BILFPOD - Threading Her Legacy: Layana Aguilar on The Bold Stitch of Culture, Style & Purpose

Episode Date: May 30, 2025

In this episode of BILFPod, we sit down with the dynamic Layana Aguilar—renowned fashion designer, Project Runway alumna, and visionary educator. Layana shares her inspiring journey from her Brazilian roots to the global fashion stage, highlighting how her heritage influences her designs and her commitment to empowering the next generation through her Fashion Squad School.We delve into her innovative social media series, "Sew & Flow" and "Revamp My Jacket," exploring how she's blending sustainability with creativity to captivate audiences worldwide. Layana opens up about the challenges and triumphs of her career, offering insights into her design philosophy and the importance of cultural representation in fashion.Tune in to hear Layana's compelling story and gain insights into the fusion of culture, education, and innovation in fashion.🎧 Tap in to hear about:The impact of cultural identity on fashion and designLife behind the seams of Project RunwayBuilding a legacy with fashion that educates and empowersBalancing motherhood, media, and the missionThis one’s for those threading culture into every move they make—because legacy isn’t just stitched, it’s slayed.📲 Stay Connected:Follow Layana: @layana_aguilarWebsite: www.layanaaguilar.comFashion Squad School: www.fashionsquadschool.comFollow Mara: @maradorneFollow BILFPod: @BILFpod Website: www.maradorne.com#BILFPodcast #LayanaAguilar #FashionVisionary #DesignWithPurpose #LatinaBossMoves #RunwayToReality #EmpowerThroughStyle #CreativeQueen #CoutureConversations #MaraDorne #BossIdLikeToFollow #ProjectRunway #FashionSquadSchool 

I just feel like I'm the conductor of my own train. You know, I can go anywhere. I can just, if I want to go here, oh, no, I see something else. I just love that I can be, yes, the magician, the writer of my own life, my own story. I love that. Welcome back to the Biltz Pod, where authenticity trumps authority. Now, today's guest is a professional fashion designer. She has been on Project Runway.

Her name is Leana Aguilar. I don't know if I got the accent, right girl, but you are a bilth. Do you know what a built is? Yes, I do. It's a boss I like to follow. Oh, I love it. I love how you say it. It's like so like, ooh, la la.

I love it. Yes, sir, I'm like feeling myself now. Now your outfit today, we have to talk about this because your outfit, you made this. You made this gorgeous, gorgeous. This is beautiful. I was so excited to be here, so I wanted to make something very special,

and I just had the vision. And one hour later, this outfit was born. One hour later? Yes. Like, you took your sewing kit and, like, not like Bibri-Bobbri-boo. Like, you sewed it. This is, it is gorgeous.

Stand up, let me see what you. Do like a little squirrel because you are beautiful, too. Oh, wow. Look, fashion designer, model, gorgeousness. Oh, my God, Brazilian queen over here. You are a queen. Oh, girl. Well, welcome to the bill. I'm so excited to have you. Me too. And part of, you know, part of my brand is fashion. I feel, maybe my friend Jamie thinks otherwise. No, but I feel like I'm very fashion forward. So I love fashion. So it just makes sense that you would be here. So let's talk about a little bit about your background. You went to FIT, right, right here in New York. So that's exciting. And then when did you have like, did you always like clothes or was this like growing up? Like how did this happen that you were like, I love clothes and I want to be a fashion designer?

Yes, I always, I feel like I was always a fashion designer, even without realizing I grew up in a very small town in Brazil where no one was a fashion designer. So I had no reference. I actually didn't even know that I could have a career in fashion, but I was always cutting my clothes, my mom's clothes. I made her cry so many times. Oh my gosh. Because I think where we lived, it was very coming to have like a seamstress to make your clothes. So my mom would have a lot of custom-made beautiful dresses. and I would cut them. You cut the dresses?

Yes, so I made her cry so many times. And then my aunt who lived in Sao Paulo, capital, she said, oh, you should be a fashion designer. So it was the first time I heard around when I was 15. So when I moved to the U.S., I was 17 years old, and then I came to New York for the first time, and I saw how everyone was just free to be who they wanted to wear whatever they wanted. Because back in my hometown, if you were different,

you would be made fun of. and laugh at. So a lot of times I would take my recital outfits and wear them to events and change them and my friends would laugh at me. Oh, wow, but obviously you didn't care, so. Well, when you're young, you don't care a little bit, but I still, I didn't understand us, but I look so amazing why is everyone laughing. I love that, though. So I felt like a little bit of a fish out of water. I had a beautiful childhood, but I knew I didn't belong there. Yeah. When I stepped my foot in New York City, You know, like when you feel like the lights are on you and you're like, aha, this is where I belong.

