Lupita Castaneda, self taught seamstress and published designer behind AbbyBella Couture, started her business 5 years ago in her upstairs attic. She began with creating hair bows and tulle skirts for young girls. She then learned on her own how to make silk millinery flowers that she would use in custom headpieces, and it was around this time she received a special request to design a maternity gown. This request sparked a new direction for the AbbyBella line as the orders started coming in from expectant mothers, which quickly became a specialty of hers.

Over the last few years, Lupita has not only evolved as a designer, but has added to her list of talents by also styling photo shoots and collaborating with a handful of vintage jewelry sellers, clothing consignors, makeup artists, hair stylists, photographers, models and more. In 2014, she teamed up with two fellow entrepreneurs and opened V’da Studio, a shared space with a makeup artist and photographer, and this holiday season marks the introduction of her “Le Andrea” handmade full circle luxury tulle skirts. Additionally, she hosted her first ever “Paper to Petal” workshop in November at V’da Studio where she took on the role as instructor to attendees wishing to learn the craft of making flowers., making custom orders for family member.