2015

Barack Obama was the President of the United States. The Supreme Court affirmed same sex marriage. Donald Trump was becoming a leading contender for the republican presidential ticket. 195 countries signed the world’s first accord on climate change, known as the Paris Climate Agreement. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Canada’s first cabinet to have equal numbers of men and women. Libby Lane became the the new Bishop of Stockport in northern England, and the first female bishop appointed by the Church of England. Australian model Madeline Stuart, who has Down Syndrome, walked the Runway at New York Fashion Week in September and Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars was the top of the charts. These were some of the national and world highlights where diversity, equity and inclusion had profound impact. My year began with such promise and as life happens, there were major turning points, obstacles, celebration and tears, but as I’ve started this year I’ve felt in many ways I have come full circle from events that occurred in 2015.

I started 2015 with back to back trips to NYC. The first, in January, for a Women’s Entrepreneurial Festival. The keynote speaker was Diane Von Furstenberg who just released her book, The Woman I Wanted to Be (which is a great, inspirational read). By this time I had started designing eventwear for myself and was thinking about branching out to design for others. During the Q&A portion, I had the opportunity to ask her directly about becoming a non-traditional fashion designer (ie: not professionally trained and not right out of college). Basically, she stated to go for it and it changed my trajectory in achieving this dream, but more of that later.

I returned to NYC in February for Fashion Week. This was the third season I was able to attend and in trying different ways to highlight the boutique, we ran a contest that one of our customers would be joining me for several shows including Desigual and the Macy’s Little Red Dress show for the American Cancer Society. Jamie Lewinger, my beautiful friend and lifestyle influencer, ended up being chosen to join me and boy did we have a great time. I had forgotten about this show until a week and a half ago, when I realized a full circle moment. I was fortunate to attend the Macy’s Red Dress Show in NYFW because I was on the board for the American Cancer Society at the time.

Fast forward to 2019, I join Macy’s Coronado and while the national partnership was no longer in place, the team built a great relationship with the local AHA office for the Go Red for Women luncheon and fashion show. In 2020, I had the opportunity to take on the fashion show outfitting, and I met Serena and Melanie, the fabulous sponsors and emcees for the show. I looked forward to our “week” every year–the scheduled time they worked out of my space and we outfitted the models. I got to learn about the community models, the latest research, and work AHA does. The cherry on top was that I made two good friends, who have shown up for me through the years. So I’m not going to lie, I was sad that this year I wouldn’t be able to style the models, then Serena decided I should model. If you know me, you know that I love to be behind the scenes. When I showed up to the dress rehearsal, I found out I was the last model taking the stage and I kind of wanted to throw up, but instead decided I would flip the script on them. After rehearsal, I stopped by Trader Joe’s and picked up a bouquet of roses (I would use them as a prop for my walk and then had them off to the gals for the final group walk). When I returned home, I sat a the table to write love notes to Serena and Melanie just to let them know how grateful I am that our paths crossed and I how much I appreciate them. I know it’s so cliche, but really, everything happens for a reason.

If you’ve been reading along my Ms. Adventures, you’ve read that I had a meeting with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, but after the Go Red luncheon I realized that too had roots in 2015. At the time, I received a thoughtful note from the then Congresswoman congratulating me on being a Women of Influence honoree. Later that year, I was introduced to her by another friend, Claire, to talk about my fashion design work. Then just before the 2020 legislative session, I met her in Macy’s, this time assisting her with her wardrobe needs (as I did for the next 5 years) and we had a great conversation. She asked me what I hoped came out of the legislative session and I talked about this and the non-profits I had worked with. She remembered this conversation when we met in early February and after sharing where she could see me working, I’m excited to share with you that I will be serving as a Special Projects Coordinator in the Office of the Governor. Am I excited, scared, all the things? Yes! I know this will be challenging work, but I also know that will have real opportunity for impact. My first day is Monday, March 10…the last two weeks of the legislative session which I’m sure it will be a whirlwind.

2015 was the year that Hopeless + Cause Atelier was born out of my dining room. That year I had originally planned a lavish fundraising reveal and my friend, Jennifer was going to emcee. I had models, sponsors, and a whole team in place to help pull it off. Then as life does, it all fell to pieces, or at that time I thought it had, but now looking back, maybe it was rearranged on how it needed to be. Instead I started creating for Jennifer and hosted an intimate preview to close friends and family. In these past 10 years, I have had the privilege to work with so many creatives, highlight many beautiful spaces in Albuquerque and travel the world:
– SS16 Albuquerque, Contemporary Gallery, November 2015
– AW16 Albuquerque, Verge Building, February 2016 (VC: Nick Layman)
– SS17 Albuquerque, Banque Lofts, September 2016
– SS17 Los Angeles, The Block Downtown, October 2016
– AW17 Albuquerque, Hotel Andaluz, February 2017
– AW17 Austin, Fashion X, May 2017
– SS18 Albuquerque, Hotel Andaluz, September 2017
– SS18 New York, Roosevelt Hotel, September 2017
– SS18 San Francisco, Hotel Via, September 2017
– AW18 New York, Roosevelt Hotel, February 2018
– SS19 Albuquerque, Unser Racing Museum, September 2018
– AW19 Los Angeles, Compton Warehouse, March 2019
– SS20 London, Society Fashion Week, September 2019
– SS21 Albuquerque, Eat Out to Lift Up, October 2020
– Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, October 2021
– Locker #505, Albuquerque Sheraton Uptown, January 2022
– SS23 Austin, The Domain, November 2022
– SS24 Albuquerque, Salt Yard West, August 2023
– SS24 Paris, Vendome, October 2023
– Locker #505, Albuquerque Sheraton Uptown, March 2024
– Meow Wolf Absolute Trashion, Santa Fe, June 2024
– SS25 Corrales, Old San Ysidro Church, August 2024
–SS25 Milan, I Chiostri di San Barnaba, September 2024

Recently, I sat down with Simone and Trevin of The Creatives Podcast and talked about this history, the where the inspiration comes from and what’s next. I love that I have created piece to be a part of my client’s special moment in life, but I also love how many deep relationships have been built since launching Hopeless + Cause Atelier in 2015. So really, what’s next? What shall we do and go next? I want to hear from you in the comments below….let’s do something incredible together. Who knows what the next 10 years will bring.

With light and love,
Dara Sophia Romero