There are a lot of reasons to pay attention to Cha-Cha ChiC. The first is that it gives all of us the chance to reflect on how a passion for style can carry throughout our lives. The label’s founder, Cathy Garcia, went from dressing her friends up at sleepovers, through designing the interiors of houses, all the way to shaping the fashion sense of her granddaughters. It also reminds us how fashion relies on open collaboration and communication, with new ideas always bringing the potential to flip things around. After all, Cathy originally started her professional stint because one of her granddaughters, who had always thought her clothes added a much-needed kick to life, suggested it.
Other reasons to pay attention to Cha-Cha ChiC are more pragmatic. The model which Cathy used to grow – originally starting with just signature t-shirts to keep production costs down and interest high – is a great example for early-stage designers and dreamers to follow with their own labels. As her recent additions of fur scarves and a curated jewelry line prove, there will always be room to expand later. And, best of all, that expansion doesn’t have to come at the expense of your identity. Cathy’s ability to seamlessly interweave traditional Mexican aesthetics, Catholic imagery, 80s bubblegum flair, and the stony sheen of the Sonora desert really give all of her clothes a vibrant, instantly recognizable center.
Of course, the clothes are the best reason to talk about Cha-Cha ChiC. I mean, you know Cathy is doing a lot of things right when – just six years after her launch – she has already organized her debut brunch in NYC and caught Ringo Starr rocking her threads (“Don’t Stop The Music Tee”) at a Vegas concert. I think one of the reasons for that is the haute-to-prêt flexibility which a lot of her clothes bring to the table.
For example, La Fiesta – a gorgeous collage of Spanish newspaper print, form-flattering figure, and a red-and-white rhinestone señorita – can be draped with bikini bottoms and a white wicker hat to make the ultimate beach wrap. But, if you pair it with black leather pants, stilettos, and a high ponytail you will be ready for a classy, sensual night to remember. Likewise, the floral print jeweled choker can be lightly tied off for an airy, breezy, brunch day party feel or tucked into the back of a shoulder-less dress to give some colorful flair to an elegant outfit.
The cross-generational, cross-cultural appeal of Cha-Cha ChiC is, I feel, best reflected in the places that partner with her. Besides her website, www.cha-chachic.com, Cathy makes all of her lines available in her office/showroom, which gives a personal, artisan feel to the label. At the same time, her presence in the Arizona Latina Arts & Cultural Center elevates some of her work to the kind of art which really resonates with its audience, and which serious taste-makers and aesthetes pay attention to. And plenty of those people know a thing or two about adding much a much-loved kick to life, believe me. At our brunch alone we had zesty guacamole and hummus by Sabra, tangy chocolate-coconut yogurt by Noosa, delicious gluten-free cookies from Goodie Girl Cookies, energizing coffee from illy, award-winning vodka from Zirkova, and dangerously tasty mixed rum by Dey Dreemz.
And, that’s kind of the point. Having fun and not taking life too seriously is what Cha-Cha ChiC is all about. Cathy’s first model and muse was her dog, Cha-Cha, the label’s namesake, and – however many more styles she adds and however many more fashion parties she coordinates and however many A-listers or art institutions pick her up – she’s always going to keep that levity and that love.
