Watch: Fashion Designer Takes Inspiration from the Mission

Cyril Lumboy makes wild, colorful dresses inspired by Japanese street fashion -- and Mission San Juan Capistrano.

On April 12-14, this Mission Viejo designer will be one of the Guests of Honor at the San Diego Anime Convention.

See video of Lumboy, her dresses and an audio interview above.

Lumboy moved to Mission Viejo from Manila, Philippines two years ago. She sells her dresses for $400 to $2,000.

But as the maker of custom dresses, Lumboy has discovered that whether she works depends on her clients. Now 23, the designer is learning to live her dream and stay practical.

"Sometimes I need to find a better career path in terms of (being) profitable," she said. "This is a very specialized fashion style. My father has encouraged me to do something more mass-appropriate, R.T.W. (ready-to-wear). Most of my pieces are custom-made to clients. But if I produce some simpler stuff as ready-to-wear, I could have a business there."

To that end, Lumboy said she will be unrolling her first collection of ready-to-wear sundresses later this month.

To learn more about the designer and her designs, head to her website, blog.dolldelight.com.

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