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

Alright, Alicia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I hope to leave a lasting impact on the way we understand and express ourselves. Being authentic is important. Many of us have a hard time sorting out what makes us tick simply because of the pressures of society. It’s imperative to honor and listen to your inner voice so you can start trusting and living for yourself.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Alicia, I’m 38 years old and live in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. I grew up in an exceptionally creative home. My Mom and Grandmother encouraged me to be different from a young age. I received my first sewing machine at age 9. As a teen when I couldn’t find the clothing items I wanted in a store, my mom and I would make them. There were no boundaries. We would always find a way to bring it to life. That molded my out of the box thinking.

After high school I moved to Los Angeles to attend FIDM. While living Downtown LA I fell head over heels for the fashion district. I would walk Santee street and explore for hours. The fabrics, the people, the jewelry – It was fast paced and eccentric. It felt like home.

My passion for fashion and design never died, but was re-ignited after the passing of my grandfather in 2017. Bête Noire was created to not only carry on my devotion to creativity, but to create a community among the people and to shape a legacy in honor of my family. Bête Noire brings alternative style to the masses while encouraging those of all ages to embrace their individuality. We offer couture quality suits, gowns, accessories and more.

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

Word of mouth has been key. We try to go above and beyond for our clients in both customer service and design and style. Customers sharing their gowns and stories to social media has made such a positive impact!

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

We manufacture all our merchandise. I did have some experience in product development and production, but had to build new relationships with vendors when starting Bête Noire. This process can be intimidating. I’ve had great luck attending trade shows such as Magic where you can connect with factories directly and see samples in person. To me, finding the right manufacturer is based on the quality of production and the ability to execute your vision. Reputation and good communication are also key.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shopbetenoire.com
• Instagram: @betenoireshop
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/betenoireshop
• Other: Tiktok: @betenoireshop

Image Credits
Dixie Hartzog, JFX Photo Art, Imagine Images