Hi, I'm Abril

As a girl living in Mexico, where most events tend to require highly dressed-up attire and the norm has always been "better overdressed than underdressed," I designed many of my own gowns and elegant wardrobe pieces. As many know, such items are usually expensive, and I often had to spend extra to get them fitted to my size after purchasing. So, I decided to create my own, thus beginning an adventure I never imagined would bring me to where I am today—forever grateful.

I started researching fabrics, costs, production processes, and designs, and visited raw material stores with my mom at the young age of 16 in my hometown, Monterrey, Mexico. My mom, being a petite person, already had a seamstress who would help her with things she needed fixed and tailored, like hems. I started taking pictures of the gowns I loved most or designs that caught my eye online, on TV, in magazines, etc. Then, I would research which fabrics were suitable for the designs. Although I have always been driven by comfort and versatility, I would make my own changes to the designs in the pictures, often mixing the top of one gown with the bottom of another.

Finding My Passion

I started realizing that the cost of the fabric + work (production) of the piece + time invested in the process (multiple fittings, fixes, changes, etc.) equaled a beautiful, unique piece tailored specifically to my size. Yes, it was work, but it was also much less expensive, and I actually loved the process of creating and immersing myself in it.

Having my mom with me through all of it, along with our trustworthy seamstress, made the experience much better and more fun for me. I didn't have the pressure of impressing or satisfying anyone else but myself. But as we all know, we are our own worst and harshest critics. I have always been a perfectionist at heart and have struggled with that, but I have been trying to channel it positively in my life and work now. I continued on this path, creating many gowns, dresses, shirts, and tops for myself over the years, even today. I just got married a year ago and created the wedding dresses I wore. I used three different gowns for different occasions at a lesser cost and had the experience of sharing the creation with my mom, my mother-in-law, and making them unique to what I wanted to wear and how I wanted to feel in them.

The Early Days

Over time, as people frequently asked where I got this piece or that gown, I started to realize that maybe I had done a good job in creating these pieces. However, I never fully believed in myself or thought of myself as a designer or product developer; I just knew I loved it and enjoyed doing it for myself and others. If I could find any opportunity to help someone find, get, or create something they truly wanted and envisioned, that was what made me the happiest and gave me the most joy while doing it—it never felt like work, so I would do it just for fun.

After college and working for a while, I found a job as a buyer, which, to my own surprise, entailed buying apparel, accessories, and all kinds of fashion pieces for a company and its stores. I took a huge leap of faith and a chance, and relocated to Los Angeles without a doubt it would be a crazy and scary adventure. But I’ve always loved traveling and taking opportunities when life offers them!

Entering A New World

At first, I was surprised at how the fashion business and industry work, but I was just seeing one side of the picture—the buying wholesale without getting too involved in how the processes of production, importing, exporting, time, etc., worked and all that it entailed. My personal experience with designs, fabrics, and manufacturing helped a lot with my position as a buyer and the choosing of good, unique pieces and negotiating everything. But I wanted more.

So, after a few years, I ended up finding a job as an international buyer for several countries in a global company. It was a huge step, as I entered the real world of fashion drastically; I dived into the whole enchilada. The process from an image/idea in someone's head, to a drawing, to so many things that come in between until that piece itself is created and turned into a tangible object which someone can touch, try, and buy in a store so far from where it was created that the customer will never know how many humans, hands, work, time, everything that was invested in the piece you are now holding and wearing.

Authenticity in Creation

Being behind the scenes is what I'm best at. I've always felt more comfortable that way, with no one to criticize me or my methods. But out here in the real world, as a brand, as a designer, a blogger, once you put your face out there and your own creations, they are now out there for the world to see, know, and remember. Which is scary as hell to even think about. It's a bit stressful to think about how much I want people to love and like what I create, but I also have to understand that it’s impossible to please and be liked by everyone. All I can do is be real, be true to myself, do my best, and offer the best of everything to my customers and everyone.

I have always said I won't sell something I wouldn’t buy. In my past jobs, I enjoyed being behind the scenes and the lower risk that came with it. However, it was difficult knowing how everything worked and not sharing it with everyone, helping them to do, create, and find what they want without spending a fortune. Of course, I believe in paying, but I insist on paying for quality, for the actual product, and for the value and labor that went into its creation. I prefer knowing the real people and hands involved in the work, rather than just the brand name. I love uniqueness and realness. Real people creating functional versatile things.

Exploring

During my years in LA, living alone, working, meeting people, and expanding my horizons both professionally and personally, I tried the power of flower, which I had been terrified of for years, thinking it was the worst of the worst. Fast forward, I moved to Colorado, met the love of my life, and the brain behind the idea of a smell-proof purse/bag for women and men whose style doesn't fit the typical smoker stereotype that society usually portrays. It all happened one day when a friend got a smell-proof case for his own herbs and products to keep them organized and stored, helping with the smell as well. When I tried to find one for myself, I couldn’t find any. What did I find? Thousands of bags and cases primarily for men, lacking the quality and style I was looking for.

The Flora, Black Dahlia Front View

From Idea to Reality

I wanted a bag that I could use both in and out of the house, one that could be dressed up or down with multifunctionality. It needed multiple pockets for my never-ending stash of "just in case" items—need Advil? Eye drops? Kleenex? Chapstick? A snack? Yep, that's me. So, after months of searching and discussing with my husband and now business partner, Samuel, about the lack of options for women and the market's focus on men, he suggested, "Why don't you make one for yourself, hun?" WAIT, WHAT? That's an amazing idea! And from there, VerySi was born.

After years of work, time, extensive testing, numerous changes, much self-doubt, and tremendous support from my partner, here it is, for all of you, for everyone and everything—VerySi.

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