About Mona Lucero

I was born in San Francisco, CA and raised in Grand Junction, CO. Ever since I drew my grandmother’s face on the side of a shoebox at the age of 4, I realized that I wanted to be an artist. After high school, I came to Denver to attend the University of Colorado and received my Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in 1983 in Painting and Sculpture. During my senior year, I created textile installations and wearable art and began to entertain the idea of becoming a clothing designer. Fashion-wise, various people in my family inspired me throughout my childhood. My grandmother with her little black dresses and handbags, my older sister who, as a teenager, was always wearing the latest clothing ( and sometimes getting sent home from school for doing so) and my mother, who with the simple application of red lipstick, made what she was wearing go from “nice” to chic.

After arts school, I decided to go to fashion school in New York City and enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology. While there, I learned the basics of fashion design and while living in the city, became immersed in the various aspects of the fashion industry. I was especially inspired by the amazing department stores and boutiques the city offers along with the international designers showcased there.

When I returned to Denver, I worked for several manufacturers, as an assistant patternmaker for Skea Skiwear, a high-end skiwear line and designing for Gear 1/Gilbert Apparel, a better-priced women’s activewear line. I also did technical specifications for a resort wear line called Justus of Steamboat. Through these jobs, I learned the ins-and-outs of manufacturing, proper fit and the excitement and intensity of the apparel business. I also learned that many of my designs were very popular and sold well across the country and I gained confidence in my design ability.

I began preparing to design and manufacture my own wholesale line of clothing and bags. In 1993, I began marketing my line to stores in Colorado, California, New Mexico and even Russia. I found that the more unusual designs that I presented sold best.

In 2002, I opened my boutique, Mona Lucero Design Boutique, in its current location at 2544 15th Street. In my shop, I am currently carrying my own line of clothing, accessories and bags. The shop reflects my interest in the relationship of art and design. The shop carries other Colorado designers and artists in addition to other national and international design lines and has received awards such as Best Independent Boutique from Westword and Best Gift Shop from 5280 Magazine, One of the Best Indy Boutiques (Nationally) in City Magazine from New York City, in addition to articles on my own design in the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News.