So you came here by yourself? No, with my family. We moved to Connecticut, which I also did not like. But I would come often to New York because my step-sister was going to college here. So I would come and visit her and I definitely found my- Like you knew you were meant to be here. Like sex in the city, like here you are and you were just like feeling it. And then you were like, so you are meant to be here.

I was meant to be here. And then going to FIT was. Just such a dream come true because it was the first time in my life that I was exposed to fashion. Wow. And peers and people like me, and I remember it was hard because fashion design school, you have to really make your own clothes design. So we would stay in the design room until 2 a.m. sometimes and still go party. And we lived for Fashion Week trying to get into shows.

That was our mission. Like which show we're going to try to crush. And after parties, it was really. the best time my college years. So you go through FIT, okay, you go there and you decide that you're going to specialize in what? I specialize in evening wear, so special occasion. I always loved glamour and beautiful gowns, and when I finished FIT when I graduated, I got, it was my first dream come true. I got an intern at Oscar de Laurentia. So that was amazing. Being there, I realized that I was more of a ready-to-wear, cool girl, but I learned so much being there.

And I was very lucky because sewing was always my superpower. A lot of fashion designers, they don't really sew their clothes, so the sewing skills are not very, you know. So you're like roll your sleeves up. Like it's always, right, so I feel like when you're a business owner, you're trying to get into business, you have to know your business from inside and out. So not only, like, it's one thing to be the visionary, but it's the other thing. to be the executioner. So not only are you a visionary, where you, I'm assuming,

because I've seen you sketch it out, right, on a sketch pad, but now you can actually execute, you can sew things together. If it doesn't look good, you can take the stitch out. I mean, that's a lot, because I'm sure they hand it over, right?

Most fashion designers hand it over. They hand it over. They have a sample maker or they produce overseas. I'm literally making everything, and I think because I always kept that skill there, and my grandma taught me how to sew, I did so much with it.

Now I have basically, I'm building an empire because I know how to sew. Do you feel like that was like the ace that you kept up your sleeve? Yes, yes. I say to my students, we're going to talk about it. Yeah, I was going to. It's my superpower. Sewing is my superpower. That is incredible.

So then you were also on Project Runway. Like before we talk about the school, so we're going to go one, we're going to inch into it. Okay, so let's switch gears. I know that you're a mom also. Okay. So now you did, you went to FIT. You're a mom. and you're also on Project Runway.

So let's talk about that. Yes. So Project Runway, I used to watch with my friends, and I remember still in college, I said one day I'm going to be on Project Runway, and I remember I did a PowerPoint presentation with Tim Gunn saying, make it work. And I actually made it come true.

So a friend of mine, I was working so hard at Oscar DeLarenta, so I kind of forgot about it. And he said, you need to go to Project Runway. Remember, we used to talk about it? So we found the casting call. We had only three weeks to complete everything. And I sent my profile. I didn't have my clothing line.

I just graduated. So all of my friends, I was very lucky because they were in the industry. So one modeled for me, one took pictures. We made a portfolio. I've always sewn, so I had pieces. We just made this line happen. Liana Gilar is the name. And I applied for the show.

and they loved me. The process was three months, and I applied for season nine. I didn't get in. I remember, like, my world collapsed because I just knew I was going to get in. Every interview I did, they were like, you were great, you were perfect for the show.

