It is perhaps this personal touch that resonates with Mestiza's ladies. The brand itself has a rich history of stylish women from which to draw inspiration from — and if that's not an advantage, then I don't know what is. But of course, innovative brands can't rely solely on motivations from the past, not in the Big Apple. 

While Mestiza draws inspiration from local beauties, their founding story resonates with a global dilemma, something many women experience. Over cocktails one night, Alessandra and Louisa bemoaned the city's lack of beautifully made yet reasonably priced dresses. "Being girls with expensive taste and tight budgets, we complained that there wasn’t much out there that satisfied our craving for elevated dresses with a 'high-end' look within our price range. Something needed to be done!" Alessandra shares.

By the third round of drinks, these two entrepreneurial ladies had birthed Mestiza. The rest, as they say, is history. 

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After five years, Mestiza is slowly but surely carving a place for itself in the world of fashion design. Although their bold designs are a far cry from the more demure style of the typical Maria Clara ensemble, the elegance, sophistication, and charm are still very much apparent. This month, for Filipino American Heritage Month, Mestiza NY is also launching a new social media campaign to highlight Filipino tastemakers who align with the ethos of a true Mestiza lady. 

While we keep an eye out for that, local and international shoppers can look forward to more optimistic pieces from Mestiza. And yes, that means sparkles — plenty of it — as well as tassels, bows, ruffles, and bright floral prints.