A Conversation and Workshop With Descalza Creator and Founder Lisbeth Arias

Born in El Salvador and raised in North Carolina, Lisbeth Carolina Arias has woven her story as an immigrant of the United States into a clothing brand that is cherished by those who are proud of their heritage. As a young girl growing up in rural North Carolina, fashion design served as the first outlet that didn’t have a language barrier. It was one she and her mother, a highly-skilled seamstress, could finally cross together. Arias studied fashion and textile design at NC State, interned at community-focused brands in Guatemala, Brazil, Mexico, and Italy and worked for several fashion studios, including Vera Wang in New York City, all before starting Descalza. Her love for people, especially those who humbled her, have inspired her to create a fashion label where hidden talent wouldn’t go unnoticed and her community would be heard.