Hi Ilse, thanks for chatting! Jumping right in, were you always artistic as a child? Did your upbringing have any influence on your creative career?

I was born and raised in Mexico and come from a creative family. My father was a writer and my siblings are also involved in visual arts, so I guess you can say we all caught the art bug. Drawing has always been a part of my life, it's my very own form of therapy, helping me clear my mind and sprout new ideas. It never stops bringing me joy so being able to do it everyday as a job has made a dream a reality!

You’re an artist, an illustrator, a clothing designer, is there a medium you prefer working with? 

I like to draw with pens and markers (watercolors). But of course, I love all outlets of self expression!

What was the process like when finding your artistic style? Is it still evolving?

Yes, I believe every stage in our lives is different from the next, our interests and style are not the same as when we were teenagers compared to adulthood. In my personal experience my style has changed and will continue to do so. As I evolve, my drawing and designs evolve with me.

Within your drawings you developed a world with characters, how does the Valfré illustrations evolve on and off paper?

I currently only have one reoccurring character, Bruno the cat. It's inspired by my real cat Bruno, but other than that the girls I draw don't have an identity, they are all Valfre dolls. Which makes them easier to identify with, anyone can be a Valfre doll!

How did the Valfré brand take form?

I started Valfré with $200 bucks, so I knew I had to do something else to bring attention to the brand. I decided to create a story and culture around the characters and each line, which grew into a community of women who enjoyed art and fashion with the same passion that I do. Social media has been key to Valfre’s growth and has helped me share my artwork with the world, in an organic way, while also being able to communicate with our followers! I always wanted to create artwork and photos that made people want to share it with their friends and family. I’m also so flattered of #valfretattoo.

Please describe the Valfré customer, what do you hope to provide for your shoppers? How do you want women to feel while wearing your designs?

Our customer is definitely the girl that stands out in a crowd. She is a little edgy, smart and not afraid to express herself. We want women to feel empowered wearing our designs, we are all about female empowerment!

Any artists you admire?

Yes, my list is long but my all time favorites are Edward Gorey, Yoshimoto Nara, P. D. Eastman and Miss Van.  

Can you think of a piece of advice you would’ve wanted to hear years ago? Something you've learned starting your own business?

Something I have learned over the years is in moments of stress, the key to success is to stay persistent, focused, and finding solutions.

Where can we find out more about you and the Valfré world? Online? Social Media? Tangible shopping? 

Absolutely! You can check out our Instagram for fun updates @Valfre and we have a blog "Valfreland" on our site, with posts on inspo girl crushes and everything in between!

Much love and thanks to Ilse, all photos belong to Valfré!