Designer Valery Colaco shares her journey into fashion designing and starting a business of
her own
KALYANI JHA | NT BUZZ
Valery Colaco’s designer tailor boutique in Porvorim, known by the name Valery Co is the result of a girl following life’s lead which initially didn’t match her own dream. But her persistence to make a mark of her own, led her to reimagine and shape her career on her
own terms.
Colaco had planned to do her master’s abroad after her completion her Bachelors of Science in Zoology. But then COVID-19 hit. “My plans to go abroad were affected as my parents were not keen to send me away in those circumstances,” she shares.
As Colaco began rethinking her plans, her sister suggested that she do a diploma in fashion designing in the meantime. “I was reluctant to that as I thought changing stream suddenly would not be a good idea. But she gave me examples of other people who changed their profession entirely and were doing were well and I was convinced,” says Colaco, who has always enjoyed stitching and redesigning her own clothes on her mother’s portable sewing machine. In fact, Colaco first realised how deeply she enjoyed designing at a college event. “I assisted in making few dresses for the event and while doing so I witnessed what happens in the background and how designers make every presence onstage count by taking care of all details of the outfit. I loved that vibe,” she shares.
After Colaco completed her diploma in 2022, she went on to assist other designers. “I met some really talented people. Being with them, observing their techniques and skills, only enhanced my love for fashion,” she shares.
It was his father and sister then who convinced her to try independently on her own by casually showing her a place that was vacant at a prime location. But Colaco was hesitant at first. “I knew the craft but was not confident enough to start my own boutique and have a business of my own,” she says. So she went around asking her friends and colleagues who owned businesses to understand more about how to get started, before she took the plunge.
Currently, Valery Co which is based in Porvorim specialises in bridals, evening wear for all occasion. She does customisation as well as ready-to-wear. Coloco’s designs and pattern drafting is assisted by her small team of two-three staff and interns. “I do the designing and I am also the seamstress, so most of stitching is done by me whenever required,” she says.
Colaco loves to work with silhouette fabric for her designs, but her clientele is free to bring their own fabric. Valery Co also designs for kids of all ages.
“People can come to us with a design in mind. Even they have no idea what they want I can help them decide,” she says.
Colaco dreams of taking her brand to new heights and being a top Goan designer one day. But for now, keeping in mind the Goan weather, she is concentrating on a new line of cotton resort and summer wear in collaboration with her sister Valencia, called Ery & Cia. The line is expected to launch shortly.
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