A 3rd-generation seamstress from Napa, California, she attended the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where she earned a BFA in knitwear and is currently earning an MFA in costume design. Her work is defined by handcrafted knitwear with techniques from her Mexican heritage, including embroidery and textures. While these traditions add technical elegance to the work, it’s her singular voice—rooted in Punk, B horror films like Teenagers from Outer Space, WWE, and Lucha Libre—that gives her work its unmatched character.

Her work has been shown in San Francisco, South Korea, Las Vegas, and will be making its upcoming Fashion Week debut in Los Angeles. Erika Hurtado continues to carve out a unique space for herself and her work, committing to authentic creations that embody her culture, interests, values, and personality.

Mexican Heritage

Erika’s cultural background is the soul of her work. As she puts it, Mexican culture treats “dark” aspects of life with beauty and color (Dia de Los Muertos). This cultural attitude is evident in her balance between the edgy and the colorful, expressing a vitality that transforms even the darkest themes, feelings, or subjects into a work of beauty.

Sustainability

In an effort to combat Fast (or worse, Ultra Fast) Fashion, Erika prioritizes “dead stock” (fabrics no longer being made) or repurposes material from existing garments, whether hers or thrifted. She focuses on knitwear, a sustainable alternative to cut & sew. Since she shapes the garment as she creates the knits, there is less material waste; additionally, she opts for natural fibers as opposed to synthetic fibers, which are healthier and more sustainable.