Ysabel Hilado: Fashion Is Her Name

Photo courtesy of Ysabel Hilado.

Hilado in Spanish translates to the act of spinning thread. 

A designer, influencer and author are just some of the titles 25-year-old Ysabel Hilado has taken on during her time in the fashion industry.

“It's kind of crazy that it's built into my name,” Hilado said.

Her love of fashion began when she was a child cutting up her Barbie doll clothes. 

“I even cut up my own clothes when I was a kid,” Hilado said, recalling her antics as a child. “From there, I started doing little sketches. I would show it to my parents and when you're a kid, it's kind of like ‘oh, they're just going through a phase.’”

Growing up, Hilado thought she was going to be a fashion journalist. She started a blog where she would write about fashion trends and DIY’s on social media. Her love for digital media and creating ensembles spurred her to look into fashion design.

At 17, Hilado received an email for an audition opportunity for teenage fashion designers. She decided to take a chance and audition. 

“Even though at the time I didn't consider myself a fashion designer, I figured, maybe I'll try it out, “ Hilado said. 

This is how Hilado landed a spot on Project Runway: Junior along with 11 other teenage designers. She explains that her time on the show was such a pivotal moment in her life.

“Since at the time, I was still trying to find out if I wanted to pursue fashion or not, it was a very eye-opening experience,” Hilado said. “I finally got to be around people who loved fashion like me, as well as people who also had way more experience than me and were the same age. It was really inspiring to be in the room with my peers and fashion industry professionals.”

This experience inspired her to pursue fashion in college. Before attending CSULB, one of Hilado’s cheer coaches was a model for Campus Couture, an annual student-run fashion show at the university. After her coach invited her to watch the show, her heart became set on Long Beach.

Six years later, Hilado’s own collection would be showcased at Campus Couture, where she won three awards for her collection, “Please, More Photos”.

“It was kind of a full circle moment for me, from just being an audience member still in high school to then finally graduating with a really fun collection,” Hilado commented. 

Pieces from Hilado’s collection, “Please, More Photos”. Photo by Vanessa Maelim.

Ever before she began college, Hilado had shared her fascination with fashion on social media. Since she began sharing her creations online, Hilado has amassed thousands of followers that have helped her receive many opportunities. After she graduated in spring of 2022, her initial plan was to focus on her sustainable brand, HILADO, and create fashion content on social media. But her mind changed when she was unexpectedly contacted by a book publisher.

“A publisher had been following me on TikTok for a while and saw that I had finally graduated,” Hilado said. “We hopped on a call and they were like, I would hate to give you more homework…”

Almost a year later, Hilado released “Fashion Upcycling: The DIY Guide to Sewing, Mending, and Sustainably Reinventing Your Wardrobe”, a 256 page book on the process of upcycling. The book includes step-by-step instructions on how to create jackets, pants, skirts and playful accessories, all with pictures of Hilado’s custom made designs.

The cover of Hilado’s book. Photo courtesy of Ysabel Hilado.

Since the release of her book, Hilado has grown as both a creator and an online persona. She even scored a digital appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show at the start of 2023, where she showed audiences how to make a Japanese knot bag. Even after being in the spotlight, Hilado remains focused on where she began: sharing her love for fashion so people can learn from her.

“My goal with posting my upcycling videos and writing my upcycling book is to show people that the clothes you already have can be transformed into something brand new,” she said. “For fashion designers, any scrap materials from past projects can be created into something beautiful. With just two-inch scraps you can patchwork them and do something new to it.”

Most recently, Hilado has been focused on creating more looks for HILADO, which will showcase more looks from recycled materials and scrap fabrics. She explained that upcycling is especially important right now due to the harmful effects the fashion industry exerts on the planet.

In the future, Hilado aspires for her pieces to be adorned on celebrities or seen in stores. She embraces patience with her creation process, and hopes other fashion students, too, take time to work on their craft.

“Hopefully, I get to inspire people to reassess their closets and see how they can make their pieces feel brand new again,” Hilado said. “Nowadays, with social media, you feel like you have to compare yourselves to other people… but you just have to trust where you are right now and continue to work on yourself in the moment.”