California Apparel News

Urbana Chappa is a mom living in one of Los Angeles’ most suburban communities, Sherman Oaks, where TV’s fictional Brady Bunch made their home. But the emerging designer’s take on fashion is urbane and cosmopolitan. Chappa’s Maison de Urbana collection made its Los Angeles debut on March 15 at LAs Fashion Weekend shows at Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood.

Perhaps one could call Maison de Urbana looks “multi-culti.” They blend cultural influences.

Maison de Urbana’s red silk top, “The Tina,” bears an Egyptian pattern and a plunging V-neck. In Chappa’s lookbook, the top is paired with skinny tuxedo pants featuring a black-and-white trim. Many of Maison de Urbana’s designs feature lace and beading, which is inspired by the Spanish heritage of Chappa’s mother. The collection also offers veils, inspired by her father’s Persian heritage. For glamour, there’s “The Dara” gown, which features spaghetti straps and an 8-foot chiffon train. At the LA Fashion Weekend show, Maison de Urbana debuted some men’s and children’s looks, as well.

Wholesale price points range from $225 to $7,000 for Maison de Urbana. Eventually, Chappa plans to make a diffusion line and design more red-carpet gowns. Chappa started her fashion career as a stylist, working with notables such as actress Natasha Henstridge and Grammy award–winning songwriter Diane Warren. Chappa had planned to pursue a degree at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, but after a semester in 2012, she took the $180,000 she had saved for education and invested it in starting Maison de Urbana.

She hopes her designs will raise as much discussion and interest as her idiosyncratic coif. One half of her head is shaved. Her hair is worn long on the other half of her head. “When people stop staring, then something is wrong,” she advised. For more information, visit www.urbanachappa.com.