Maria Antonia Palacios
Career Highlights
On the road towards success as a fashion designer, Maria Antonia Palacios (MAP) has had the opportunity to travel to and participate in various prestigious events. All her time and efforts spent in these activities have been with one purpose in mind, to extend her portfolio and gain experience in order to offer exquisite products and services to her clientele.
In 2005, Maria Palacios had the opportunity traveled to Paris and London. This opportunity was a turning point for MAP. She was able to meet designers and their ateliers, like: Alain Lalou, bridal and evening wear designer, Sandra Rhodes a designer of the late Princess Diana. She personally met Zandra Rhodes head designer Ben, and Prudence, a hat designer for Vivienne Westwood, YSL, and Gucci. She visited Marni, an up market store where the managing director explained the concept of the store and showed the latest collection. MAP also visited Liberty, a luxurious, long-established department store where she met MR. Brian Baker and P.A. Gill Stone, buying director. Other highlights during the trip were, visiting luxurious department stores like Harrods, & Galeries Lafayette where she attended on one of their fashion show, and special tours for designer shops like Vivian Westwood & Karl Lagerfeld. MAP was able to view a private collection of photographs of the famous fashion photographer Andre Ostier, located in YSL former couture house. Another important highlight was visiting the exhibition of Cristobal Balenciaga’s work presented by the Mona Bismarck Foundation; and most importantly “Pierre Berge and Yves Saint Laurent foundation.” MAP had the once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the private archives of monsieur Saint Laurent spanning 40 years of his life. “It was an honor to see YSL’s work and the well known Mondrian, Matisse-inspired dress. I will never forget the way it felt beneath my fingers,” Maria says.
In 2007, MAP returned to the Valley and prepared a small fashion show. The presentation of her first collection was a great turning point in her career. Even though it was a small show encompassing only seventy guests, among them were the co-producer Salvador Llamas and the reporter Raul Gomez (Telemundo 40). A small step turned out to be a great success by establishing a mentor relationship with Salvador Llamas. MAP was offered many opportunities during college, such as the opportunity to be a Fashion Design teacher in Japan and an invitation to participate in Boston Fashion Week.
In April 2009, MAP participated in the annual competition of Fashion Group International held in Dallas, TX. During this competition, one of her garments was selected to appear in the show over four hundred garments that were received. “It was amazing to see my design walking down the runway…I couldn’t believe it,” Maria Palacios says. While in her last semester of school, she also participated in the senior fashion show, presenting her collection. Just before MAP graduated from the university, she had the opportunity to move to New York and work as intern with Adam Lippes, a prestigious designer; however, MAP decided to stay in Dallas. MAP worked as intern for Abi Ferrin, a well known designer based in Dallas with high-end clientele like Molly Sims and Rosalyn Sanchez, MAP was able to learn from the smallest details: preparing sample swatch booklets for buyers, receiving fabric orders for production, manufacturing techniques, and organizing a collection for fashion week, New York. “It was an amazing experience getting to know the hands that were behind Pat Smith dress (wife of Emmitt Smith, football player of Dallas Cowboys).
Shortly after working as intern for Abi Ferrin, MAP had another opportunity with Terri Ives Couture. While working for Terri, she had the opportunity to assist in the design and production of a new collection. In 2009, MAP was the producer of Terri Ives Fashion shows for the members of the Dallas Country Club, Dallas Petroleum Club, and Dallas Symphony. Some of these shows were held at the most prestigious locations, such as The Chase Tower and The Ritz Carrollton. She gained experience with high-end clientele, such as a former First Lady of the United States, Governor’s wives, Miss Texas participants, and the aristocracy of Dallas. She also established communication with fashion editors of Dallas magazines, and worked closely with Miss Texas’09 and Carol Fuller- manager for Miss Texas. Terri Ives was mentor and a core foundation to MAP’s career. In December 2009, she was able to showcase her first underwear/swimwear line in Dallas and total of 125 guests attended.
In 2010, MAP travelled to Puebla, Mexico and visited many production factories as well as fabric retailers. During this trip, MAP was offered a job with “Instituto de Moda” as Fashion Design teacher. MAP declined this offer, along with several others, because of her strong belief in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) and her desire to embark on her career in McAllen, TX. “Someone once told me, if you stay in the valley you will never make it; however, I believe in the RGV and I know it has so much potential,” Maria mentioned.
In March of 2010, MAP returned to the Valley and has started to build her career. A few months after her move, she had the opportunity to work with Xclusiv (airbrush makeup) and Fundacion Ale (a non-profit organization, Reynosa, Tamps.) with a fashion show “Tendenzza”. The event was conducted by Yolanda de la Cruz (Telemundo 40), and MAP met several important figures of Televisa-Mexican Television Network, such as Dalilah Polanco, Gloria Serna, Mike Baggio, Alejandro de la Madrid, Eduardo Rodrigues, Armando Gonzalez “El Muneco”, Bobby Larios, and Daniela Rodrigues (Televisa Noreste). MAP opened the event by showcasing six of her designs. Not only did she meet important figures in the Hispanic network, she was interview by Daniela Rodrigues. An important highlight of the event was MAP designs were shown in television, Telemuundo 40. The event turned out to be a great success in Maria’s career.
In 2011, MAP showed cased seven of her formal gowns in the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD 2nd annual fashion show, “Fashion in the City.” The fashion show was sponsored by PSJA’s 21st Century Program, MAP, Nava’s Welding Shop, Angels of Love, and UCAS. The proceeds from the fashion show were donated to Angels of Love in order to establish their first shelter in Rio Grande Valley. After seeing her work as a fashion producer and fashion designer, Angels of Love asked MAP to be a member of the organization. She joined the non-profit organization dedicated to putting an end to child abuse, and was invited to be at the Angels of Love Blue Ribbon Fashion Show & Gala- Wish Upon a Butterfly. Some of the sponsors of the fashion show were Sylvia’s & Uniques, Missy’s Modeling Studio, Party Doctors, Victor Caloca Photography, Affordable Printing, and UCAS.
The unique style of designer Maria A. Palacios has made her a successful woman. MAP has six years experience in design and has emerged as one of the best designers in McAllen, TX. “I’m continually working to encourage the Rio Grande Valley to embrace a fashion movement.” – Maria Palacios