Our Heritage Story : The Women Behind Zophia

Our seams share

A heritage Story

ZOPHIA started with my Peruvian grandmother, Sofia Dulanto. I remember sitting next to her in my bedroom while on summer break, excitedly chatting to her about my upcoming birthday party. I was turning 10, so that meant a proper dance party. 

“Draw the dress you’d like for me to make you” she said in Spanish, and handed over her pencil. 

I envisioned a royal blue mini dress, sleeveless, with a heart-shaped neckline. A Barbie taffeta inspired concoction of course (I was still a big fan of Barbie dolls at that age). I began to sketch, doing my best to capture the image I saw in my head onto paper. Two days later, my grandmother handed me the dress, just as I had drawn it.

My grandmother

Sewing is a big part of my family heritage. My grandmother was the local seamstress in her neighborhood in Lima, Peru. She single-handily juggled clients, family life, cooking and looking after twelve children. She operated right out of her living room. Her eldest daughter, my mother, was tasked with hemming and pressing garments. The rest of the siblings helped out in other ways too. It was a family affair, something that was passed down to me as well. Most of my childhood memories involve my grandmother sitting at the sewing machine, working on her latest project, or fixing someone’s pair of pants. I can still remember going to sleep with the soothing hum of my grandmother’s foot on the sewing machine pedal. It was the sound of our home.

Left to Right: Sofia Dulanto, my sister Jennifer and I with my grandmother, my mother Laura with my grandfather Agusto.

The making of clothing has played a big part in my upbringing. When we had important family gatherings or birthdays, a big fuss would be made about what to sew. My mom, aunts and grandmother would spend days going through left over fabrics, sorting out what dresses would be made. My love of custom design comes from spending so much time with my grandmother. She introduced me to creativity, the excitement of creating something that didn’t exist before one made it come to life. Fashion was always something very freeing for me. I could easily get lost in my mother’s closet, put together outfits, dress-up with nowhere to go but my living room. I launched ZOPHIA in 2010, at the age of 24, having no idea I’d actually end up making it a real business. The name ZOPHIA is twist on my grandmother’s name, Sophia. I felt it was the most appropriate way to honor the heritage that she passed down. ZOPHIA is an extension my family heritage. My mother and sister have also taken on several roles in the business. With her extensive knowledge in sewing techniques, my mother has been a part of production and even made a few samples. My sister has also played a role in helping out when she can and has even modeled for several events.

The Beauty Behind Custom Clothing

Some would say sewing is a dying art, perhaps the most uneconomic use of time. Today, we are busy, ordering a $20 skirt from Amazon is so much easier. There’s no time for shopping, no time for meeting new friends, and absolutely no time to even think about getting something made. It’s quite a luxury to get something custom made for your body type, it’s very personal and really a form of art. An artistic skill that shouldn’t be lost. My grandmother had that skill, not only on a practical level but on a personal level. She took her time to make you feel beautiful. I felt like she had the ability to create something incredible out of nothing. I considered that magical. I still do. I cherish those moments more than ever. They’ve taken on a new meaning especially since she’s passed.

ZOPHIA is a personal experience where we can design and work together to make something unique and beautiful, that lasts.