And I made top 20, and they needed 16 people. I didn't get the call back. And then I was so devastated, but, you know, I went back to work to live my life. I said, you know what, now I'm going to take my line serious because I really liked it. So I worked on, I freelance,

on the side and then when they were casting again they called me and they said you should apply again so they cast the season 10 and 11 at the same time and I was chosen for season 11 that's I think the biggest takeaway is don't give up on that one don't give up absolutely and they told me that a lot of the winners they tried six times people tried 10 times before getting on the show I love that what was the what was the biggest takeaway that you took from that experience because that's quite an experience yes so was the biggest thing wow it was I don't give up. I know besides don't give up it was really how it helped me have the life I have today because so much pressure being a mom a wife an entrepreneur so I can do things really fast

and under pressure very well. It's funny because if I have like a huge deadline, I work so much better when I'm under pressure. It's always like that. I think it's a woman thing too because people don't realize that we have this superpower that you know one under pressure we can just perform at this like super strength right all of a sudden you come out and it just works because you know you have to get the kids to where they need to go be a wife and now you have to get your deadlines done it's just superpower girl that's what it is so what is okay now you know you have this this under your belt which is incredible okay we'll talk about the school in a second but what's the most rewarding part about being your own boss oh the most rewarding part it's I just feel like I'm the conductor of

own train. You know, I can go anywhere. I can just, if I want to go here, oh, no, I see something else. I just love that I can be, yes, the magician, the writer of my own life, my own story. I love that. I love that too. I, you know, that's the best part about being an entrepreneur is that you really can be your own conductor. I think that was very well put. That's a great line, is that you can be your own conductor when you are your own boss. But how do you, you know, it's not easy. it's not like you wake up every day, especially being a mom and a wife, we're just, we don't wake up and we're like, oh, every day is a great day. It's just, unfortunately, that's just not what it is. I wish it was. But is there something like, is there a certain, like, specific mind frame you have to be in?

Are there affirmations you say to yourself? Like, how do you get yourself ready to be the big boss that you are? I love that question. So I am naturally a very positive person. So I always see, I feel like I, I, I, I always, know the future liana so I'm always going towards that girl the liana that I want to be and I also learned that I have to let go of some things I'm not going to win at everything every day so my my laundry is piled up but at least you know I'm doing something else I'm spending time with my kids I am making my business better so I learned that I cannot do it all and that's okay that's that's that is such a good nugget because sometimes even I feel like you know, I always say this, like I feel like not everything at the same time is going.

It's great when it happens, but for the most part, it's not happening like that. You know, I'm dropping the ball somewhere. Like I have a teacher calling that a kid's not listening, you know, I have, you know, business problems over here, you know, that I'm not, you know, going out to dinner with my husband over here. You know, life doesn't always run on all cylinders, but I think you're right. Like some, you just got to take it as it comes and realize that you're not going to ball out on every aspect of your life.

and that is one thing I think women in general, we put so much pressure on ourselves that we feel like we have to excel in every part. But sometimes it's okay, decompress, take a deep breath and say, you know what, today, my laundry is going to be up here, but you know what, I'm going to win in life by being intentional with my kids.

Yes. And that's okay. That is okay. Because not every day is going to be a great day. Exactly. But parts of it can be, right? True. You don't get to be sad every day,

but you can be sad some parts of the day. Yes. That makes sense. And learning to recognize. Yes, those little small moments that are truly so valuable. So let's talk a little bit about your school because that's exciting. So now let me just recap for everyone that's listening. So Project Runway.

Woo-whoop. Oh, yes. After Project Runway, there was a major milestone. So Tim Gunn, the mentor, everybody loved Tim. Yes, he's amazing. He truly was very invested on the show. And he would really pay attention if he saw someone that he had, that had a lot of potential, no matter if you won or not.

And he really loved what I did. And after the show, he was working with Disney. He was the voice for a cartoon. And they were looking for a designer to create the dress for the first Latina princess, Elena of Avalour. And he told them Lianna Aguilar, and they chose my design. And yes, I created the dress for her. And it's based on my grandmother's embroideries.

created like a print on the dress. And when I was nine, I used to love watching my grandma embroider and she would tell me stories about her childhood. So I wanted to honor her. So one of my questions, which I think you just answered, one of my questions is you could dress any historical or fictional character, who would it be and why? But I feel like unless there's something else,

but that, I mean, that just says it all, unless you have another character, do you? Well, that's, it's so funny, no one has ever asked me there, but now that I think about it, yes, it would be Atlanta because so many little girls, needed Elena because I remember growing up I would love Jasmine because she looked like me the most and now the Latino the Latinx community they have someone to be like oh okay now there's a princess that looks like me I you know what I love that because my daughter who we we are we're white people

but my daughter looks Hispanic so you know Barbie was like very far fetch for her because she couldn't look at a Barbie ever and be like there was just no identification at all and she's tan beautiful like so then when they you're you're absolutely right so every character that's come out from Disney that is ethnic like my daughter they she needed that so that's where I'm going like she needed that so that so that's so cute I love that for you I love that you just have all these amazing things going on in your life I can't even and you look so young to do it I'm just jealous girl that's it um so I know you're big into social media which probably keeps you super hip too yes your kids probably think you're really cool um my son doesn't he's embarrassed my daughter she's

She gets it. She's a fashionista too, but my son is like, sometimes I would finish filming for social media. So I'm always like looking super fashion for it. And I would have to run to pick up. He would want to die. My kids too. I have rules now. Why are you wearing this? And then I go to my daughter's car.

