Queen Creek Costume Designer Aurelie Flores: 100 Creatives

Phoenix is brimming with creativity. And every other year, we put the spotlight on 100 of the city’s creative forces. Leading up to the release of this year’s Best of Phoenix issue, we’re profiling 100 more. Welcome to the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives. Up today: 73. Aurelie Flores.

Aurelie Flores is drawn to fabric, always has been.

“I started sewing with my mother when I was 6 years old,” says the costume designer and Arizona native, who was born in Globe and resides in Queen Creek. “I learned to sew on a treadle sewing machine and enjoyed the creative process of selecting fabrics and patterns.”

See also: Phoenix Filmmaker Jon Jenkins: 100 Creatives

Her love of creating garments for friends and family took a turn toward the stage when her daughters started performing in musicals. Since then, costuming has been center stage in Flores’ creative life. Currently she’s working on costumes for Actor’s Youth Theatre’s production of The Addams Family, Night at the Wax Museum for CounterPoint Theatre, and Songs for a New World for Mesa Community College’s Music Department.

And the AriZoni Award winner’s got more up her sleeve.

“I am in process of joining forces with Katherine Most (former costumer for Chandler/Gilbert Community College to create our own costuming company specializing in theatrical costumes,” Flores says. “If our new company launches we hope to provide costumes for a number of other theaters in the Valley.”

I came to Phoenix with my old green Singer sewing machine.

I make costumes because I love color, fabric and textures and mixing them together into eye-catching designs. I especially enjoy working on costumes for people that are important to me. The income from making costumes supports my kids artistic pursuits.

I’m most productive when I have little time, a small budget and a quickly approaching dress rehearsal.

My inspiration wall is full of fabric and ribbon scraps.

I’ve learned most from other costumers throughout the Valley.

Good work should always help bring the character to life.

The Phoenix creative scene could use more financial support.

See the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives:

100. Bill Dambrova
99. Niki Blaker
98. Jeff Slim
97. Beth May
96. Doug Bell
95. Daniel Langhans
94. Nanibaa Beck
93. Nicole Royse
92. Ib Andersen
91. Casandra Hernandez
90. Chris Reed
89. Shelby Maticic
88. Olivia Timmons
87. Courtney Price
86. Travis Mills
85. Catrina Kahler
84. Angel Castro
83. Cole Reed
82. Lisa Albinger
81. Larry Madrigal
80. Julieta Felix
79. Lauren Strohacker
78. Levi Christiansen
77. Thomas Porter
76. Carrie Leigh Hobson
75. Cody Carpenter
74. Jon Jenkins

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