Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mariah Parraga. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mariah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

I came up with the name Fuego The Brand from one of my favorite childhood inspirations, The Cheetah Girls. Growing up I loved them! They had a song called “Fuego” that always stuck with me. But more than the music, what I admired most about the Cheetah Girls was what they stood for: unity, sisterhood, and celebrating individuality. No matter where you were from or what you looked like, you belonged. Each girl had her own unique talent that made the group stronger.

That’s the exact energy I wanted my brand to carry. Fuego The Brand is about more than just clothing, it’s about embracing YOU and feeling confident in it. No matter who you are, you have something powerful to bring to the table, and my brand is here to make you feel that fire within yourself. Fashion has always been my passion, and creating this brand is my way of tying that love for style into a deeper purpose.

Mariah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started Fuego The Brand during the pandemic in 2020. Quarantine gave me the time and space to discover my passion. I taught myself how to sew from scratch, practicing every single day from the moment I woke up until I went to sleep. I began using scraps of old clothes and my mom’s sewing machine (which she never really used). Sewing came so naturally to me that I later discovered it was in my blood, my grandfather was a tailor back in Ecuador. From that moment, I knew fashion was what I wanted to dedicate my life to.

By July 2020, I officially launched my business by taking swimwear orders, and over time I expanded into dresses and custom outfits. As I continued to grow, I had the incredible opportunity to showcase my work at DC, LA, NY, and Miami Fashion Week. Each show was a milestone, not only because of the exposure, but also because of the amazing people I met and the lessons I learned along the way (yes, even sewing through my finger a few times!).

What I’m most proud of is how far Fuego The Brand has come and the impact it has on others. My designs are meant to push people outside of their comfort zones, helping them feel confident, bold, and like the best version of themselves. Fashion for me isn’t just about clothing it’s about creating moments of empowerment.

I want my followers and clients to know that there’s no finish line for Fuego The Brand. This is just the beginning, and every collection, every design, and every piece is created with the vision of making whoever wears it feel unstoppable.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Before I participated in Miami Fashion Week, I had an interview with a company that ran shows. During the interview, I was told that I should tone down my work by using more neutral colors instead of the bold, bright patterns I usually create. They also suggested I stick to local shows rather than trying to participate with them. At first, I’ll admit this discouraged me, it made me question whether my vision was “too much.”

But I didn’t let that feedback change the identity of my brand. I stayed true to myself and continued designing the vibrant, fun, and colorful pieces that represent Fuego The Brand. That decision ended up opening doors I never imagined. I was later invited to showcase at both Miami and New York Fashion Week, and even had the honor of seeing my work featured on a billboard in Times Square.

Through that experience, I learned that I may not be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s okay. What matters most is staying authentic to my vision, because the right opportunities will always align with what’s meant for me.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was believing that working in fashion couldn’t be a real career. Growing up, I never saw it firsthand, so I didn’t think it was even possible. Both of my parents served in the military, and my siblings chose more traditional career paths, so I thought I had to do the same. To me, fashion was something I loved, but not something I imagined building a future from.

That all changed once I started sewing and eventually launched Fuego The Brand. The more I created, the more I realized that not only was fashion a passion of mine, but it could also be a promising career.

Unlearning that mindset allowed me to fully embrace my path, and now I see that following your passion doesn’t mean giving up on success, sometimes it’s the very thing that creates it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fuegothebrand.com
• Instagram: @fuegothebrand

Image Credits

@itsjustrell_
@khamaree
@carlos_urbizo
@likemorephoto