Paola Cortez is from El Salvador. She moved to the United States in 2008. Her background is in Fashion Design and she has worked for Stitch Fix, Taylor Stitch and Betabrand. In August of 2019 she launched her handbag brand, Vivi Bele, which means to “Live Beautifully” in the Supranational language of Esperanto. Vivi Bele is committed to a youthful and timeless handbags while vowing to never use animal-based materials in any of her designs. “The brand itself has never been about me is more about the contribution that I want to make to the world by helping to shift the fashion industry into a sustainable way.”
FWM: Did you always want to be a Fashion Designer?
I remember as a teenager being infatuated watching the backstage and fashion shows on Fashion Channel through cable TV this was in the late 90’s. Unfortunately in my country, we don’t have Fashion Design as a career to study so that dream faded away. When it was time to go to college I enrolled to study Public Relations and Communications. But when I moved to the United States I decided to change careers and went back to college to study Fashion Design and here I am.
FWM: How did your upbringing in El Salvador shape your desire to share your creativity with the world?
Coming from a tropical country like El Salvador, color plays a strong factor in the creative process. In the tropics everything is bright and vibrant. From the Eulalia Pouch Bag in Magenta to the Renata Fringe Bag in Turquoise you can see the tropical aspect reflected in the choice of color we use in our designs.
FWM: Tell us about Vivi Bele. What have you learned over the past few years as an entrepreneur?
I have learned to be patient, to trust and fall in love with the process. Entrepreneurship is a journey and is not easy or glamorous as it sounds. Vivi Bele is still a young brand and I’m evolving with it.
FWM: Tell us about Vivi Bele about “Not sacrificing style for Values?” How do you balance a commitment to Cruelty-free fashion, and the ability to create strikingly beautiful designs that speak for themselves?
Cruelty-free, Sustainable, and Stylish handbags is our Modus Operandi. The mission of Vivi Bele is to create beautiful vegan products so our customers don’t have to sacrifice Style for Values. Our commitment is to never use animal based materials in our designs. Before I founded Vivi Bele I started my journey into sustainability. As a new conscious consumer but also a fashionista I was searching for products that meet the following criterias: Cruelty-free, Sustainable yet Stylish. I had a hard time finding a bag or pair of shoes that checked all the boxes. Many bags or shoes in the market are made out of Faux Leather, yes they are cruelty-free but not environmentally friendly. There is when the idea of creating Vivi Bele arose. I know I’m one more brand putting more products out into the world so I’m always thinking of ways on how to do this the more sustainable possible from using recycled and minimal amount of packaging material, producing in small quantities and constantly sourcing for new materials that have a low impact on the environment such as Piñatex, Cork Leather or the use of Deadstock fabrics.
FWM: Tell us about the Renata Fringe Bag.
I think the Renata Fringe Bag is easy to love… is a sustainable and such a beautiful piece made out of Pinatex fabric with a hand dyed ombre effect fringe and an acrylic chain. It comes in two colors: Turquoise and Yellowstone. For those who don’t know what Piñatex is, it is sustainable natural textile made out of pineapple leaf fiber. This is a great leather alternative… that means it is cruelty-free, it has a low impact on the environment and is ethically made.
FWM: How are your designs remarkably fashion-forward and still have an ageless effect? Do you have a favorite design?
For the brand it’s important to create beautiful and collectible pieces that speak for themselves. We try not to follow trends and keep the focus on season less styles. By not incorporating trends or the seasonality factor, that makes our designs timeless and can be worn throughout the years. In regards to if I have a favorite design… is a tough question to answer. Each and every single piece has a special place in my heart. They are like my babies.
FWM: Your Josefina Bag in Old Rose’ looks like the perfect handbag for a night on the town. Why is this design a favorite?
The Josefina bag is named after my maternal grandmother. I didn’t get to meet my grandma Josefina so I designed this bag in her honor.
This bag has a vintage silhouette with a modern approach. Spacious and practical, the Josefina Bag in Old Rosé is made out of Piñatex and a delightful soft velvet handle.
FWM: What is your vision for Vivi Bele in 2021?
For Vivi Bele sustainability vision is the business vision. We want to keep contributing with shifting the fashion industry to a more sustainable path by offering to the consumer a product with values that don’t compromise the life of animals or the planet during the manufacturing process. Reducing our environmental footprint and increasing our positive social impact is fundamental for the brand.
FWM: Please share your social media links.
Instagram: @vivi.bele
Facebook: @vivibele
Website: www.vivibele.com
