Mas

By: ROSARIO ORTIZ

Description: Evelia González is a clothing designer who recently moved from Michoacán.

Nothing pleases Evelia González like seeing her own clothing designs.
   
González, who moved to Bakersfield less than six months ago from Michoacán, is a clothing designer and tailor who opened her store at Los Amigos Swapmeet about four months ago.

“When I came here I found myself jobless. And then not having anyone to give me orders kind of motivated me to start this business,” said González, who has started her store despite having limited English skills and little capital.

With the help of some relatives, including her sister-in-law, Eve, González said she’s gained a lot of confidence in handling her business and has great hopes of achieving the American dream.

At the 34-year-old’s business you can find suits for men, women and children, as well as wedding and quinceanera dresses and purses. Her designs are characterized by hand-painted flowers that add a special touch.  In addition to clothing, Gonzales also designs hand-painted blender, toaster and microwave covers, meticulously adorned with flowers, frogs, fruits and  other accents.
 
“If something I paint or design doesn’t come out the way I wanted, then I just change it. That’s one of the things I love about my job, there’s no limit to your imagination,” González said.

González said she knew fashion design and tailoring were her passions since she was a child. In Michoacán, she was a design teacher at a government agency for more than a decade.

Now she has a growing clientele in Bakersfield. Edith Escobar, an employee at a travel agency across from González’s business, has ordered a dress from Gonzales.

“This is the first time I’m going to be her client,” said Escobar, who plans to have more clothing designed by Gonzales. “But I decided to be her client only because I’ve seen her do her work with professionalism.”

Alejandro Vázquez, one two owners of the east Bakersfield swapmeet where González rents a lot for her business, said he saw potential in her.

“When she came looking for a space, she told me she wanted to start small, but we gave her a bigger space than she asked for and a break on the rent,” he said. “Plus, (my brother and I) could relate to her because of her background.”

Vázquez said his parents are from México and he knows how immigrants always need a hand.

González said she appreciates the help and is anxious to learn English.  “I know I’ll learn because I’m going to do my best,” she said.

González said she’d love to teach others how to do alterations, clothing designing and hand painting in her store.

“My goal isn’t to make a fortune, but help others learn a trade that can help them for life,” she said.