Meet Eva Pazola | Fashion Designer/Image Consultant/Stylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eva Pazola and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eva, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I love talking about risk because to me, it means: possibility, prospect, overcoming fear, and it also means courage. And definitely, it means passion.
The Dalai Lama says that “Great love and great achievement involve great risk”.
I followed this advice when I left Europe at 20 years of age for love and came to the United States for a new beginning.
I took a major risk two years later when I left a steady day job, created a clothing collection within a week, and started my first fashion business using all my savings. I’m grateful to say that I’m still in business after 30 years.
It sounds easy, but at times it was all downhill, and it was even scary and downright painful in other moments, but I’ve always tried to learn from mistakes and to adapt to every situation.
Overcoming obstacles is a continuing part of life and business. Those times when you struggle can help you understand yourself better. Risk is also a part of the creative process and helps you to find your own point of view, your own authentic style. The rewards are worth the uncertainty and effort.
If I could give any advice it is: do take risks, but know your options, have contingency plans, and always trust your gut instinct.
By never taking risks, you lose the chance to reach your dreams!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a Chicago and Los Angeles-based fashion designer, interior designer and an image consultant. I teach women how to identify their strengths and channel their passions into a unique, artistic style, and to become more confident by helping them to find their authentic selves which allow them to feel more comfortable in their own skin. I like quoting Carl Jung who teaches us about inner image “as a resource for life and creativity“. I believe that fashion should stir individuals to draw inspiration from the world around them, as well as release them to establish an original path of personal style. I love to help women elevate their image through fashion.

My journey of dressing and styling women in Chicago, and later in New York, Washington DC, Miami, and now Los Angeles, has continued successfully for over three decades.

I was born and raised in Poznan, Poland. As a child I dreamed of becoming a journalist but later as a teenager I found passion in designing clothing and used it as a natural way of expressing myself. All my girlfriends wanted to wear “Eva’s “famous” brown velvet pants”. In my early twenties I left uncertainty in my home country and came to the United States. All of a sudden, I found myself on a different planet. It took me a few years to adjust to a new county, new language, and new life. After two years, I left my day job at a fashion boutique and decided to pursue my passion in fashion design. I pushed myself to create a collection of clothes in the span of a week and to my surprise, was invited to be a part of The Chicago Designer Showcase at The Chicago Apparel Mart. This started my career. After only one year in business, my line (under the name of EVA PAZOLA FASHIONS) was carried in 15 boutiques all over the country. A year after that, I was able to open my first boutique in downtown Chicago.

Besides my seasonal collections, I love designing one-of-a-kind pieces for individual clients. In my work I use my intuition, understanding of cut, shape, and construction of garments. I would say that one of my skills is finding truly exceptional fabrics and I take regular trips to Paris and New York to acquire them. I take inspiration from nature and the world around me, from my travels, but mostly from the amazing women I meet. I believe that fashion is not meant to be confined by expectation. It should be a perpetual evolution, keeping elements from the past while moving toward the fresh, the innovative, and the creative.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Even though the base of my business is in Chicago, I’m trying to establish more of a presence in Los Angeles and I spend a few months every year there. LA has so much to offer! My best friend Terri is planning to visit me there for a weekend when I will be there next, in late spring, and the following is an itinerary I planned for us.

Day One includes coffee and a delicious gluten-free pastry at Kirari West Café in Hermosa Beach, followed by a walk along the ocean and perhaps an impromptu volleyball match in the sand. Next, we will make our way north for a delectable, casual vegan Thai lunch at Satdha restaurant in Santa Monica, which will give us a moment to fawn over the gorgeous Pacific views we just witnessed. Terri loves art and as Yayoi Kusama’s ‘Infinity Mirrored Room’ is reopening at the Broad, I would love to experience this unique exhibit with her. To end the day, casual street tacos at a local Mexican eatery outing speaks to the heart. It never disappoints!

Day Two will feature early morning hiking at Eaton Canyon, finished with a little yoga and meditation at the falls. We will spend the day lounging in true LA style, and will then meet for a wonderful Italian dinner at Union Restaurant in Pasadena. We will make our way into sexy city nightlife where we will sip cocktails and listen to jazz at Catalina on Sunset.

Day Three will begin with gourmet coffee and the best avocado toast in the city at Go Get ‘EmTiger in Larchmont Village, followed by a quick stop at Chevalier’s Books where we will spend the late morning perusing the hand-written recommendations in this charming shop. We will scratch our art itch once more with visits to some local galleries in West Hollywood. From there, a visit to Silver Lake Flea Market will be next, where we will spend the rest of the afternoon shopping for one-of-a-kind jewelry, vintage apparel, and crafts. A pit stop for a snack at one of the amazing food trucks parked there may be in order as well. We’d end the day with some Parisian flair at The Little Door restaurant in West LA.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would definitely say that I credit my family with my success. My husband Allan believes in me and is always eager to share his professional advice from decades of experience as a successful entrepreneur. My son Luke has trekked thousands of miles and conquered several trails from Appalachia to Arizona to the Pacific Crest. His integrity and perseverance are examples I try to live my life by. And my daughter Aleksandra who is my best friend, my inspiration and my spiritual teacher. She introduced me to yoga, Ayurveda, and the importance of connecting to your true self. We talk about anything and everything and we laugh like there’s no tomorrow.

Website: www.EvaPazola.com

Instagram: Instagram/evapazola

Linkedin: LinkedIn/EvaPazola

Image Credits
Michael Dar, Jenna Duplenty, Nik Stewart