Angie Contreras’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Angie Contreras. Check out our conversation below.

Angie, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
The truth about running a brand is that there’s really no such thing as a “normal” day. Behind the title of entrepreneur, every morning is different, some days are about preparing for events, others are dedicated to meetings or visiting our stores, and there are days when I’m literally cutting, packing, and delivering orders myself. It’s a constant dance between creativity and logistics.

On a typical day, I wake up and head straight to the studio: I prepare and ship out orders, check in on social media, and stay connected with our retail partners. Later, I carve out time to exercise and recharge, because tomorrow will bring a completely different rhythm. My days are unpredictable, but that’s what keeps them exciting, they’re always full of energy, movement, and surprises.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Angie, me and my mom are the founders of Lua, a sustainable brand from Costa Rica that is handmade by women. Lua is all about combining simple, timeless design with conscious choices. Every piece is made with care, so it carries not just style, but also the story of the women who created it.

What makes Lua unique is the team behind it: Costa Rican women who put their creativity and dedication into every detail. For us, it’s about making fashion that feels good to wear and also good for the planet.

Right now, we’re focused on growing beyond Costa Rica while staying true to our values, slow, thoughtful design that supports and respects nature.

You can find us on Instagram @lua_costarica to see more of what we do.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
It wasn’t just one moment, but rather the time I spent studying sustainability and diving deeper into the world of environmental health. That experience opened my eyes to how much the environment influences human health and the wellbeing of other species.

LUA was born from that realization and every piece we create is a reflection of that connection between people, nature, and conscious living.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Starting a brand is never easy, especially in a small country like Costa Rica. Of course there were moments of doubt, but what keeps me going is seeing how LUA has grown, the positive environmental impact we’ve made, and the joy on our customers’ faces when they try on our clothes.

More than that, knowing that we are creating jobs for women who truly need and enjoy this work gives me the motivation to continue, even on the hardest days.

I love Lua and Lua loves all of you.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
For me, every project can and should be done in the best way possible—starting with environmental responsibility, but always including a strong aesthetic. One should never cancel out the other.

I truly believe that even if it takes more time and effort, a fashion brand doesn’t need to compromise its responsibility to be stylish and cool.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
We’ve always cared deeply about making our customers feel happy and satisfied, ensuring that every body type feels comfortable and represented in our designs.

So if I retired tomorrow, I believe they would miss LUA’s empathy and the way we listen to our customers and make them feel seen, heard, and truly important.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Juan Calivá
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_caliva_?igsh=YTIxbzFsNDl6NzJk

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