Meet Kali Chela Gonzalez | Fashion designer & Seamstress

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kali Chela Gonzalez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kali Chela, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Sewing is something I have enjoyed from an early age. My mom was a teen mom so I grew up around her mother, who I called Mema. She and I would spend time going to thrift stores, or fabric shopping for projects she would often have to work on. A lot of what she sewed was because it gave her joy, like an extra hobby. Growing up I never thought of being a fashion designer for a career choice. I don’t think I realized you can do something you love, and still get paid for it until later on in life.

It wasn’t until I was a sophomore in high school that I was fortunate enough to choose a potential career path. From Junior to senior year at my school, back in Upstate New York, there was a trade school I was able to choose from a list of skills that I could potentially create a career from, one of which ended up being fashion design. Choosing fashion was surprisingly not my first choice however I wasn’t early enough to sign up for the cosmetology program. When I chose to do this course it taught me the basics of sewing, patternmaking, doing fittings and so much more. I was able to design clothing and watch models at the end of the year wear my garments on a runway.
I left for college and chose a different path studying Interior design. I did that for a couple years and wasn’t as passionate. I would always find myself in my free time working on clothing sketches.
I decided after taking a break from college that I would move back with my grandparents until I was ready to go back to school. During my time with them I started designing dresses for my self and a few friends who lived locally. When I completed my first design I showed it to my Mema, she responded “Isn’t it nice to be paid for something you truly love to do?”
She passed suddenly a few months later in May of 2016. Those last moments I had with her talking about designing and showing her all of the things I wanted to create really sat in my heart. After losing her the only thing that would get me up and going was designing. I would start a project and a couple hours would turn into an 8 hour day.. before I knew it I had made an entire garment in one sitting. I knew I wanted to keep sewing and decided to start my business. I would name it Donna Chela, a combination of both my Mema Donna, and Chela, my fathers grandmother, also someone I was named after.
The passion I have for sewing came from them and I knew I wanted to keep that alive through my work.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
With each of my pieces, I like to design with intention. Each design is either meant to inspire, or tell a story. I started my brand about 5 years ago focusing more on custom designs. Slowly, over the years, I’ve started to build a website and create more items that everyone can have access to. I still like to do custom items, It’s one of my favorite things to do.
I don’t believe this path has been easy. I’ve had an abundance of learning and growing to do on my own. I have watched videos on how to sew better, and even took a job that allowed me to increase my skills. I learned about creating a website, marketing, and shipping when I moved to another state. Keeping in touch with my original clientele was something that was important to me because I wouldn’t have had that start if it weren’t for my friends and family supporting me from the beginning.
I would love for people to see my brand and recognize the passion I have for making a change, whether it’s allowing someone to feel and look confident in one of my pieces, or something as simple as learning about an inspiring message I have for an item I created.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I haven’t been in Miami too long, but some of my favorite spots would be towards Wynwood, definitely a fun place to hang out for the day. There are a ton of really great local artists that sell their items in the shops around town, amazing places to eat, and of course all the art! Fireman Derek’s bake shop is a great place to get some desserts, I’d recommend Coyo Taco for great food and night life. Spanglish Craft Cocktail Bar + Kitchen is a great place to get drinks and food with such a great ambiance. They’re close to the design district, and not too far from the beach if you wanted to end the day by the sun.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would especially love to shout out Cindy Husband, the Fashion design teacher for GST B.O.C.E.S in upstate New York. She along with my Mema deserve credit for teaching me some of the fundamentals of fashion design, and sewing. Without them I don’t believe I would be where I’m at today. I’m truly grateful to have been able to have this opportunity to go to this trade school and have the education that I received while being there.

Website: Donnachela.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_donnachela/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_donnachela

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaChela

Image Credits
Denise F @Candidmomentsbydenise on Instagram Joe & Coco Mapendan @Maps.pros on Instagram