1986 Graduate, Associate of Arts in Fine Arts and Fashion Merchandising, Miami International University of Art & Design
Imagine having your fashions worn by celebrities across the world. It’s a feeling Victoria Lopez Castro has experienced, watching famous people from Gloria Estefan to Monica Seles, Rita Moreno, and Vanna White step out wearing her designs. Victoria is founder and designer of her own company, which creates women’s haute couture designs with a fresh, classical-modern approach to dressing. She credits her mother for giving her the confidence and encouragement needed to pursue a future in fashion. “(My mother) taught me to think outside of the box when it came to wear the clothes,” she states.
Victoria launched her first fall collection in 1992 in New York, the same year that she opened her Miami business. Since then, her work has been included in publications such as Italian Vogue, W, Harpers Bazaar, Vanidades, Vogue en Espanol, Women’s Wear Daily, The Miami Herald, and El Nuevo Herald. She earned her Associate of Arts in Fine Arts and Fashion Merchandising degree in 1986 from The Miami International University of Art & Design.
While she finds the success of a new product launch to be thrilling, she asserts that the true attribute needed to succeed in fashion is determination. “There are many obstacles along the way,” she states, adding that to keep fashion ideas and styles fresh, designers will need to reinvent themselves every five years.