She's like, Mom, you look fabulous. Yeah, no. My kids are so embarrassed. They just think I'm so extra. I literally, I see them cringing like when I walk up. Like what's going to come out of her mouth? Like, it's not that. I don't know. And I think I'm cool, but whatever. I don't care what they think.

But I have to say my daughter, she's starting, she's starting to become embarrassed. It's just going to get worse. But then it gets better because now I feel like my daughter thinks like I'm on the borderline, like I'm tear-tuttering, like cool, not so cool. So then when they get older, then it's like you're kind of cool. Yes. You do use social media like the younger audience. So how do you use that in favor of connecting to your audience? It's so funny because in the beginning I had such a love-hate relationship with social. media and I only started because of Project Runway so I feel like I'm basically forced to do it and I never could be consistent I didn't find like oh my god this is so annoying I also didn't want

so much of exposing my life my personal I'm very protective of my marriage and my kids but then I that's when it clicked that I said okay people love to see my transformations and I always say so is my superpower so that's how I started connecting with my audience and I have such an amazing community and I'm inspiring them that way not just like oh look at my coffee and stuff not that this is wrong but for me didn't work but I found that my gift of literally transforming this in one hour it's what's inspiring them and they always say oh my God I'm waiting for you to say good morning world little things like that that we don't think about

are truly so important for your community it is just to be relatable in general I think that's so important is being relatable and your audience and, you know, talking. I'm sure a lot of moms look at you too. And you are an inspiration, just that you are able to juggle, you know, your business, and you have your school, and then you have, you know, the kids over here, and here you are, and you're showing not only the after product, but you're showing what it takes in order to get there.

And while you want to protect, you know, your home, your house, and your life, but I think, you know, if you're trying to inspire, which I feel like you are trying to, then it's okay to let people see what it takes in order to get there. And it's not always easy, but you know, you show them. So true. I remember someone said, oh, I think that maybe if you're showing too much, you sewing on your floor sometimes is going to cheapen your brand. And I was like, I don't think so.

I don't think it's even healthy for me to only show myself like this because I'm not like this 24-7. Yeah. I think people, when people realize, like, even I, you know, I have a boss outside of like this. I have like what I call like a real job. I go to, not that this is not a real job, but I have another job. And, you know, I'll walk around and I'll pick up trash. And people are like, why are you picking up trash? Well, if people don't see what it takes in order to get there or you're not better than the next person, then what

are you doing? You know, just, you don't just appear one day as like the effect. It takes a lot of work to get there. And you have to take all the steps, even if it is sewing your own clothes. But what they don't know is that that is your superpower. You know, and that's like my superpower is my connection to people. I don't care at what degree they come into the business. I'm going to connect with them. Doesn't matter if it's a new agent, a leader doesn't matter. And people like to see that and feel like you are relatable. All right? It's a people, everything's people oriented. And that's how you grow your community when they feel like there's something compelling or some kind of attraction or some kind of similarity. That's so true. And the world needs people like us. Authentic people and people that

smile, do you ever stop smiling? Are you ever not happy? Well, well, there are things that make me very angry, but most of the time I always try to make, like, okay, I'll give myself a day to cry and be angry about this, and then that's it. Let's go. You can't wallow, no wallowing. So you've had all this success, right? And I feel like success for people is defined in so many different ways. Maybe it could be by money. It could be by fame. It could be by just everybody has a different perception of what success is. What would you describe your version of success as? My version of success is happiness and being extraordinary. I love that.

I remember growing up, I always felt, like I mentioned before, like made fun up for something that I thought it was so special. And I always said, I don't want to be like everybody else. I want to be extraordinary. So the day that I feel like I just fitting in, I'm like, no, I need to do something else. And I'm relentlessly chasing happiness. I love that.

