marta’s Bridal, as well as with her life, into something extraordinary,” said 54-year-old Resendez. “I still remember when she worked in her pedal sewing machine at home in Lamont. Now, I can’t believe she’s going to retire.”

Chipres said she is a bit sad to leave, but she’ll always have the memories.

“I’m thankful to all the people who have supported my business,” she said.

             

ROSARIO ORTIZ

Más staff

Contact Rosario Ortíz at

rortiz@masbakersfield.com

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