Vanessa Di Palma Wright is a seasoned stylist and globe trotter who embraces up-and-coming designers and emerging trends. She is the owner and founder of Farasha, which began as a women’s retail clothing and accessories pop-up boutique showcasing national and international designers but has now metamorphosed into a full-service fashion consulting company in Park City, Utah. Farasha offers services ranging from wardrobe styling, photo and video production to runway show execution and pop-up boutique curation – basically, the whole kit and caboodle when it comes to fashion consulting. “We bring together the perfect team to develop and execute an action plan and achieve each client’s objectives,” says Vanessa. And some of those clients include the Utah Symphony, O.C. Tanner, Rossignol, and more.
Vanessa moved from Uruguay to the United States when she was seven years old. She is a graduate of the University of Utah and has a Post Graduate Diploma in Organizational Leadership at the University of Oxford. She currently splits her time between Park City and Paris. She describes her favorite time of the year in Park City, “Summer nights - there is nothing better than sitting on a patio surrounded by amazing views and fresh mountain air, with a glass of wine surrounded by family and friends.”
FAVORITE CRAFT ADVENTURES FROM THE WORLDLY FASHION maven
1. As an owner and stylist of a full-service fashion consulting company, can you tell us about any clothing/fashion trends specific to Park City/Summit County? Where would one find these items?
Park City has an understated style about it that is overtly mountain chic. Despite the fact that many choose to live in their leisurewear and hiking gear, we do have a sophisticated community that appreciates high fashion. Parkites typically wear an anchoring casual piece such as denim, leggings, or leather pants paired with knits and cashmere sweaters. Dresses are a popular staple throughout the year layered with knitted cardigans, biker jackets and paired with western-inspired booties, cowboy boots, or Birkenstocks. Women in Park City gravitate towards comfortable footwear as we are used to inclement weather in which we have to tread through slush, mud, and snow. Utilitarian combat boots equipped with rubber soles, platforms, and added warmth such as shearling and faux fur are go-tos for winter. And we love our outerwear. Not just to keep us warm but to make a statement and stand out.
Indigo Highway - Great gifts, fun jewelry, plethora of home goods and decor. In addition to great sweaters and denim.
Park City Nursery Boutique – Go-to place for a hostess or housewarming gifts while you stock up on succulents and fresh flowers for your home.
Flight Boutique - Bohemian chic boutique for on-trend fashion curated by the talented owners, Blaire and Kristen. And, not to mention, best shop to find the most adorable baby and kids’ clothing.
Park City Mercantile - Niche local spot for the best home accessories and cozy chunky knits from Sien + Co.
2. Who are some of your favorite local designers, what do you admire most about their work, and where would we find their works?
Sharon Backurz, from Zenzee, is one of the most creative women and designers whom I have had the pleasure to work with for years, and proud to call her a friend. She was the last featured trunk show at Farasha’s Main Street boutique before we decided to close and rebrand as a full-service consulting company. At the time, she had launched a fun art and fashion collab collection with the Arts Council which we loved representing. And since then, she has evolved and expanded into an indie-cool Park City brand that offers small-batch collections that feature masterfully hand-dyed tie-dye sets and a refined, yet edgy cashmere collection that I want to live in. Including dresses and sets that have added fringe and embellishments that speak to the comfort and style that represents the epitome of effortlessly elegant and cool. Her collections are available for purchase at Panache, Cole Sport, CREATE PC, and shopzenzee.com.
Alex Gibson from Sien + Co is a local designer who knitted the memorable, soft, and controversial pussy hats for the Women’s March on Main Street in 2017. Her fine-knitted collection of chunky sweaters, hats, and luxurious home decor accessories offer authentic craftsmanship. Moreover, she uses sustainable materials sourced from South America and fine wools are a must for every mountain-modern home. Do not miss her collection - all available at Park City Mercantile.
Emily Loughlin came into my world upon her return to Park City after graduating from SCAD in 2015. She began designing engaging and fashionable visual window displays for Farasha’s storefront on Main Street. Shortly after she was part of the sales and styling team and eventually became Creative Director for all our projects thru 2018. In that time, I was able to witness her creative prowess in full effect. From repurposing clothes and embellishing vintage pieces to now creating, jewelry and an evolved collection of beautiful art that includes a plethora of mixed media, sculptures, and portraits. She is methodical in her approach of repurposing and re-using to minimize her carbon footprint and create one-of-a-kind pieces that represent modern times, nature, and beauty. Her art is available at CREATE PC on Main Street.
