Charleston: Adriana Ortega turned personal loss into creativity by launching her clothing brand, House of Adriana. Self-taught, she crafts empowering corsets that reflect her journey and a commitment to sustainability, gaining attention in the fashion industry and dressing prominent figures like Sasha Merci.
Adriana Ortega’s journey into the world of fashion has been marked by personal loss and a self-driven pursuit of creativity. Without formal training in fashion or art, Ortega launched her clothing brand, House of Adriana, just one year ago, and has already made significant strides, including dressing rising actress and comedian Sasha Merci for a performance in Philadelphia.
Following the passing of a close relative, Ortega sought solace in artistic pursuits, particularly fashion. She began her journey by exploring online learning resources and picking up books to teach herself the craft of garment making. Initially creating basic pieces like shirts and shorts, she eventually focused on crafting corsets, which she found to be both empowering and therapeutic. “Having some type of control over fabric, for me, is very healing and soothing,” Ortega noted in an interview with the Charleston Business Journal. She elaborated on the feeling a corset provides, saying, “When you wear a corset, it makes you feel very put together… and gives you this different sense of empowerment.”
Encouraged by positive feedback from friends and family, Ortega decided to develop her passion into a business venture. In addition to her creative endeavours, she balances her time as a professional singer, which has provided her flexibility to further explore fashion. The opportunity arose to showcase her creations when a costume designer contacted her about outfitting Sasha Merci, whose corset was featured during a theatrical performance.
Ortega’s early dreams of becoming both a singer and a fashion designer date back to her high school years, and she recalls making jean purses on her grandmother’s sewing machine. Her initial pop-up show in Asheville received such a warm response that it spurred her to continue, culminating in her decision to return to Charleston, where she has experienced steady growth, including both pre-made corsets and custom orders.
Working out of her home workshop, Ortega is now exploring the possibility of expanding her team by hiring another seamstress due to the increasing demand generated by her online presence. She has plans to feature her corsets in several brick-and-mortar locations across downtown Charleston, with current availability in a boutique in Nantucket, Massachusetts, called For Now.
Sustainability is a core principle of House of Adriana, as evidenced by the use of vintage tapestries in her designs. Furthermore, Ortega opts for plastic boning sourced from a local furniture store instead of traditional materials like whale bones, aligning her practices with contemporary sustainable fashion trends. “I just picked up the hobby and then I realized, you know, I want to slap my name on it,” she remarked, expressing pride in her work and the joy it brings her customers, stating, “I see people’s reactions of how they feel and that just gives me the most satisfaction.”
Ortega’s brand encapsulates a growing movement within the fashion industry, where vintage-inspired designs meet modern sensibilities, showcasing how personal histories and innovative thinking can breathe new life into retro fashion aesthetics.
Source: Noah Wire Services
