About - Zerena

About Zerena

Zerena by Luisa Monsalve is born out of a passion for fashion and well-being. Read the story about how and why Zerena was founded below, as told by our founder Luisa Monsalve:

2000-2007

2000-2007

Deep rooted passion

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve had a deep-rooted passion for fashion and beauty. I loved watching my mom and older sister get ready and was always inspired by the styling in shows like High School Musical and Hannah Montana. I would use that inspiration to pick out my own outfits.

When I was around 6 years old, I first started dreaming of having my own clothing business. I would set up a “store” in my bedroom and sell my clothes to my dolls.

2007

A mother-daughter journey

My passion for fashion really took off when my mom took a tailoring and design course and opened a small atelier on our apartment’s terrace in Bogotá. She would fix clothes for people in the neighbourhood and eventually began creating her own designs. Watching her work, I learned a lot about how clothes are made and didn’t realize how valuable those lessons would be in the future.

2008-2013

Creating together

As I got older up, I realized that my mom could create anything I wanted. I would dream up all sorts of garments, like t-shirts, dresses, skirts, and blouses, and my mom would make them a reality. I would excitedly bring her my ideas and we would go to the fabric stores together, where I would get to pick out the fabrics for my own clothes. It was such a special bonding experience for us and it felt like we were truly creating something beautiful together. The clothes she made for me not only filled my wardrobe but also my heart with happy memories.

2013

a Career in Fashion through Language Study

When it was time for me to choose my path in university, I found myself at a crossroads. I had always been passionate about fashion, but I realized that there were no clear paths towards a job in the field. I didn’t want to let my passion die, so I decided to take a different route. I began to learn Modern Languages, with the hope that by learning English and Portuguese, I could unlock new opportunities in different countries.

After graduating in 2017, I decided to follow through on my dream of getting a degree in a fashion-related study. I planned to move to Europe where I could immerse myself in the fashion world and gain the knowledge and skills I needed to make my dream a reality.

2018

Life changing year

After graduating, I was filled with determination to take my passion for fashion to new heights by studying abroad. Everything was planned and I was ready to embark on this exciting journey. But, in 2018, life had different plans for me. I fell ill and all my plans were put on hold. It was a difficult and trying time, but through it, I discovered the true value of my health and the importance of taking care of myself and my family.

I realized that I should never take my health for granted and started investing more in my own well-being. I began to develop a new passion – self-care. I learned how to take care of myself and how to be kind to myself. I understand the importance of taking care of our physical and mental health, and my new passion helped me to come out stronger from that difficult period.

2019

2019

Studying fashion in Madrid

In 2019, after years of dreaming and planning, I finally set foot on Madrid to study Fashion, Styling & Communication thanks to my father support. The opportunity to experience the pinnacle of the fashion industry through an internship with a high-luxury brand was a dream come true. I was able to immerse myself in the industry and gain invaluable experience, but as time passed, my perspective began to shift.

2020

Shifting my direction

I realized that the culture of the fashion industry did not align with my values of well-being and self-care. My understanding of the industry changed and I no longer saw it as the Valhalla I once thought it to be. Despite the amazing experiences I had, I realized that my true passion lies in creating a balance between fashion and well-being.

2022

From gift to business

In 2021, I returned to Colombia and my mom gave me a jogging set she made herself. I loved it and it made me realize that the concept of fashion and self-care coming together was something I wanted to pursue. So, with the encouragement and support of my family, I decided to start my own business focused on comfortable, stylish clothing.

2022

2022

Zerena was born

And that’s how Zerena was born – a brand that combines my passion for fashion with my newfound appreciation for well-being and self-care. In half a year I created my first collection of comfort attires. With my family’s guidance and support, my dream of having my own business finally came true.

2022-2023

2022-2023

Moving to the netherlands

During my time in Colombia, my partner and I worked tirelessly to gain the approval of the Dutch government to be able to live together in the Netherlands. After 1.5 years of uncertainty, we finally received the news that our application was approved and it was time to pack our bags and start a new chapter in our lives.

We moved to the Netherlands together, with numerous suitcases filled with Comfort Attires. There, we took 2 months to further develop my brand and in January 2023, Zerena was officially registered as a business in the Netherlands. It was a long and challenging journey, but I was able to make my dream a reality and I can’t be more excited to see where this new adventure takes me.

After this wonderful journey, I have found a new home and a supportive and lovely family in-law in the Netherlands and I am thrilled to be able to grow my brand from the lovely city of Enkhuizen. It would truly mean the world to me if you would consider joining my destress collective.

Please take a moment to view my collection.