About
Erica Varize, Owner of the EVarize Fashion Cafe is a local independent
designer in Berkeley, CA. In 2002, she decided to quit her job at Wells
Fargo Bank. It was during this time that she started to sew in her
free time out of her home. Erica was determined to make this hobby her livelihood.
In 2003, Erica started selling her wears in a new boutique in San Francisco
called RAG. After the popularity of the designs began to spread throughout
the small Hayes Valley community, EVarize was picked up by OOMA boutique
in San Francisco. The name, EVarize, quickly spread within the urban community.
By 2005, EVarize was being sold in ten boutiques. In 2007, the line is being
sold in over a dozen retail locations including the Bay Area, Las Vegas,
and Chicago.
It has been over 20 years since Varize learned to sew by hand. Not
only has the craft been a gift to Varize, but also to the young people in
her community. Erica currently partners with Met West High School in Oakland,
Julia Morgan Center for the Arts in Oakland, FIDM in San Francisco, and
the Art Institute of San Francisco mentoring students eager to learn the
reality of Fashion Design.
In November of 2005 Erica and her husband Darryel opened the EVarize Fashion
Café, the Bay Areas first cut and sew boutique. The EVarize Fashion Cafe
in Berkeley offers a "fashion first", customized menu, from which
clients can order. With categories ranging from color and fabric to custom
sizing and fit you’re sure to not only leave excited but satisfied with
a perfect fit. The EVarize experience is nothing short of being pampered.
All EVarize items are manufactured in the East Bay, mostly by Erica herself. On any given day while visiting the store you can find her hard at work looking as though her task is as simple as riding a bike.
Gallery
