Fashion – Richmond
Belladonna is co-owned and run by designers Michelle S. Ramon and Rachel Decker. Our clothing reflects current alternative Japanese fashion trends taking style inspiration from Gothic Lolita fashion, dolly kei, otome kei, Mori Girl, Aristocrat, and the newly popular western style Steampunk fashion. Although neither of us have a background in the fashion industry we began sewing, designing, and creating since we were young. When we met at age 14 we began a lifelong friendship and with the help of each other we began creating costumes together with dreams of one day opening a shop together. Michelle Ramon started an indie label called Atelier Enchanteur in Baltimore, MD shortly after her graduation from VCU, but upon her move back to Richmond, VA we reconnected on our dream to open a shop together and later in January 2013 started Belladonna as a way to bring Gothic and Lolita fashion to the US customer. Now, all of our clothing is hand made together in our apartment in Richmond, VA, with some pieces made with our in house textile prints that Michelle Ramon does the artwork for.