Well, well, well, well, well. said because it's true everybody wants to be like everybody else the same thing like growing up I always kind of knew that I was different in the sense that you know I knew I wanted something more like I knew I wanted to see my name really big in lights and I knew that like you know my purpose was greater than who I am and there is nothing wrong with that and nowadays people are so because of social media and because of the stigma of you know trying to fit in whatever that is I love what you said being you know being extraordinary or extraordinary or different that's not bad no There's nothing. It just makes you different and different is good.

Yes, so true. And I love that you said because sometimes people want to make you feel better about wanting to be seen and famous. And I'm like, why? I shouldn't be because the fame that I'm chasing is actually helping other people. You know, the bigger I am, the more lives I can touch. So I think as long as your purpose is, your intention and your purpose is greater than who you are. And like for me, it's empowering women. Just like, you know, just like you and, you know, just like you inspiring young women, just women in general, and just giving women a voice to feel like they can be a mom. They can be a business woman. You can be a business mom, you know, wife, entrepreneur who looks good, who takes care of themselves, and don't be apologetic about it. You can be unapologetically

you, and it is okay. Yes. And I love that. Another thing that I always love to share, motherhood can be right a very slippery slope and I remember that in the beginning I would feel sometimes ashamed to say that I have to make sure that I'm happy first because for a lot of people oh no my kids they come for like no girl I come first if my cup is not full how I'm going to give yes I have to I am my biggest love affair it's with my too oh I love me too girl yes I love same that's why we're so strong but that but you have to if you do not feel about good about you and I say this like all the time and I'm sure you can resonate you know you had in order and everyone laughs in me you got to look good because when you look good you feel good when you feel good you do good

and there is nothing wrong with taking care of you first because if I don't feel it ain't nobody around me feeling it because they say when the head ain't right the whole body's messed up and you're the head right you're the head of your family we are we're the matriacs of the family And if we're not feeling it, then how could we give it to our kids? Can. So it is okay. Bingo, you hit the nail on the head. It is okay to take care of you first as a parent before you are able to cater to your children.

It just doesn't work. You're running on empty, right? You have no fuel. We need fuel, girl. We need fuel. We know that. It is not easy in this world. But so you, so let's talk.

Now you've dressed celebrities. So you've been out there, huh? Yeah, I've dressed celebrities. when I mainly had my clothing line. And I remember the first celebrity that I dressed was Dasher Polanco. She was on oranges and new black. And it was such an amazing experience

because I got to really know her. It wasn't just, you know, like, oh, the stylist came and picked it up. I got to know her. And I remember I used to run my showroom out of my house. I had this apartment that I could kind of make it look like it was in my home. So people would go there and think,

I think it was a showroom and she came in. And I remember one day she was so tired and she fell asleep. And I was also looking at her as such an inspiration because she's also a mom and an amazing actress. Like look at her, you know, like a real person, just like taking a nap on my couch. I love her. So yes, it would collaborate on designs.

I feel like she gave me such a great opportunity and I hold her very close to my heart. I feel like your clothes define your personality too. Like you know, like you know a lot of that. So is that how you design clothes first, based on their person like how do you get a feel yes I get a feel because I believe that clothes are your armor it's how you're going to you put your armor to go conquer the world and everybody's battles are different so they have to

you know fit where you going after so yes I really try to capture their essence and I don't dress celebrities as much anymore because of my business the fashion school that really took over But now I'm starting to relaunch my brand, and I'm going to do New York Fashion Week. I'm going to relaunch it during New York Fashion Week in September. And I'm also going to select some of my students to showcase with me. Oh, I love that. So now you have a school that you open.

And let's talk about what your school. Let's talk a little bit about that, because that seems to be like something you're very, very passionate about. Yes, my baby. It was something that it was so unexpected. I always loved children, and I knew I wanted to work with children. I used to tell my husband, oh, you know, sometimes fashion is so hard. When I get tired of it, when I'm like 60 or 70, I'm going to volunteer in schools and work with children. And I wanted to have four kids.

