Amber the Conduit
4.22.26
ZC The Label was brought to my attention by another creative. Zara has designed a unique and fashionable handbag line that would be a perfect addition to anyone’s closet. I reached out to Zara to learn more about her and ZC The Label.
Here is Zara’s interview:
Intersecting Fashion & Spirituality
When we talk about Fashion & Spirituality; how do the two intersect and what are your beliefs on the intersection of them?
AMBER: “Fashion and spirituality have been the two pillars of my life. Like, I grew up obsessed with fashion. My whole dream, my whole career, I thought I was gonna be a fashion editor for magazine publications.
I went to school for fashion with the concentration in fashion publications. I interned at the top fashion magazine companies, but also behind the scenes I was always spiritual too.
I was always intuitive.
I was always doing readings.
Years later, I realized that my sewing skills didn’t match why I really wanted to designs and I didn’t want to stifle my creativity anymore so I went into manufacturing in 2021/22.
At the end of 2025, I changed my brand name from ZARACHIOMA to ZC the Label because of trademarking conflicts but I also think this new brand name feels more intentional for what I’m building.”
How does the art of intention go into fashion? From shopping for clothing pieces to styling and wearing them?
ZARA:“I’ve always loved fashion when I was a kid. There was a black-and-white striped pant set that I used to love to wear out every damn day and my mom was sick of it (laughs)
When I got a little bit older, I would stay up till 1 AM or 2 AM to binge watch runway shows on the style network. I just had to soak up as much as I could before I went to bed.
My relationship with fashion has always been pretty instinctive. I’m an introvert so I tend to be more bold with my clothing choices and not chasing every trend but
I pay more attention to how something feels, how it fits into real life, and whether it actually adds something meaningful to my look.
My background is actually in healthcare, so fashion became my creative outlet. I think that contrast helps in some sort of way.”
Styling with the stars
How does astrology come into play with a person's wardrobe and if they wanted to find their personal style, what aspects, planets and or houses would they need to look into?
ZARA: “The energy is confident, expressive, and a little bold without trying too hard.
As the designer and founder behind ZC The Label, I design for the woman who knows exactly who she is, even if her schedule is all over the place. She’s balancing a lot, but still cares about how she shows up. Whether she’s running errands, heading to work, or out for the night. She wants to feel put together without overthinking it.
She’s not minimal, and she’s definitely not boring. She appreciates details, textures, and pieces that do a little more, but still make sense for real life.
ZC The Label was made for the person who wants ease, but never at the expense of style.”
We all know the saying, "When you look good, you feel good." Let's talk about the energy behind people styling themselves based on how they feel energetically and how they can style themselves to bring in what they want and/or need at the moment.
ZARA: “I’d say it’s definitely animal print. I’ve been seeing a lot more animal print and not just your typical leopard and crocodile but zebra, cow, deer etc. I just love it. Also it’s so much easier to play with the animal print trend in an accessory, like a bag versus maybe a coat or pants.”
Amber’s closet
You have impeccable style. How do you curate your wardrobe according to your beliefs and do you always pick pieces to add to your closet based on your astrological and spiritual insight?
ZARA: “This is a tough one because it’s like picking my favorite child. The Winnie bag is such a classic fave because it was my first design that I manufactured. Now that I’m a mom, I gravitate more towards bigger bags, which is why I made the Charlotte over-sized clutch; I can carry my son’s snacks and diapers in there without lugging a diaper bag. I wear that one out every single day. But the Zuri trunk is also a favorite because it’s just so damn cute, it really makes me feel like a bad bitch!”
What should our Readers take into consideration when curating their closets?
ZARA: “Events, new designs, restocks of some favorite color ways (I’ve never restocked a bag before but it’s looking like I’ll be able to now) and more fun imagery.”
Connect With Amber
A Letter From The Editor
Dear Readers,
Thank you for taking the time to read up this special issue of FASH FWD. I started this publication to not only share my love for Fashion, but to help other fashion creatives share their stories and the brands they’ve built. My goal is to make sure they are able to connect with community and by you reading their stories helps me do just that.
Thank You!
The Credits
Interviewer/Editor & Graphic Design:
Ashley Simien
Images Provided By:
Amber