My name is Isa, I am 23 years old and was born on Valentine’s Day. My vibrant aesthetic mixed with maximalist fashion and accessories is very much the vibe to my blog.
Past schooling
I am currently transitioning back to Portland after spending the past year abroad in Barcelona, where I completed my master’s certificate in fashion design. Before that, I earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a dual license in multilingual learners. I spent time as a student teacher in Honolulu, Hawaii, which taught me a lot about leadership, communication, and adaptability. A lot of my family were teachers and they thought it is always something good to fall back on, however, I always knew being a teacher was never my dream nor my long-term path. I would love to move back to Hawaii to live there again, as I love the tropical setting and culture.
My passion and vision?
Fashion has always been my passion. I’ve been deeply drawn to personal style, accessories, and the emotional power of clothing for as long as I can remember. Over the years, I’ve envisioned creating a brand that reflects my creativity, individuality, and desire to inspire others through fashion. My specific goal is to start with one-of-one pieces that are all handcrafted by me. These will be sold through pop-up events and marketed via social media, where I’ll showcase the pieces on mannequins or models. Eventually, I hope to build an e-commerce presence using platforms like eBay and Vinted, before transitioning to my own official website under my brand name. As I grow, I plan to collaborate with other creatives and hire a team to scale production and offer more size-inclusive designs. My ultimate dream is to open my own store—or multiple stores—in the future. Below are my final pieces I made in Barcelona, one being fully handmade, while the other was my first time with a sewing machine. The concept — healing mermaids.
Because I’ve spent the past year focusing on the creative side of fashion, I knew I needed to develop a deeper understanding of the business side. I enrolled in this Internet Marketing and E-Commerce course to gain the tools and knowledge necessary to market myself and my brand effectively. I know that having a unique product is only one part of success; knowing how to reach your audience and convert their interest into sales is equally important.
One area I’m particularly excited to learn more about is digital marketing—especially how to build a strong online presence across platforms like Instagram, eBay, Vinted, Craigslist, and even influencer collaborations. I’m curious about what makes a campaign or post go viral, how to identify the right audience, and how to communicate brand identity consistently through visuals and messaging. I’ve seen so many small brands grow exponentially through online exposure, and I want to explore how I can do that in an authentic and sustainable way for myself.
I believe e-commerce is one of the most powerful tools available to creatives and entrepreneurs today. The ability to connect with people globally, share your work instantly, and collect real-time data through reviews, comments, and analytics is invaluable. I also love how fun and creative the process can be—designing content, editing visuals, and engaging with potential customers online feels more exciting and personal than traditional marketing methods like flyers or print ads. Internet marketing is also more accessible and budget-friendly for small business owners starting out, which makes it the ideal tool for someone in my position.
In the long term, I see myself building a brand that is rooted in originality, authenticity, and human connection. I want people to feel something when they wear my clothes—to feel seen, confident, and inspired. Marketing, especially online marketing, plays a huge role in how that story is told. That’s why I’m looking forward to learning as much as I can in this course—both the technical and strategic aspects—and applying them to my fashion journey moving forward.
My hobbies
Outside of my academic and professional goals, I have many hobbies that keep me creative, inspired, and connected to the world around me. I love to draw—often recreating album covers or reimagining art I discover on Pinterest. Cooking is another passion of mine; I enjoy experimenting with flavors and presentation as if I were competing on a cooking show. I’m also an avid reader, with a particular love for self-help books that push me to grow and reflect.
One of my greatest joys is spending time with my dog, Jax, who joined our family just a year ago. He has an outgoing, bubbly, and comedic personality that makes him unforgettable—so much so that friends often call him “famous.” Music is another big part of my life, and my playlists are an eclectic mix of R&B, Reggaeton, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Rap, and Soul. I especially love the energy of live music, so attending concerts and festivals is always a highlight for me.
Lastly, traveling is my greatest love. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have visited all 50 U.S. states as well as many countries abroad. Exploring new places, cultures, and perspectives is something I plan to continue for the rest of my life.
Hi Isa,
Your story and vision are very inspiring. I love how you’ve taken such a creative and passionate path from education to fashion, and it seems to me that it’s clear you’ve found your calling. Your experience in Barcelona sounds amazing, and the fact that you’ve already started crafting one-of-one pieces shows how dedicated you are to your brand and art.
It’s exciting to hear that you’re building your foundation through pop-up events and social media before expanding into e-commence. I think your approach, focusing on authenticity, emotional connection, and inclusivity, is exactly what makes smaller fashion brands stand out in today’s digital landscape. There’s something really special about wanting your customers to feel seen and confident in your pieces.
I also totally agree with your point about marketing being just as important as having a great product. There is so much strategy involved in building an online presence, and I’m excited to see what you create as you start putting those pieces together. It sounds like this course is going to be a great match for your goals.
Wishing the best with your brand and future store. I don’t doubt that your creativity and passion will take you far. Looking forward to learning alongside you this term!
Hi Isa!
I love your page– it includes a vibrant, and colorful view and a lot of great information about yourself. Hawaii is a beautiful place, and I could definitely live there, too! The weather, colors, culture and the laid-back environment really makes it a place where you never want to leave.
Your pieces are unique and beautiful– what an exciting goal you have set for yourself. Looks and sounds like you’re on the right path for success! E-commerce is very important– My sister-in-law opened her own boutique about two years ago, and it was a lot of work. I helped her brainstorm ideas with her website and how to reach people the most effective way. It was an interesting process and really identifying what made her different/stand out the most compared to local competitors.
Your dog is adorable! I am a huge dog lover, and currently have six fur babies. I have four dachshunds (AKA wiener dogs), an english springer spaniel and a husky. They all keep us very busy but are the best creatures ever. 🙂 Our house is never a dull moment. I can’t wait to continue to see how your site progresses throughout this term, and what other ideas you share.
Isa,
Your website and blog are very vibrant and seem to match your personality. This course looks like a perfect fit for where you want to go with your creative designs and launching a future business.
I’m not sure I have met someone as young as you who has been to all 50 states- your travels across the US and internationally are impressive.
You incorporated a lot of ideas in your website design, and it shows. Your use of color on the blog behind the text made it easier to read. The pink also stands out as a brand element for you, with purple as a secondary color. The gallery photo section worked very well for your fashion items—great job too on the title of the blog and adding headers (Turner, 2020).
Your site design works especially well on a smartphone, which is so important. I’m not sure if you added metadata tags to your post. If not, that could be something to add for better SEO so your site (and future commerce site) can be found (U.S. General Services Administration, n.d).
I’m in love with Jax! Nice job on a distinctive website and introduction blog. Good luck in the course.
Anne
References:
Turner, J. (2020, August 6). Four simple tips for writing effective blog posts. Forbes.com. https://www.forbes.com/councils/theyec/2020/08/06/four-simple-tips-for-writing-effective-blog-posts/
U.S. General Services Administration. (n.d.). Introduction to structured content. Digital.gov. https://digital.gov/resources/an-introduction-to-structured-content