about stella

Who is Stella? Stella is every spunky young girl who wants to have fun in hip, comfortable clothing. The name suits us because it’s also the Latin word for star— a guiding light, an inspiration, a bright spot. We want to be all those things, and help girls be them, too.

Stella shines. Whoever wears it stands out in a crowd. Our colorful, versatile pieces fire up the imagination. Brilliant hues, bold patterns and unique details encourage an individual sense of style. It’s fashion that looks right for today and every day. From preppy to edgy, our clothes are made to last, to be treasured and lived in for a long time.

Stella is designed and produced right here in Los Angeles, California. We strive to be sustainable by minimizing our packaging and sourcing materials and manufacturing close to home. We even cherry-pick some of our fabrics from the vast supply of overstock, in addition to using new fabrics and our own custom-printed originals. We’re a close-knit company, creating uncomplicated styles with lots of handmade touches and thoughtful details. By demanding perfection in everything from our production quality to our highly personalized service, we’re aiming for the stars!

about ary

Having her daughter, Sophia Kay, gave Ary a window into little girls’ hearts and minds. What she saw inspired her to found Stella in 2003, when Sophia Kay was 1½. As she’s grown from toddler to young girl, Ary has watched her needs (and wants!) evolve. Her designs let her tap into everything she loves about little girls and their incredibly rich fantasy lives.

Ary fell in love with sewing as a kid, and studied graphic design and photography in art school before getting a degree in video production. This led to her long-running career as a TV producer. She’s very interested in all the visual media, and keeps a close eye on fashion trends, especially the out-there experimental stuff. Ary’s taste runs from the Von Trapp family to Edward Scissorhands, and this comes through subtly in her collections. However, Stella is not about “mini me.” (No matter how often moms request duplicate pieces in their sizes!) Ary envisions Stella as a sparkling resource that provides little girls with everything they need to get through life, always feeling and looking like stars.