The designer out of Wilson County is ready for your Fiesta flair to reach new heights!
SAN ANTONIO — With Fiesta just days away, the celebration is already bursting with color across South Texas. Inside one La Vernia home, one local designer is working around the clock to add even more sparkle—crafting dazzling hats and accessories that are quickly becoming must-haves this season.
“You just cut, cut, cut, cut, have fun, fun, fun, fun—and that’s what all of this is about!” said Rosiebella Gastelum, the designer behind Red Stitches by Rosiebella.
For Rosiebella, designing isn’t new—but this chapter feels different.
“I’ve been a designer for a long time, but this is when I execute,” she said.
Now retired, she’s pouring her time and energy into her passion—bringing bold designs to life with bright florals, vibrant colors, and intricate details.
“After retirement, this is the time to bring more flowers out,” she said.
Her creative journey stretches back decades. In the 1990s, while her husband Steve served in the Air Force, Rosiebella traveled to South Korea. There, she visited orphanages, taught folklórico dance, and designed dresses that connected children to her culture.
“I brought my Mexican dress, I started dancing for them. And pretty soon all those kids, they started dancing with my dress,” she said.
Today, her talents go beyond dresses—she’s taking things to new heights with show-stopping Fiesta hats.
Operating out of what she calls her “Frida [Kahlo] room,” Rosiebella says she’s been running her business from home for about a year and a half, creating roughly 1,000 accessories in that time.
“That’s the happiness for me—our customers, and the people that I give them to, they treasure my work,” she said.
Fiesta is deeply personal for Rosiebella. Her love for the celebration even earned her top honors in 2024, when her “Deep in the Heart of Texas” car took first place in the Battle of the Flowers parade.
“I put everything—I covered this car, I would say 90%, well actually they said 95% of this car was covered,” she said.
Each hat she creates can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the detail. And with every piece, her excitement only grows.
“The more you do it, the more excited you get. Viva Fiesta!” she said.
Rosiebella’s handcrafted creations range in price from $15 to $100—making it easy for anyone to add a touch of Fiesta flair.
As the countdown to Fiesta continues, her designs are proving that sometimes, the best way to stand out… is to top it off.
If you’re interested in purchasing her creations on Instagram, click here.
To follow her on Facebook, click here.