Today we’d like to introduce you to Melina Lovera.
Hi Melina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Uruguay, which is a small country between Brazil and Argentina. My family moved to the U.S. when I was five years old, and they say in grade school, I would be sketching dresses on the desk. When I was seven, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and with no hesitation, I said fashion designer. I took my first fashion ROP class which was careers in fashion, the summer of my sophomore year in high school. In high school, I was also in costume design and was the designer for a few main stage productions. I attended Huntington Beach High School which had an amazing Academy for Performing Arts program (APA). I obtained my Associate in Science from Orange Coast College with an emphasis in Fashion Merchandising and entry-level marketing and entrepreneurship certificates. I am currently attending Cal State Fullerton, finishing my Bachelors in Public Relations.
During my time working on my degree, I interned for Show Me Your Mumu under the accessories buyer, who taught me a lot about accessories, packaging, data entry, keeping track of inventory, sales reports, and writing item descriptions back in 2018. In 2020, during the pandemic the idea of starting my own women’s empowerment brand hit me, I was having coffee with a good friend from the fashion program, and we asked ourselves if we had a chance to do it all over again, what would we do differently? I told her I would start my women’s empowerment brand; I would start with my beaded bracelet designs and expand to graphic t-shirts. I went back to the final in a retail buying class where we had to create our own brand and how I had a business plan made, and that’s how Shop Lovera started. I had no idea how I was going to get started, but it became my passion project. A few weeks later from that conversation during 2020, which I refer to as my self-evaluation and healing journey phase, I started interning for Amuse4Autism Foundation as the Social Media Market Director. The founder is a dear friend and mentor who I met ten years ago while we worked for David’s Bridal as a stylist. She asked me where I saw myself in the future, and I told her I am in my mid-twenties now, and by the time I am thirty, I wanted to start my brand; she looked at me and said Mel! I know you, why wait until you’re thirty do this now! She also was one of the first people to believe in me and allowed me to do my very first Pop-up in 2021, where I had made beaded bracelets and sold them, donating a portion of sales to the nonprofit. I sold out! I couldn’t believe it. My very first graphic t-shirt design was the Nonprofit’s original tee.
Today, Shop Lovera continues to donate to the nonprofit, and I volunteer my time to spread awareness in the community about Autism. It is a cause that is very near to my heart, along with Breast Cancer Awareness nonprofits which I also have someone near to me who went through their own journey battling and surviving it, and in their honor, I created a Breast Cancer Awareness line. Every October, we donate to the cause and attend pop-up events, 1k runs, etc. This year has been the best year yet for my brand! Currently, my brand is carried at Adore Boutique in Promenade Mall Temecula and Poppy Seed Market in Irvine, CA.
This line is created with lots of love to empower women all over the world, we can fall, and we will, but we also rise above stronger than before. Ever since I was a little girl, I have dreamed of being a clothing designer. After personal experiences, challenges, and personal growth, what better platform to inspire than through art, fashion, and advocating for change?
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would say the hardest part was getting started, I had the idea since I was a little girl, but I was lacking self-confidence, and I had many self-limiting beliefs. I would consider 2020 my hardest year, I was recently divorced, I had lost my full-time job due to the pandemic, and a few months from graduating when the schools shut down. I was also dealing with an eating disorder, loss of appetite, short-term memory problems, severe depression, and feeling like I had wasted what I thought were the best years of my life. For the first time in my life at 23, I was learning to cope with anxiety and how to regulate my nervous system and calm myself. Now, I know my early twenties were a life lesson, and I started a women’s empowerment blog on the shoploveraboutique.com website sharing my story and adding resources, materials, and tools for any young women wanting some motivation and encouragement to start over. I believe in life; sometimes we have to go through difficult roads in order to grow and expand. I wouldn’t be who I am today without my life experiences, and Shop Lovera would not be a women’s empowerment brand.
I learned the hardest part is starting and deciding to learn as you go, make mistakes, and keep going. I have been very fortunate with some of the opportunities that presented themselves to me since I started. I would also say knowing your Why is important, staying disciplined, and listening to positive criticism. Also, understanding you will never please everyone. Someone told me, “I love the idea of having graphic tees, but no one is going to want to buy a t-shirt with a quote.” “Your bracelets are nice, but I wouldn’t spend more than $6 on each.” I remember thinking this person is not who my target market customer is. My target customers are go-getters, fighters, women who are resilient and don’t give up and they will love to wear my pieces. I could have stopped there, but I kept going…I kept networking, sending emails, applying for popups, learning from other vendors and I continue to do competitive market research. In any field, don’t let the negative feedback paralyze you! Use any obstacle as a stepping stone to propel you forward!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My jewelry line has some aspect of spiritual healing jewelry. I like to use natural stones. While I was in the beginning of my self-healing journey I learned about the seven chakras, the stones for self-love, intuition, and guidance. I incorporate these stones in my designs, rose quartz for self-love, amethysts for intuition, tiger eye, and hematite for grounding. I learned several of my chakras were blocked and needed healing, so I created the seven-chakra design and started wearing it. When I would meet someone, and I was inspired by them I would gift it to them. It was a great conversation starter. I also have angel number designs. My personal angel number is 444, which I created this line originally just for the store in Temecula that carries my brand, but after seeing how great it did I started carrying those designs to popup events. I then collaborated with my mother who likes to paint art canvas using the pouring technique and for her it’s art therapy. I have tried painting myself, and although I enjoy it I am nowhere near as talented as she is! Some of her pieces are also at some of the store locations.
I am most proud of my graphic tees. I had the sun/moon eclipse with the quote “old soul, rum, rock n roll printed on it. I created this design back in 2019. It was my iPhone cover design for years. I think I manifested it to life, I was so excited when I got them printed I cried. What sets my brand apart is the uniqueness of the designs, the contributions we do to our local community, and bring empowerment and advocate for change through our designs. I like to refer to myself as an old soul modern-day hippie. Every piece is made from the heart, thoughtfully planned, reviewed, and produced and some you could argue and say are a reflection of different times of my life. I created art and turned every negative into a positive to inspire and help others feel and look their best in our designs.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I learned was to believe in myself, to overcome negative self-talk, and practice positive affirmations. To ask questions and to be open to learn and grow as we go. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. I started listening to motivational speakers, podcasts and reading self-growth books. Some of my favorite podcasts and book authors are Tony Robbins, Ed Mylett, and Mel Robbins. Also, practicing gratitude and creating a vision board. Anytime my anxiety wants to pay a visit, I remember my favorite quote, which I turned into a t-shirt “She Believed She Could So She Did”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shoploveraboutique.com
- Instagram: @Shop_lovera , @beautybylovera
- Youtube: Lovera’s Self Love Cup
- Other: Spotify Lovera’s Self Love Cup
Image Credits
Chloe Enos (Show Me your Mumu, Lead Photographer) (First image) Robert Colon (all other images) Kurtis Filmaker (last image)
