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

Alright, Karla thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

I started a new journey in July last year. Both my personal and professional life took a turn, and everything changed for me. I was so afraid—I didn’t know what to do or where to start. I needed to reprogram myself to begin something completely new. It hasn’t been easy, and it continues to be a lot of work, but I’m learning that the biggest reason I was afraid to take a risk was because I didn’t know the outcome. I was waiting for the perfect moment without realizing that we make the moments perfect; we just need to take that risky decision. Even if the results are not what we’re looking for, we learn and try again.

After understanding this, I decided to fully commit myself to becoming a clothing designer—something I had always wanted to do but wasn’t willing to take the risks for back then.

Karla, 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?

I am a 41-year-old mother of four young adults. A year ago, I separated from a relationship of over 20 years. It was then that I decided to pursue my passion—something I had always wanted to do, even from a young age. I remember not always having the means to buy clothing, but I could always create a look with what I had. Khameleon Styles is an idea from as far back as 2014, but for various reasons, I never seemed to prioritize it and always put it on hold. Now, after a long while, I am reviving the idea with a different approach and perspective on fashion. I am continuously learning about social media, the differences between fabrics, clothing manufacturing, how to sketch, and all the tasks that come with being an entrepreneur.

Khameleon Styles focuses on quality, detail, craftsmanship, and accurate sizing for all women. I want to give women the freedom to feel good in their own bodies by offering them the choice of custom-making any of my designs. With all that said, I am proud to announce that I will host my first fashion show in September, and most importantly, I am proud that at 41 years old, I created my first design.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

I manufactured my designs for the fashion show. I’m new to the fashion world, especially to manufacturing, but it’s definitely something I want to pursue wholeheartedly. There’s a lot to learn and understand; they say details are crucial, and in manufacturing, it’s no joke. One way I managed was by deciding to steer clear of mass production. I started asking my friends if they knew anyone who could possibly guide me, and I wasn’t afraid to ask people at fabric stores either.

Eventually, I got connected with someone in Mexico. Without knowing her or her work, I decided to visit her to see firsthand how they worked. I asked them to make me a dress, and then I designed a dress for a friend. That’s been the process so far. I’m learning about all the steps involved in putting a piece of clothing together—zippers, lining, stitching, pockets, textures, different fabrics, and the clear vision required for designing, as well as patience.

The journey of designing and manufacturing is not an easy one, but I wouldn’t change it for anything else. I’ve found my passion and what excites me!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Self-doubt and stepping out of my comfort zone have been significant challenges for me. Being in a traditional marriage for so long and becoming a mom at a young age, I developed habits of codependency and created a comfort zone that I rarely ventured out of. Major decisions were always made as a family, and my kids were always part of everything I did.

Working on unlearning these habits has been a lesson in personal growth, self-discipline, and pushing myself to explore new ways and experiences. I understand that life is about balance, and I know this is something I need to continue working on. However, I see the changes happening, and I appreciate the positive outlook I now have on life, trying to enjoy every moment of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://khameleonstyles.com
• Instagram: @Khameleonstyles
• Facebook: @Khameleonstyles
• Linkedin: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.instagram.com_khameleonstyles-3Figsh-3DOGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA-253D-253D-26utm-5Fsource-3Dqr&d=DwIFAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=A9uPmLfy1A072Qq-uiQzHne7nqkN_N6-jWHVljoitv4&m=mfX1mLpnXQAdZEwAE1qbDzl7qCdoaKxnbu_GYkVG7TFPCzYo7LHbZHBp8AA0H3YS&s=cfJhLA37NgxXeSZmpR1InenWCT9r1OIwKUEx0FL1Bmc&e=