We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alicia Ybarra a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alicia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Our mission is to elevate every bride’s special day into an extraordinary celebration of beauty and personal expression. Each custom wedding dress we design is a reflection of the bride’s unique personality and love story. Our commitment to elegance, exclusivity, and bespoke design is deeply embedded in every custom dress we create, making every bride’s experience with us as exceptional as the gown she wears.

Early on in the history of my company, I noticed a common theme among my clients, regardless of size, shape, or ethnicity. Every woman would have a tendency to zero in on the one feature she didn’t like about herself. It quickly became my mission to help her overcome those body insecurities with the custom designs I create. My goal was for her to see in the mirror the beautiful woman that her friends and family saw, and realize her own beauty and worth.

Alicia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Our purpose is deeply intertwined with the vision of creating more than just wedding dresses—we craft unique experiences. It’s about honoring the trust each client place in us to be part of one of the most significant days of their life. In pursuit of this purpose, we promise to deliver not just a dress but a timeless piece that encapsulates the beauty and emotion of your special day.

In the world of couture, every thread, every bead, and every silhouette holds a story. Our dedication lies in crafting gowns that are as unique as the brides who wear them—gowns that are not just worn but felt, creating a bond between the dress and the moment it represents. We promise to see you, to hear your story, and to create a gown that makes you feel like the only bride in the world.

We understand that every client is unique, and so are their preferences. That’s why we offer both virtual and in-studio design experiences, ensuring that your journey with us is as personalized as your dream dress. Whether you’re across the country or in our home based Wichita, Kansas, we’re committed to providing you with the one-of-a-kind treatment you deserve throughout the custom wedding dress design process.

Our gowns have been worn in the mountains of Colorado, to the beaches of Mexico, to the cathedrals in France. We are most proud of the opportunities to serve our clients with our designs nationwide, with 100% satisfaction in fit and design from our brides who we never had the opportunity to physically meet in person.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

16 years of owning a business and 25 years in the bridal industry has given me plenty of opportunity to demonstrate resilience. My initial thought was to say the pandemic was the most difficult time for owning a business, but for me it was the years afterwards, particularly the last 2. The recession had started to affect our clients purchasing behavior, we were facing a new generation of brides and struggling to learn how to communicate and subsequently to sell to them. We were also facing a labor shortage at the same time. Things were looking pretty bleak.
However, I wasn’t about to let these circumstances put us out of business. After trying various things that weren’t working, I realized that I needed to look outside the scope of my own creativity, grit, and determination. I realized it was time to further my business education. I found a coaching program that felt like it was tailored just for me, with Stacy Tuschl’s Well Oiled Operations. I buckled down and implemented everything she taught. I spent a year learning how to communicate to Gen Z, and finally cracked the code! You can watch more about that on Stacy’s podcast where I was a guest: https://vanyadesigns.com/press/

Vanya Designs is currently seeing a 35% growth rate and we’ve been able to add 3 full-time positions to our team. 2024 is on track to be a record year of sales.

Instead of letting the economy defeat me, I demonstrated resilience by adapting to the market and learning how to grow.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

From the beginning, integrity and excellence have been 2 of our core company values. Because of my unwillingness to let a dis-satisfied customer slip through the cracks and my deep belief that every person deserved to feel beautiful and loved, I quickly built a reputation of excellence. I would do whatever it took to work with my clients until they felt absolutely perfect in their gowns. Word of mouth spread quickly and is still our best form of advertising. Don’t take my word for it, our plethora of client reviews on all platforms speak for themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vanyadesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanyadesignsbridal/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/vanyadesigns/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vanya-designs-&-custom-sewing-llc/
• Youtube: @vanyacouturecustomweddingg195
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/vanya-designs-wichita

Image Credits

Eric Fisher