Bring Down the House!

Out-of-this-world Houston designer debuts first new collection in five years.

enid
enid

This weekend, for the first time in five years, Houston designer Enid Almanza unveils a new collection of his avant-garde clothing and accessories. This Saturday’s “Creation” fashion show at Sabine Street Studios includes 27 one-of-a-kind looks comprised of nearly 100 pieces.


Almanza’s House of Enid brand, which garnered national attention in 2013 when Lady Gaga wore a pair of his Coke-can glasses during a televised special, utilizes unexpected objects and textiles — think neoprene, vinyl and crystals galore — to create dresses, jewelry, headpieces and more. His 2014 debut fashion show, just months after Gaga’s endorsement, sparked a new chapter in his career. “My success in Houston happened very fast and very quick,” says Almanza, who’s now 27. “I was very young, and I had a hard time trying to understand everything that was happening to me. I’m also very hard on myself, and I had a hard time believing in me and my work.”

Almanza decided to leave Houston, for the time being, and travel the world. He lived in Europe — Milan, Paris, Germany — for three years, and also returned to his native Mexico for six months. “I used to think that I was successful because my work was so differentin Houston,” he says, “but once I got to the big fashion capitals and couldn’t find anything that resembled what I was doing at the time, it made me believe more in myself.”

So much so, in fact, that he desired to return to Houston to launch his new collection. “I wanted to submerge myself in the fashion meccas, and experience where it all comes from, and then come back and apply it to Houston,” he says, “to help our fashion scene grow as much as possible.”

The Creation line includes out-of-this-world leotards, corsets and coordinating accessories — one orb-like headpiece has bedazzled stars attached, creating a truly out-of-this-world look — and aims not only to inspire those who view Almanza’s work, but to grant permission for creative expression in general.

“If they feel free,” says Almanza of his audience, “that’ll be more than enough for me. House of Enid’s shows are a sanctuary for love, creativity and freedom.”

Dispatches
Author, Survivor and Game-Changing Doc Goldner Encourages You to Lean Into Your ‘Origin Story'
How did you get to where you are today? I was diagnosed with lupus at 16. I was already in stage 4 kidney failure by the time the doctors realized what was wrong. It took two years of high doses of medication including chemotherapy to save my kidneys and my life. I became fascinated with the human body, which led to my decision to become a physician.
Keep Reading Show less

Alex Au-Yeung (photo by Jenn Duncan)

WHEN IT OPENED a few months ago, The Woodlands outpost of acclaimed Katy restaurant Phat Eatery was billed as Alex Au-Yeung's dream restaurant. Unfortunately, Au-Yeung never got to see it come to fruition, as he passed away earlier this year. But the James Beared-nominated chef-owner certainly left his mark — and in honor of what would be his 53rd birthday, operating partners Kevin Lee and Marvin He have organized two pop-up tribute dinners.

Keep Reading Show less
Food

WHAT DOES IT mean to be "rent-burdened"? The phrase describes those who spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing, and it's become an increasingly relevant part of the larger conversation about the American economy in a post-Covid world.

Keep Reading Show less
Home + Real Estate