Sewing Up Success Weeks Before Old Spanish Days

One of the most prolific seamstresses in our area is putting the finishing touches on dozens of dresses for this year’s five day Fiesta celebration.

Candi Cruz spends hours each day in the shop at her home, toiling away at her sewing machine on dresses, skirts and blouses. The Ventura woman told NewsChannel 3 it takes 10 hours to make one dress, as she inched fabric under the the moving needle to create swirling ruffles and cuffs for her Flamenco creations.

Cruz estimates so far this year, she’s made more than 100 Flamenco-style dresses in assorted designs and fabrics for next month’s Old Spanish Days festival.

The longtime seamstress has spent the past 15 of her 20 year career designing and creating the festive floor-length dresses for the ubiquitous Fiesta dancers with the Linda Vega Dance Studio, and others, wanting the authentic Flamenco look.

Cruz said one particular accessory is in big demand this year.

“They call it pico,” Cruz said. “It’s fabric and fleco, thread … macrame made by hand. This is fleco,” as she swirls the red fringe.

Cruz said the fabric and macrame shawls add color, texture and movement to her outfits.

Old Spanish Days kicks off Wednesday, August 3 and runs through August 7.