And then I had a boy and a girl, I'm like, I think I'm good. And also I live in New York City. It's not easy to raise kids here. And once my son started going to kindergarten, prior to that, I didn't really have a lot of mom friends because most of my friends were in fashion. And they were either gay men or men. women who were just chasing their career. They're like, I don't really want a family. So I was the only one. I felt so lonely

in that department. So when my son started going to school, I started having my group of friends, there were moms, and some of them would be like, oh my God, you designed the dress for Elena. My daughter loves Elena. And one of them said, you know what, my son is so creative, and there's

nothing like sewing, they don't encourage kids to do it anymore. Would you mind teaching him? I said, you know what? Yeah. And then he came to my living room. and I started teaching him and I saw the spark on his eyes. He wore his hoodie for the next day at school. And he said, my friends want more hoodies. So I helped him start his little business.

He was selling them for $20. I said, bull, no, because think about it. Your mommy's paying $20 for the class. Then there's the fabric. And he started like making them for his friends. And other moms were hearing about it. Can my daughter join? One day, there was 10 kids in my life.

living room. Oh my. And I was like both genders. Both genders, boys and girls, mostly girls. Yeah. And my husband came in and it was like fabric everywhere, children everywhere. And he's like, what is happening? He said, I think this is a good business. He's like, yeah, I agree. And we live in a building that was have commercial, have residential, so we rented a small room. And then I think in the month after one month, 60 kids. And the pandemic came. So we basically had to. So we basically had shut down but then my landlord said you can still run your business so we would have more private classes and after then my husband I saw the opportunity of getting a storefront because the rents were lower and as soon as we made that decision it was very hard because our rent went from like

$3,000 to $10,000 and the business became you know not so much more of a hobby it really turned into a million dollar business and we now have about $200,000. students and it's so empowering for the kids they have a full fashion experience they come in every semester they work on a project how old what are they are they are five years old and up so mainly elementary school because an after school program so five to eleven our so it's an after school program after school program and then they come in after school they stay with us for two hours they work on their design and after every three months they do a fashion show we just had one now

and they get their pictures taking hair and makeup and in their friends and family. They come and watch. And it's amazing. I also live, my business now is in Tribeca and I live in Tribeca. So whenever I walk around, I see kids wearing what they make and they feel so empowered. It's beautiful. And it's productive. Very productive.

I love that. And we offer scholarships as well because it became such like a loved program. I want every children to be able to experience this. and now my goal is to franchise and start a nonprofit in Brazil. Where I come from, there's a lot of poverty, so I really want to help the resilient. So the more that I talk to you, the more that I'm impressed. Like, first of all, I'm not going to put your age out,

but I literally just almost threw up because I'm jealous. But you, I mean, you're beautiful, you're a mom, you have so many things going on, and it just doesn't stop, right? It doesn't stop for you. So what is your next big thing that you're working on? Let's talk about it. Tell me. Yes.

So the next big thing that I'm working on is relaunching my brand during New York Fashion Week. And I'm going to also have the kids, five-year-olds to 11-year-olds showcasing their designs with me. And I'm also launching a podcast. Oh, what's it going to be about? Tell me, tell me, tell me. So it's called Beyond the Zip Code. So sharing inspiring stories of people who redefine their upbringing is because where you come from doesn't determine where you go. It does not.

It absolutely does not. It doesn't determine anything. I think it's just a good pathway to get where you need to go. Right? It's all about experience. So your brand, though, let's just like go back a little bit. So let's talk about your brand and what you focus on. Is it like, is it outerwear?

Is it like evening wear? Is it like hot and sexy wear? Yeah, so I'm going to focus more and ready to wear like cool outfits, more sets. And I'm going to do it a little bit different than I used to. I'm not going to sell in stores anymore. It's going to stay like I'm loving now. I do a lot of one of a kind revamps, recycled, because I'm very passionate about sustainability. So I'm going to stay in that realm.

It's going to be very much like drops of capsule collections. Once everything is gone, it's gone. I'm not going to manufacture unless I partner up with a brand who wants to manufacture for me, but I'm going to stay true to my new passion, which is upcycling and sustainability. I love it, though. It's like Van Gogh. You know, there's only like one. There's only going to be one type of piece.

and then it's just going to be like your name all over it. Yes. And I want women to feel special and the fact that you're going to have a one of a kind outfit, you can't beat that. No, if you tell me, literally, I'm the worst. I go into a store and someone's like, it's exclusive. I'm like, oh, sign me up. Give me the exclusive.

