Fonz Solis is an El Paso native who is the chief executive officer and creative director of SCILOS, a clothing brand aimed at making women feel “sexy, feminine and empowered.”
Inspired by British designer Alexander McQueen’s Savage Beauty exhibition in 2011, Solis began a rewarding but unexpected career as a fashion designer five years ago when he returned to El Paso from New York City.
“Growing up, I never imagined myself being a designer,” said Solis. “My entire life, my mom made costumes and stuff like that but I never found interest in any of it. When I moved to New York City, that’s when everything started.”
Solis recalls how the Savage Beauty exhibition inspired and lit a fire inside him.
“As I walked around, I came across this one piece that was completely covered in gold feathers and then the skirt is mermaid cut. Every layer had different types of figures on it and that’s what really called my attention,” Solis said. “I literally stayed in front of it like for ten minutes and it was just so inspiring. Ever since then I kind of started doing and playing around trying to make some designs.”
He debuted his first four-piece collection showing at the Mercedes Benz of El Paso Fashion Show..
“Getting inspired by the madness of fashion and just seeing how people go through art because the sense of it is art, fashion is art, I always keep coming back and wanting to inspire people and like to move people with my pieces.” he said.
He worked at a local modeling showcase in last June held at the Marriott Hotel by El Paso International Airport. The show featured local designer Salatiel Ortiz. Every designer showed between 10 to 12 pieces. Ever since then, he has been dedicated on showcasing his designs through shoots for some videos.
“My favorite model to work with on a local level is a model named Romana. She is 5’8 tall, super thin and she’s got like this really different vibe to her style,” he said
Right now, he is working on a short video for a friend. They recently went to White Sands National Park in New Mexico to get some shots of a model wearing one of Solis’ pieces. He is also constantly working on creating new pieces and working on other pieces in a studio that he has inside his house.
“I primarily design for ladies. I do currently have two collections, the first one is called, “All ladies ready to wear” evening and bridal. I have another one which is more artistic and it’s more like crazy creative fun things,” Fonz said. “I also include a lot of men’s lingerie. I have those two collections but I’m always focusing on my ladies’ ‘ready–to–wear‘ and bridal more because that’s where the majority of my costume clients come from.”
“The range of prices depends on what the costumer is looking for. The ready–to–wear collection is more accessible, I have pieces that start at fifteen dollars and then for bridal, they typically start at 900 dollars.” he said.
Solis enjoys the small things like drinking coffee in the morning and looking at brides’ facial expressions as they try on his pieces for the first time.
“That’s one of the things that makes me happy about being a fashionista, having a bride with one of my dresses on and seeing her expression and almost crying when they realize that’s the dress of her dreams. That brings joy to me,” he said
Solis also describes himself as a person struggling with obsessive compulsive disorder, which he claims gives him a unique perspective when reflecting on his profession.
“I’m a controlled person but also at the same time very relaxed with everything and that’s how I reflect on everything in my designs,” Solis said.
You can check out Solis’ work at his business Instagram account, @scilos.
Maria Salette Ontiveros may be reached at [email protected]