3. Farasha is a women-owned business, and Park City/Summit County has numerous women-owned businesses. How is the support from the community? Are there any advantages or disadvantages to running a women-owned business in Park City?
Park City has a thriving community of women who are entrepreneurial, hard-working, committed, and engaged on so many levels. I consider myself truly blessed to be part of such an inclusive community that values the talents, assets, and gifts that we all have to offer. I am so thankful for all of my loyal clients who have supported Farasha’s dream of being a pop-up platform for emerging designers for the past twelve years that we have been in business. In that time, Farasha has evolved into a consulting company that is all-encompassing with an impressive following of loyal women who reach out for styling sessions, wardrobe consults, photoshoots, retail support, and more.
Farasha currently shares office space with dynamic duo Jacki Zehner and Madison Limansky of the ShePlace - the new lifestyle, boutique co-working space at the Newpark Town Center. Jacki is a dear friend, and Madi is my former business partner. We all gain so much from getting together to brainstorm on projects where we can collaborate and partner. We often make time to meet, connect, support, and create events and experiences where women can gather to gain insight, support each other’s causes, and offer a space for women to share, learn and grow together.
4. What is the significance of the beautiful butterfly mask you are wearing in your photo lineup? Does it have anything to do with your business or the services that you offer?
Farasha means « Butterfly » in Arabic. When I was a little girl, I was gifted a book of names. I discovered that Vanessa means butterfly. Thus, I have always been drawn to butterflies, as they represent the journey of transformation and beauty from the inside out. When I launched Farasha in 2009 as a platform to showcase emerging designers in resort towns, I wanted to choose a name that represented me and my passion for all things in fashion. I also wanted to choose a word that is not so recognized and has some mysteriousness to it. I was struggling with all the butterfly themes. My husband suggested that I look up the word butterfly in other languages to play with the idea. Farasha stuck because it has a very feminine and yet foreign sound to it. It’s a word that is non-familiar but intriguing. Most people cannot say it when they first encounter the name. If you sound it out phonetically, it’s simpler than it looks.
/far,a,sha
And therein, lies the objective of what Farasha is and what it represents. Fashion is continually evolving and recreating itself - just like the metamorphosis of a butterfly. Farasha represents the women, companies, and brands that seek to be renewed, reinvented, and express themselves thru the fashion lens.
5. As a woman who enjoys the craft of collecting, what galleries in Park City/Summit County would you recommend and why?
My favorite Park City Main Street gallery is Gallery Mar. Owner and great friend Maren Mullin has used her craft of curation and entrepreneurship to create a fresh and inviting space. She purposefully represents artists that she loves and symbolizes the modern mountain life that we all love. Her artists are emotional, intentional, and speak to a plethora of global collectors in a fun and approachable manner.
I have enjoyed collecting fun curiosities from Gallery Mar that represent my fashion-forward lifestyle. Such as Horacio Rodriguez’s ceramic LV pistol and my Hunt Slonem butterfly oil painting. Like my clothes, they are a form of expression and provide me with positive energy and joy when I admire the different mediums of art that add a sense of individual style to my personal space.
J GO Gallery is another go-to spot I frequent that combines art, culture, and community under one roof. Grab a coffee and gluten-free treat at the adjacent Park City Desserts, admire the variety of artists represented, and stay for an intimate concert with friends all under one roof.
6. Why is Park City/Summit County’s art and culture scene (i.e. culinary, film, visual art, music, and performance scenes) important?
The art and culture scene in Park City and Summit County is the thread and heartbeat of our community. During the pandemic, we have all reiterated the importance of staying connected, supporting one another, and being more focused on localization to thrive. Now more than ever, we seek culture through fashion, art, music, performances, film, and unique experiences that make us feel part of an ecosystem. These are the elements of what is most important. And much like the butterfly, arts and culture is ever-evolving, changing, and transforming. It is part of our raison d’être.
FASHIONS By farasha:
Some of Farasha’s clients include: