March 2022 Covergirl: Fashion Mogul, Gabriela Gonzalez
By: Megan Eisele
Gabriela Gonzalez - known as a fashion designer and a devotee to health and fitness - has quickly become a prominent face in the world of social media. She is verified on Instagram, with 5.7 million followers, where she has posted photos with celebrities such as Mariah Carey and Paris Hilton.
Although Gabriela’s main focus centers on the fashion industry, she grew up with a special place in her heart for animals. This led to her love for horseback riding, which has provided her with many triumphs and joys. Although Gabriela’s lifelong love for horses has never diminished, this hobby eventually became overshadowed by fashion.
Gabriela began her career in fashion by gaining knowledge about anything and everything to do with the industry, from the history of well-known brands to learning how they operate. This led her to fill her closet with pieces that stood out to her “like works of art.” Today, fashion is Gabriela’s livelihood.
Gabriela’s favorite part about fashion is the way in which pieces of clothing can reveal so many things - from the climate to the time period in which the piece was made - each item of clothing tells a story that Gabriela loves to read. Gabriela has taken this passion and put it to practice. She now runs her own brand, Julien x Gabriela, which is frequently featured in magazines, such as Vogue, Marie Claire, and Cosmopolitan. The brand promotes another one of her passions… fitness.
Gabriela is a force to be reckoned with within the world of fashion and will continue to use her passion to create and innovate.
—
H3R’S Interview Exclusive Interview With Gabriela
We absolutely love your work. Tell us how you got started in fashion design. What was your journey like?
Thank you so much. My journey in fashion started at a very young age; it wasn’t something I planned, it was just a very big passion, it was what made my days happy. I was always playing dress up and loved clothes, shoes, handbags, and makeup, just like most little girls… but that passion only grew. Soon, I realized it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. So, I studied fashion design and devoted hours to making the perfect outfit, finding the best accessories, and simply becoming immersed in that world.
What is the inspiration behind your brand Julien X Gabriela?
Julien X Gabriela strives for glamour at its fullest, female empowerment, and making the person wearing our designs to be the center of attention at any event. We want everyone wearing our designs to feel like the most powerful and amazing person in the room. We want to evoke a feeling through fashion.
Name some challenges that you had to overcome while creating your brand. How do you define success?
There are many challenges facing every business nowadays, but, for us, distance and time can be a bit challenging. My amazing partner is in Europe, an ocean away, so even time zones can become a small obstacle. Materials are also a challenge, as we take a lot of time in finding the highest quality possible for our couture pieces. Our customers are big and deserve the absolute best. Embroidered details also take time, but all of these “challenges” are part of the process.
What are some dream collaborations for 2022?
We will definitely keep working with Julien, since we envision fashion in a very similar way, we complement each other amazingly, we have the same feelings about what emotions our gowns should evoke and how they should look. So, for sure, this is the biggest collab that I will be working on. Then, I will let life surprise me with whatever comes along.
What does your morning routine look like?
I like to get a good night’s sleep, allowing me to be fresh and clear in the morning. I start with a healthy breakfast and a two-hour routine at the gym. I also like to spend time with my family - out of all my projects in life, they are my most precious and important one - after that, everything falls into place naturally.
What exciting projects are you currently working on that our audience should look out for?
We are putting a lot of heart, passion, and time into our next collection. We are working towards bringing our signature touch to a new collection that will showcase our evolution as a team while maintaining the glamour and elegance that we love. □
About The Writer
Megan Eisele currently lives in Riverside, California where she attends La Sierra University, studying Marketing and Public Relations. Megan loves writing, fashion, traveling and spending time with her friends and family.
Article Credits
Julien x Gabriela Instagram: @julienxgabriela
Gabriela’s Instagram: @gabrielagonzalezofficial
