Get To Know The Brand Who’s Changing The Fashion Scene In Small Town Mcallen, Texas: The Style Union!
Photo Sourced From @thestyleunion
The best way to describe this brand is minimalistic with a side of spice.
It is rare, as someone who is from the small town of McAllen, TX, that we find the latest in fashion so easily. It has always been hard to keep up with trends for two reasons: the lack of trends at our stores and the fact that people around us may give us the look, you know the one, the “who would wear that?!” look that many small towns are known for. If you’re from a small town or even visited one for some time, you’d be well accustomed.
Every once in a while, a diamond in the rough will peak through, serving as a source of inspiration to all fashionistas in town breaking through the mold of those “who would wear that?!” judgments. With the struggles of fashion in small towns and the creation of business during a time of fear, Alexa Rivera and Patty Castillo are the experts on what it takes to battle both. Straight out of college, with ambitions and dreams, the best friend duo decided to embark on a journey to create The Style Union. We would describe this shining star as minimalist with a little bit of spice. The Style Union is a fashion destination for anyone whose style can’t be defined. Whether you’re feeling girly one day or edgy the next, this shop is a go-to for the trendiest pieces at the most affordable prices.
I was lucky enough to chat with this dynamic duo and here is what they had to say.
Photo Sourced From @thestyleunion
KR: Let’s begin by introducing you to our readers! What led you to create The Style Union?
SU: Hello, we are Alexa Rivera and Patty Castillo and we are based out of McAllen, TX. We both were fresh out of college with degrees in Management (Alexa) and Marketing (Patty) and were struggling to find a job in our field. These were difficult times as we couldn’t figure out our next move but knew that we didn’t want your typical day job. One day while having pizza we looked at each other and it sort of just clicked. We decided since we both love fashion and there was no boutique in McAllen that catered to our style that we should bite that bullet and open our own boutique. We launched our website on May 23, 2016 and we never looked back.
KR: That is an amazing and authentic start to The Style Union. You mentioned that there was no store in McAllen that catered to your fashion needs. How do you see your shop helping the fashion scene in McAllen grow?
SU: I think we have helped the fashion scene in Mcallen by providing a different style than other boutiques here, not only with our clothing but the way we decorate the store, and even how we have been marketing online through social media. In the last five years, we have noticed a shift in fashion businesses in town, there are many more now and all have diverse styles that cater to so many. We believe that if you are always the one on top of trends and love to play around with fashion, we are the spot to shop as we offer the latest trends at an affordable price.
Photo Sourced From @thestyleunion
KR: What challenges if any, have you seen in the valley regarding fashion and fashion businesses?
SU: I think this goes for a lot of small towns but, for the valley, we have noticed that sometimes trends take a while to resonate with people here compared to larger cities like LA and NYC or even up in San Antonio, so we have found it hard to find a balance between trends we like and would wear versus the trends we know are going to sell to our customer base. We know them well, so we cater to them, but sometimes we throw in a little bit of us to keep them on their toes.
KR: I love that your store continues to offers the latest and hottest trends. What would you say to someone who is struggling to keep up with what’s new in fashion? What are some staples that we can add to our wardrobe?
SU: We would say to start off with a capsule wardrobe consisting of a plain white tee, well-fitting jeans, a classic black blazer, etc. Then from there, the fun begins, build off of it, and incorporate trendy pieces that suit your personal style. Not every trend works for everyone and that’s okay, but we love that there’s always the option to try out new and fun styles.
Photo Sourced From @thestyleunion
KR: What has been your favorite part of running The Style Union?
SU: That’s easy. Our favorite part is being our own boss and loving what we do every day. As we mentioned earlier, after graduating we were kind of lost and worried about our next move. So when we decided to start our own business, it was hard at times, but every day it has been so rewarding to us. It makes us feel so good when we have customers tell us we’re their favorite boutique and spot people wearing our clothes out in about or even online. It makes it all worth it for us.
When your style shines, your confidence shines. Fashion is a great way to express yourself, and when you’re given the opportunity to do so, judgment-free, the world is yours. We hope that hearing from The Style Union has inspired you to step out of your comfort zone this season and have fun with your style. It’s never too late to add a little bit of spice to your wardrobe.
