fashion designer South bay living her dream in showroom

Local fashion designer Belen Sanchez (right) and Biblia Fashion model Luna Melisa in Sanchez' showroom.


BY ASHLY MCGLONE

CHULA VISTA : Where do women in the South Bay go for chic, reasonably priced, yet customized fashion?

Local fashion designer and entrepreneur Belen Sanchez hopes the answer is her Biblia Fashion boutique on Main Street, with its leopard carpet, black chandeliers with hanging Swarovski crystals, rod iron and zebra accents  and a beauty bar.

Customers can walk in, view her samples, get their measurements taken, customize the design and fabric and pick up the item in as little as three days.

In that time she has expanded to include one-on-one makeup consultations, modeling classes for young girls and teens, as well as a jewelry and a cosmetic applicator line, a move she says has helped her stay afloat during tough economic times.



Prices for her clothing designs range from $85 to upward of $500 for wedding gowns, depending on the fabric, and jewelry starts at $10. A two-hour introductory makeup class costs $35.


Sanchez’ customers include Argentine actress Sandra Vidal, who graced the cover of Lumbre Magazine wearing one of Sanchez’ creations in 1999. Sanchez was also showcased as a Hispanic designer by the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce in 1999. She is now looking to participate in trade shows in the near future.
“I am here to cater to anybody.” Sanchez said. “You can be a size 14, 16 it doesn’t matter. We can always style a dress and help you look your best, and offer all the beauty tips you can get and should know.”
Her style? A combination of West Coast casual chic to more edgy designs, which can be customized for a more conservative flair if desired.
Sanchez designs everything from corsets to bathing suits, from cocktail to full-length dresses, often with black, white and beige color schemes. Tule is also frequently used in one of her featured collections.
Her current beachwear line offers beige mesh overlaid on top of baby blue swimwear, orange tiger-striped swimwear, and a free flowing blue-and-white sleeveless dress with a high neckline and low scooped back, as modeled by 10-year Biblia Fashion model Luna Melisa at a South County Chamber of Commerce mixer event hosted at Sanchez’ showroom recently.
Biblia Fashion has also hosted numerous fashion shows for breast cancer awareness and prevention benefits over the last several years.
Whatever the apparel, Sanchez aims to create designs that empower women to feel chic, confident and secure, she said.
Ed Herrera, chief executive officer of the South County Chamber of Commerce, said Sanchez is an inspiration to other business owners.
“I think she really reflects the true entrepreneur of South County in that as you can see, when you look at all of her stuff and you look at the passion and you look at all she’s done and how she is a one-woman show, it’s like she’s a powerhouse,” he said.
The chamber also hopes to partner with Sanchez to expand her online showroom to provide customers an opportunity to enter measurements and purchase her items online.
Lisa Bowen-Moore, owner of tech consultant company Dr. Frankenstein’s Technology, found Sanchez’ designs refreshing.
“Once you get to a certain level, certain age, you’re tired of shopping at the regular boutiques and seeing the same thing, so to be able to find simple clothes, but custom made, is really something special. It’s artwork,” she said.
The Biblia Fashion showroom is at 3130 Main St. in Chula Vista and is open for one-on-one consultation by appointment only. Information: Bibliafashion.com or 619-805-7466.

The 36-year-old South County native began creating her own clothing at age 12, using leftover fabric from her mother who was a seamstress. She has held a storefront for the last six years and brings to the table six years of experience as a makeup artist for Clarins.