"I was a quiet and shy kid who loved getting lost in my own little projects. Drawing was my favorite thing, and I was always finding fun ways to make something out of whatever I had—cutting up magazines, saving candy wrappers, or using gift bags for collages. I even used nail polish as glue or paint sometimes! Being creative was how I expressed myself back then, and still is to this day. Bratty Natty Couture started in 2021 and is very much inspired by my personal obsessions, childhood nostalgia, sweet deco and a commitment to always having something pink -whether it’s a statement accessory or a full-blown pastel fantasy. My pieces are made for the dolls who like to stand out, and wear clothing that feels like a mood board come to life. I specialize in making 1 of 1 pieces -whether it’s making Decoden cream lighters junked out in charms , big hair bow or sewing dreamy silhouettes from scratch or reworking vintage finds into something entirely new. Every look and products is an extension of my world: kawaii, pink, expressive , and unapologetically bratty."
From doing a good amount of these interviews, I've noticed a similar experience of how a lot of us got introduced to kawaii culture and that is the internet in our middle school years. So many of us watched those iconic makeup tutorials during those early youtube days. Nathalie really describes her personal experience with that so perfectly. "I first started getting into kawaii culture around middle school, but my love for all things cute started way earlier. I grew up completely obsessed with Hello Kitty, anything pink, hair bows, sparkly, princessy, or covered in unicorns—it was always my vibe. In middle school, I started exploring makeup and would spend hours watching dolly and kawaii makeup tutorials online. By high school, I had discovered Harajuku fashion / Hime Gyaru and instantly fell in love. I was so inspired by the bold makeup and creative styling, big lacy hair bows and I started finding ways to blend that influence into my style."
I really admire Nathalie's work and how expressive it is. Looking at her art feels like entering a whole new kawaii-fied universe. But her work doesn't end with Bratty Natty. She also recently started co-hosting Deco Dolls Market with @lovelyfresas—a fun, safe and creative space in Dallas to showcase small businesses and artists. "Our first market in July featured was Little twin Star themed where we had giveaways, DIY Decoden clips, photo ops, and support for families impacted by recent ice raids. Our next one’s in December! Can’t wait to keep building community and what’s in store for the upcoming year. 💝" From the pictures I've seen, the market looks amazing and it is always inspiring to see other Latinas work to create something bigger than themselves while also giving back to their Latino community.
Nathalie's next project includes a new clothing collection coming soon and her first fashion show as a designer later this year! We'll be keeping on tabs for that for sure following up for a follow up interview. (∩^o^)⊃━☆ In the meantime make sure to follow Nathalie on Instagram and if you are in the Dallas area, check out Deco Dolls Market!