Melissa Velia

Designer Melissa Velia began designing and sewing her Barbie dolls new
wardrobes at the young age of 7. "My mother taught me to sew with a needle,
some thread and tons of fabric scraps." Melissa Velia recalls. It was then, that
her life-long passion for fashion and the industry began. She went on to attend
the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM). It was during that
time that she began her career in the fashion industry, working for BCBG in
their corporate showroom. Later, Melissa went onto worked for several
well-known brands and eventually designed for an LA-based clothing company,
where her designs were worn by celebrities such as Tyra Banks, Hilary Duff,
Faith Evans and Kimora Lee Simmons. In 2010, after 9 years in the fashion
industry, Melissa Velia was ready to branch out on her own and established
her own clothing label. Today, she continues to evolve in the art of fashion, not
only with her company and clothing line, but also as a wardrobe stylist in her
spare time. In the near future, Melissa plans to expand her clothing line,
establish a foundation, write a book, and so much more