Mario Galaviz Quiroga in his denim upcycling workshop (photo: Marni Hills)
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by Marni Hills

Upcycling in fashion represents a pivotal shift toward environmental stewardship and resourcefulness within the industry. It's the art of repurposing discarded materials or garments to create new, unique pieces, thereby extending their lifecycle and reducing waste. In the picturesque artistic haven of San Miguel de Allende, fashion entrepreneurs like Mario Galaviz Quiroga are embracing this sustainable practice, creating fun, accessible denim designs featuring intricate embroidery.

Mario and his colleague Angela Contreras of Angela y Dolores -The Luxury Upcyclers are crafting a legacy, transforming used denim into bespoke creations featuring meticulous, creative embroidery and other embellishments on modern, high-end denim jackets, shirts, bags and more. Their custom designs include a collection of distinctively creative black denim aprons for the staff at local eatery The Restaurant.

Angela y Dolores The Luxury Upcyclers store at Correo 11 in San Miguel (photo: Marni Hills)
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As Mario explained when we sat down for our talk in his shop at Correo 11, the process of upcycling is inherently expensive due to the labor-intensive nature of creating handcrafted, one-of-a-kind pieces that require high-quality, sustainable materials (think sustainable thread) and intricate workmanship. Mario views it not only as a means of artistic expression but also as a commitment to reducing the environmental impact of the fast fashion industry. Through his work, he underscores the importance of sustainability, championing the balance of inspiration and eco-friendly design practices in crafting a more conscientious fashion future.

Mario demonstrates his technique on the complex embroidery machine
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Mario Galaviz Quiroga's roots trace back to the vibrant and culturally rich city of Durango, Mexico, his birthplace and childhood home. His early experience with fashion was a family business sewing graduation gowns and accessories for city schools and universities. This environment, steeped in tradition and family values, had a significant influence on his life and shaped his love for textiles and fashion. His family instilled a deep-seated love for hands-on work in young Mario.

Mario working in the family sewing business, circa 2009 (photo: Mario Galaviz)
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As Mario matured, his passion for hand-made creations began to intersect with his interest in textiles and embroidery. This combination allowed him to explore the world of fashion design in a unique and innovative way.

Mario's interest in protecting our environmental resources was piqued when his older sister Argelia graduated as a forestry engineer. This inspired Mario himself to enroll in environmental and forestry studies for a few years in college. He began to see the potential in sustainable fashion design, a sector that allowed him to utilize his skills and passion while also being environmentally responsible. The tactile joy of creating that he discovered in his early years was soon translated into his work with textiles and embroidery, becoming an essential part of his design process.

Upcycled denim jacket with detailed embroidery (photo: Marni Hills)
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Another strong Durango influence that affected Mario deeply was his profound admiration for the iconic Dolores del Río (1904-1983). Born in Durango, she was the first Mexican actress to make a mark in Hollywood during its Golden Era.

Dolores del Rio in 1935 (photo: Wikipedia)
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Del Rio and Astaire in Flying Down to Rio (1933) (photo: Wikipedia)
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Del Rio's legacy resonates deeply with Mario, who values her pioneering spirit and representation of Mexican talent on the global stage. He even considers her one of his muses. Mario's choice to name his company after her—Golden Lola—is a tribute to her nickname, Lola, and her glittering success in the entertainment industry. His decision to honor her name is rooted in a narrative that he encountered while working in a café housed in what was once Dolores del Río's home, where he absorbed the rich anecdotes of her life. The name represents not only the luster of the actress's achievements but also a shared Mexican heritage and a profound connection to a woman who paved the way for artists like him.

When I asked Mario about other influences ("Other fashion designers? Artists? Musicians?") He is hesitant to name any famous designers, explaining that he could never pick a favorite. But he points to fashion icons like Pharrell Williams and Travis Barker as two figures who often inspire his creativity.

Denim Designs from Angela y Dolores: The Luxury Upcyclers Angela Contreras (seated, left) and Mario Galaviz Quiroga (seated, right) with models (photo: Mario Galaviz)
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Mario moved to San Miguel with a bold plan to build his brand here. He knew it would not be easy, and it wouldn't happen right away. Soon after he arrived, the pandemic hit, so it has been a challenging journey to his current success. He explained, "I was inspired to come to San Miguel because it is a multicultural place. As a Mexican location, it is beautiful, and I found it really safe and really open to everything."

He continued, "I started to do denim jackets, just denim jackets, because that's the reason that I came [to San Miguel]. I saw many stores doing denim jackets painted with jewels and nail heads and things, and when I saw it, I knew, there was a market for it…" Mario's partnership with Angela Contreras began when she ordered a group of embroidered labels from him. As the pandemic took over, Angela asked him if he could do some embroidery on a line of cotton Covid face masks. The pair found that their designs and personalities worked well together and began creating the upcycled, embroidered denim pieces they now produce together under the label Angela y Dolores.

Angela and Mario brainstorming at their studio (photo: Mario Galaviz)
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Angela y Dolores' designs have caught the attention of multiple high-profile Mexican companies who have offered support and an opportunity to collaborate, including Casa Díaz (a Mexican sewing and embroidery machine manufacturer), and fashion designers Pineda Covalín and Anuar Layon.

Pop-Up Installation inside Pineda Covalín store in Fabrica Aurora, February 2024 (photo: Marni Hills)
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Mario told me, "I think the first connection that we had - and we're still working with them - is [Mexican fashion giant] Pineda Covalín. When they saw our work, they gave us a lot of support…" The Pineda Covalín shop inside the Fabrica La Aurora in San Miguel even created a magical temporary pop-up space to showcase the upcycled denim designs.

Pineda Covalín Store, Fábrica La Aurora (photo: Marni Hills)
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Mario has also had the great fortune to meet and work with designer Anuar Layon, whose work you may recognize - he is the founder of the "Mexico is the Shit" brand. Through Anuar, Mario and the Angela y Dolores brand were introduced to the denim giant American Eagle, with whom they now have an ongoing collaboration.

The incredible designs from Mario and Angela, aided by the exposure and support of these collaborators, have garnered them an enviable spot in the fashion world in Mexico. Last year, Angela y Dolores were invited free of charge to attend the INTERMODA fashion trade show in Guadalajara (the largest fashion trade show in Latin America) because the organizers were so excited about the upcycled concept. At that show they won rave reviews for their work and attracted the attention of a number of potential new partners and collaborators. INTERMODA will be celebrating their 40th year in 2024, July 16-19 at Expo Guadalajara, and Angela and Mario have some exciting plans for their trade show presence again this year.

For a fun closing question, I asked Mario if he had any secret talents that people might not know about. He replied with a laugh, "I'm not a light, delicate, sensitive person who only likes fashion and fabric. I love power tools! I was so happy when I bought my first drill. I got that from my father and uncles."

Follow Golden Lola mx and Angela y Dolores: The Luxury Upcyclers on Instagram, and stop by their combination workshop/store at Galería Brujas, Correo #11 in Centro. Show your support for responsible fashion.

Follow Marni on Instagram

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Marni Hills is a well-traveled writer, photographer, and lover of all things weird and unusual. She is an ancient astronaut theorist, dog foster, DJ, and is obsessed with travel, fashion, true crime, never-before-seen footage, and mountaineering disasters. She made San Miguel her home in early 2022. Follow Marni on Instagram.

Previous articles:
Trashing the Charco, July 2023
A Home for Horchata, April 2023
A Thread to Old San Miguel, March 2023

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