I just want it if it's one of a kind. I love it. And it's so smart. Like marketing wise, you know, one of a kind, exclusive catered just for you. Is there like a specific age that you cater to or is it all ages? I think it's all age, but I do see. my target range being more like 25 and up. Yeah, like more maybe like sexy sleek.

Yeah, sexy sleep. To feel good. Fashion forward. I think it's a combination of my Brazilian essence with with my New Yorker vibe. So it's kind of like feminine and hard, hard and soft. Oh, like Brazil meets New York and then collab. Ooh, I love that. I love it.

I love it. I love it. I love it like some feathers, some carnival, some piccania. and caparinas, all of that, right? I love to get it. Oh, my, oh God, you are so full of flavor in spice. I love that about you. And then your podcast, wait, so, okay, have you launched an episode yet?

No, not yet. We're going to start filming in two weeks. Yes. Now, what about you? You got to give me some tips. I don't know. I'm the worst. And I want you to be in it, please.

I will definitely come on. I'll talk about my background. My background's not as exciting as your background. Oh, no, I'm sure it is. Everyone has an amazing story to share. Yes, but I think yours is the most amazing. Like, you came here. Now, I do have to ask you, when you came here,

did you speak English? I knew English because I studied, but I have to say it's completely different. When you learn in your country, your ear, you don't understand anything. I did not understand anything. It took me three months, and I was like, my mom's like, I paid so much money for classes,

but also you learn, like, how are you? And I was a teen. teenager. I would go to a party. Yeah, what's up. I'm like, what is up? What does that mean? Like, the sky. You're like, how are you? Yes, how are you? They're like, what up, girl? And you're, yes, what are you? And then after three months, I'm like, okay, I got it. And I remember one of my friends said, you're going to know that you know English when you can go to a stand-up comedy show and understand everything. So I never forget when the first time I went to a stand-up comedy, I'm like, I understand the jokes. That's so funny. That is.

So you're bilingual, right? Do you speak anything else or no? I also speak Spanish. Trilingual. Yes. Is there anything else you don't do? I say baby Dutch because my husband is from Holland, so I had to learn a little bit. And I used to speak Italian because I had an Italian boyfriend, but I lost it.

Not as fluent. A lot of boyfriend went so. Yeah, you lost. I mean, you just have, you really are such a breath of fresh air. You're so smiley, so vibrant, just really killing life right now. I would ask you, you know, there are not, there are a lot of women out there, right? I think that are entrepreneurs, but I think there's a lot of women that are really scared to take that leap.

There are. There's tons of them, and you have a track record of just being able to do it. But what is that, like, inner voice inside of you that keeps going that makes you want to do it? And then the second part of that is for women that are out there that want to be entrepreneurial and pursue their lifelong dream of whatever it is. what would you tell them? I would tell them what my mother always told me.

She's my biggest inspiration. She always says, start where you are, use what you have, do what you can. Oh, I love that. Can you say that again? That's so insane. Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can. Wow. And she's the greatest influence in your life.

She's the greatest. My mom, she went through so much so I didn't have to. Yes. Yeah, so did my mom. Same thing. She gave me, like she did all the mistakes, so I wouldn't have to do this. them and she your greatest fan she is she's by my side every day building my business with me i love that together hand in hands so it's so important i mean it seems like you have a very strong foundation too

do you think that's important in order to be successful to have a strong foundation yes family first i know that sometimes you have to choose your family when i say family it could be all kinds of family but you need to have a support system a village behind you i agree and i cannot do it all by No. I would have never been here without my mom, my husband, and my team, many, many people. What's your why? My why is I want to make the world beautiful one stitch at a time. And I really believe, like, I really, if it was somebody else that said it, I don't know that I believe that, but I really do believe it.

Like, your energy, like, you just want, like, right, unicorns and rainbow. Like, everybody to be happy and wear vibrant Brazilian colors. I love that. So as we wrap up, where can, if somebody wants to get. in touch with you somebody wants a you know an exclusive piece or just you know just wants to catch up where would they find you i would say the best we would be instagram um uh lyana underscore agular and my website too www www layana aguilar.com well it has been such a pleasure you are so lovely inside and out just beautiful i love it i love your whole vibe everything about you and i'm so glad that we

had this moment to connect and just kind of get to know one another we're not going to lose a touch we're not going to. I want an exclusive piece. Yes, I would love to have to make something for you. And this was such a pleasure. Thank you so much. Thank you. Well, that was good.