HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — From the hum of a sewing machine to the sparkle of a finished gown, a South Florida woman is stitching together dreams one custom piece at a time.
Inside her studio, Erica Appleby, the founder of Luxe Art Tech in Hollywood, has created a space where creativity meets community, teaching people of all ages how to sew, design and build confidence through fashion.
“It’s an immersive studio where people can come, learn, grow and build a community,” Appleby said. “They can also have access at an affordable rate.”
Appleby’s passion started early: She started sewing at 4 years old and sketching designs at 8.
“My mom was a very stylish woman; she’s always been super stylish,” she said. “Ahe taught me how to sew at 4 and from there, my imagination just grew.”
After becoming a mom, Appleby said she felt called to take a leap — starting small and trusting the process.
“I found a very small 200-square-foot place, my first studio,” she said. “I started taking in clients there. And I was like, ‘I’m starting to feel the itch for something a little bit bigger.’ And we found this space and now we’re here.”
Appleby said she now has more than 100 students on her roster.
Her work now spans weddings, red carpets and even broadcast television.
“I’ve done Grammys, bet red carpet, HBO and a lot of newscasters and journalists have worn my stuff,” Appleby said.
But for Appleby, it’s not about the spotlight — it’s about the moment.
“At the end of the day, that glimmer in a bride or promgoer’s eyes when they have on the dress, it’s due to their measurements,” she said. “It’s really an experience you can’t explain.
“I love being able to make them feel like a piece of art.”
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