My Creative Cup of Tea

September 17, 2026

#MCCOTInterview {57}

Karla Mayer, the Mexican fashion designer who creates emotions

Most human beings have been cultivating a deep passion with intense joy and dedication for many years in their free time. A very special one that, at a certain point, for some lucky ones, can unexpectedly turn out to be a true path that brings to a fully professional and personal fulfilment. It is exactly what happened to Mexican designer, founder and creative director Karla Mayer when she settled with her family in the city of Mérida, in search of a safe haven and a fresh start. In the enigmatic land of Yucatan, she was kind of reborn, felt stronger and confident enough to listen to her heart and fully embrace the passion for textiles and creation that had always lived within her. Three and half years ago, she opened her atelier and established the comfy haute couture Maison CRESTA De GALLO, called after her favorite flower. Inspired by Art, Architecture, Food, and Music, Karla is a proud 'Creator of emotions' whose extraordinary and one-of-a-kind pieces are designed to be truly lived. As an artist who appreciates and values Art in its fullest expression but also advocates for Creativity and craftsmanship, her approach to fashion is resolutely unique, slow, intuitive and experimental. A few years ago, she had the pleasure to encounter Daniela Bustos Maya who is an Argentina-born and Mérida-based committed, conscious and ethical slow entrepreneur and founder of the eponymous brand of jewelry and accessories and happy owner of the concept house CASA T'HŌ. A beautiful and unique commercial space where to discover a curated selection of creations of talented Mexican designers and artisans. Sharing a common deep-rooted love for design, Karla and Daniela have since become close friends and creative partners. Their sincere friendship has been built on strong foundations: mutual admiration, trust, and the sincere desire to see one another grow. Meet Karla, a passionate creative woman and skilled artisan who invites women to listen to themselves, embrace their true essence, live authentically, and choose to wear clothings that perfectly and genuinely reflect their soul and state of mind, without allowing trends to dictate who they are. A precious tip that we all should follow. So from now on, just be you. You are more than enough.

By Hélène Battaglia

Who are you?

My name is Karla Mayer, and I have a profound love for collecting art and textiles. I consider myself a textile artist because, through every textile, I create wearable art—pieces that carry memory, soul, and purpose. Above all, I define myself as a creator of emotions.

Which personal and professional background brought you to become the talented artist and fashion designer you are today?

My travels, the experiences I have lived, and even the scent of something old awaken my imagination, inviting me to wonder about the stories it holds and the passage of time it has witnessed.

My love for collecting art and textiles, together with my deep passion for designing and creating one-of-a-kind pieces—which I call Veils for the Soul—has shaped my path. I work with textile fragments that I have collected over the years, allowing their memories to find new life and meaning.

Through this journey, I discovered something essential within myself: an insatiable hunger to create.

What made you choose the Mexican city of Mérida, located in Yucatan, to start a new chapter of your life?

First and foremost, I chose to live there in search of something essential: a better quality of life and a sense of safety for my family and myself.

Over time, I came to a profound realization: I could not leave this world without devoting myself to what had always truly moved me—creating with textiles.

I have always felt that Yucatán is a deeply enigmatic land, charged with a powerful energy that invites you to shed an old version of yourself and be reborn. I believe this beautiful land gave me the strength to begin again and fully embrace the passion that had always lived within me.

When did you come up with the decision of establishing your own Atelier?

It was only three and a half years ago that a series of circumstances made me realize it was time to open my own atelier—a space where I could express myself without limits.

I wanted to surround myself with an entire palette of “watercolors,” as I like to call my textiles, and use them to paint life in color, without being restricted by space. Every one of my textiles is carefully preserved in glass cabinets under controlled temperatures, as each fragment holds its own history and value. That freedom, together with my insatiable desire to create, allowed me to shape a universe of my own: the Cresta de Gallo Universe.

By the way, is there a particular reason why you called it ' CRESTA DE GALLO'?

I named my brand Cresta de Gallo after my favorite flower—a velvety, deep-fuchsia bloom that appears only during October and November. In Mexico, it is traditionally placed on altars during the Day of the Dead as a tribute to those who are no longer with us.

To me, this flower embodies exotic beauty, rich texture, and singularity. Yet the name Cresta de Gallo also immediately evokes the proud crest of the rooster. It is precisely this duality—the delicacy and beauty of the flower alongside the boldness and strength of the animal—that reflects who we are as women: unique, beautiful, daring, and courageous.

What is the purpose behind this new bold journey of yours as a designer, founder and creative director?

My deepest wish is for each person to choose the Veil with which they truly identify. We step out into the world with our souls exposed, and there is something beautiful about wearing a piece that genuinely reflects who we are.

I feel that today, people are often too attached to trends and to what fashion dictates, rather than listening to what their own being—their soul—asks them to wear. My purpose is to invite them to choose from within.

Your approach to fashion is resolutely unique, slow, intuitive and experimental. Which are the main inspirations behind every unique handcrafted piece that comes out of your workshop?

Art, architecture, food, and music are all profound sources of inspiration for me. I allow them to merge with my state of mind, creating a kind of magical potion from which each design begins to emerge.

Every piece is infused with emotion and shaped by the experiences I have lived. It is never simply designed—it is felt, transformed, and ultimately brought to life through textiles.

You usually define your style as a comfy Haute Couture. Could you please tell us more about this unusual concept of yours?

I have always loved dressing differently. My pieces are sophisticated and one of a kind, crafted from exceptional materials such as silk, antique lace, linen, cotton, and often striking brocades. Yet I do not believe they should be reserved only for special occasions.

I have always said that we should dress for ourselves—even if we are simply going to the supermarket! That is why I create pieces that are bold and unique, yet incredibly comfortable and fluid, allowing the person wearing them to move freely and feel completely at ease.

For me, that is the essence of Comfy Haute Couture: extraordinary pieces designed to be truly lived in.

How would you describe the woman you create for and proudly dress?

The woman who chooses to wear Cresta de Gallo is someone who appreciates and values art in its fullest expression—from the artistry of a beautifully composed dish to the emotion found in a painting or a sonata.

She no longer wants to own what everyone else has. She has already experienced the world of luxury brands and mass-produced exclusivity; now, she seeks pieces with soul, history, and individuality.

In a few words, she is a woman who knows the world—and can transport you through it while sitting in a chair, simply by sharing the stories she has lived.

How does a normal day take place at Cresta de Gallo?

I begin my day with coffee and exercise before heading to my atelier—a place I always call my cave, my refuge. I can spend hours there admiring my textiles and listening to music.

The first thing I do when I arrive is put on music. Then I take out the fabrics I already have in mind and begin to play with them, allowing the shape of a new design to reveal itself naturally.

When I do not have a particular textile in mind, I take them out one by one, unfolding and folding them again. This ritual allows me to see them, touch them, and reconnect with those that have been waiting in my collection for longer. Little by little, I begin choosing and combining colors and textures.

That is how my creative day begins—and from there, I simply allow myself to move to the rhythm of my textiles.

How does the deep passion you have been nurturing for decades for Vintage textile as an avid collector influence your collections?

It has influenced my work in a profound way because, like everything and everyone, we are constantly evolving and changing.

Over time, I have become far more discerning in the textures I choose, and today I find myself increasingly drawn to silks and brocades. As I evolve, so does my way of seeing, selecting, and working with textiles.

Ultimately, the antique textile archive at the Cresta de Gallo Atelier has taken shape as a reflection of my own transformation. Its direction tells the story of how Karla Mayer has changed—both as a woman and as a textile artist.

Have you ever designed on demand bespoke items for special events?

It is not something I usually do, but I have accepted a few commissions for very special and deeply personal reasons.

The first was created for an artist who asked me to design a piece for the opening of his exhibition in Miami, where it became part of a performance.

The second was made for a woman with a profound love for haute couture, who wished to wear a Cresta de Gallo piece to a Met Gala in San Francisco.

For me, bespoke pieces must arise from a meaningful connection—there must be a story, an emotion, and a genuine reason to create them.

When and where did you meet your friend Daniela Busto Maya who is an Argentina-born and Mérida-based slow and eco-founder of the eponymous brand of jewelry and accessories?

I had the pleasure and honor of meeting Daniela at Casa Tho—if I remember correctly—during a dinner hosted there. We spent a long time talking about many things, but especially about what moves us both so deeply: design.

I believe what brought us together, almost instinctively, was our shared energy and the connection we felt as women and artists—without yet knowing that we would eventually become creative collaborators and bring several beautiful projects to life together.

I love her dearly, and as I have often told her, women like Daniela are rare. She is incredibly supportive, loyal, and generous—a wonderful companion and a truly exceptional creative partner.

How was your friendship born?

I believe my answer to the previous question explains much of how our friendship began. But I would add that Daniela’s actions—her unconditional support, generosity, and genuine sense of companionship—have been invaluable to me.

In the creative world, as in many others, true collaboration is not always easy to find. Competition, envy, and a lack of generosity can sometimes overshadow the possibility of supporting one another.

I have been extraordinarily fortunate to cross paths with someone like Daniela Bustos Maya—a remarkable human being whose loyalty and friendship I value deeply.

Which life and professional core values do you both share?

I believe what truly connects us is a shared sense of loyalty, generosity, and genuine support between women. We both value authenticity, creativity, and a deep respect for craftsmanship and the hands behind every creation.

Above all, we believe in honest collaboration—one that comes from mutual admiration, trust, and the sincere desire to see one another grow.

Are you, by chance, already part of the beautiful and virtuous concept store CASA T'HŌ launched by Daniela to support Mexican craftsmanship and design?

At one point, CRESTA DE GALLO had the privilege of being part of the wonderful curation at CASA T'HŌ . It was a deeply rewarding experience and an honor to have our pieces presented within a space that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and meaningful design.

As an artist, creative woman and skilled artisan, how crucial is it to you to support and fight for Creativity and craftsmanship?

Preserving creativity and craftsmanship is essential because there are still people who value true refinement—and I am not speaking about money, but about an appreciation for something genuinely well made.

To create something well requires time, attention, energy, creativity, and patience—qualities that, unfortunately, are increasingly overlooked and undervalued today.

Social media has also made it very easy to present something as “handcrafted” when no genuine craftsmanship exists behind it. The word artisanal has been overused and commercially appropriated to such an extent that almost anyone can apply it to a product, even when it does not embody the time, skill, human touch, or integrity that true craftsmanship demands.

For me, defending craftsmanship also means defending its truth.

A message to the world

Always remember how important it is to listen to ourselves, live authentically, and choose what genuinely reflects our essence—without allowing trends to dictate who we are.

Dress the soul, honor memory, and always choose from within.

Above all: never stop doing what truly sets your soul on fire.

Cresta de Gallo

Daniela Bustos Maya

@cresta.de.gallo

@danielabustosmaya