The Woman Behind Chiffique: Aimee Lettich-Pearson Tells Her Story

Kerry: Hello, welcome to Once Upon a Surgery. I’m the host Kerry Berlet with world-renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Berlet. And I’m here today with our first ever garden party. And I have a very special guest, the first ever designer that I’ve hosted. And her name is Aimee Lettich-Pearson. And she is the owner and designer for the luxury line called Chiffique, which is a ready-to-wear clothing line that is very high-end. We’re both wearing it and I just want to welcome you today, Aimee. Thank you so much for coming. It’s quite an honor to have you here.

Aimee: Thank you, Kerry. Thank you very much to God.

Kerry: Thank you. Yes. All right. Awesome. And what’s relevant is that Aimee and I are doing a collaboration during fashion week for EPN fashion week and the models are the former patients from Once Upon a Surgery and they will be wearing Chiffique, and why it aligns is just like Dr. Berlet treats every case with individuality, one of a kind, you know, each person is their own unique self. Chiffique is a custom line. Very high-end and luxurious and each piece like this one I’m wearing today is basically like a snowflake, right? Is that correct?

Kerry: So it’s a very unique journey that you’ve had, right, to becoming this designer and developing this brand. So, I’d love to start back from when you first thought of this idea and how it happened.

Aimee: Well, I started in 2019. Traveling around the world with my husband and watching on an iPad the Dynasty show.

Kerry: It’s a good show.

Aimee: Yes. So, watching Linda Evans and Joan Collins, dressing in beautiful silk pajamas. Going to sleep and waking up fresh and go for breakfast, open the door, do crazy things at home, and dressing very elegant in pajamas. So I decided I want to have one of them and my husband started to search but couldn’t find anything exactly like that type. So then I told him I’m going to design them. I’m going to make them.

Kerry: And was he just like okay?

Aimee: Well he knew that I was going to do it. He knew. So he was prepared for that. And then I got the machines and I went to the city to get fabric to start. To make some dresses or pajamas, right? And this is one of the fabrics that I picked in New York City. So, this is one of the first pieces that we started.

Kerry: It’s absolutely gorgeous and it’s so unique.

Aimee: Yes, it is. Thank you. So yeah, that was the story about how it was born.

Kerry: Okay. It was all inspired by Dynasty. And then so does all the silk come from New York or where do you find the material?

Aimee: The silk comes from Korea. It’s 100% silk. And then I created the atelier in St. Cloud. That is in central Florida.

Kerry: In Florida. Okay. So, it’s made in the USA.

Aimee: It’s 100% made in USA. Yes. All ladies.

Kerry: All ladies. A completely woman owned and operated business. Wow. That’s really special. And so how do you get your inspiration for each piece, cuz this piece is very different than this piece. So do you find individual inspiration, and do you make little sublines? How does that work?

Aimee: Well, I was trying to put on every piece my experience of traveling around the world. So like this piece is Africa, you see with the elephants, with the feathers, and your piece is Monaco, is about Grace Kelly, and I have a Middle East piece. We have a South America piece. So I try to put inspiration as you travel the world in every piece.

Kerry: Oh wow. Part of the world, right? That’s amazing. So each piece is handmade, right?

Aimee: It’s handmade. It’s a lot of details. Obviously, they go by the machine. This lady goes with the machine. But at the end, it’s a lot of pieces that we have to sew by hand. So it’s kind of artisanal. Like all this, it was done by hand.

Aimee: This year my daughter took over Chiffique and she brought Chiffique to the Hamptons and everybody was wearing it.

Kerry: Yeah, I saw it everywhere. Me too, by the way.

Aimee: [inaudible] because if you look back, no one wears silk.

Kerry: Yes, that’s what I noticed. No one. And this year, everyone was in silk.

Aimee: And I feel very proud. I’m very proud of the job that my daughter’s been doing, fantastic.

Kerry: No, you are truly setting trends. That was a transformation, cuz even looking back at all the pictures, it’s like this is different now, which is nice, you know? Rather than having the same old thing, it’s like a refreshed new look. And I have to say when you put these pieces on, you just feel amazing. There’s something about this material.

Aimee: It’s not only the material, but it’s like the energy in every piece. Because one of the ladies in the Hamptons, I was talking to her. She was telling me the story that she had a bad night’s sleep. Her son was waking up all night and the next morning she was feeling very tired and exhausted. And then she wanted to feel better. She said, “I need to dress Chiffique.” So she told me that she put the Chiffique on and then she was feeling beautiful, elegant, alive. So that was amazing. It’s more than a fabric. It’s an energy. It’s love. I put a lot of love in everything I do.

Kerry: Really amazing. It’s like the chef who has the secret ingredient, that special sauce that somehow comes through and it really has an impact on you, emotional, mental. When you put this on you just feel like royal, or sort of majestic.

Aimee: Like walking in the clouds.

Kerry: Yes, flowing and free. There really is something about putting on these pieces. And it’s really interesting because with this fashion show, as we were doing the fittings, these patients who have been on my podcast who are going to be modeling, you could immediately see it in them. They had this pride and confidence, and a lot of them have never worn pieces like this and it was really special.

Aimee: And I think this collaboration goes very hand by hand, the same meaning, because for the women, going through a plastic surgery is a powerful decision.

Kerry: It is. And I think like [inaudible], she says, you know, it’s the jewelry that you never take off, right? And I really do love to have mine. I hope next year, right? So it’s fantastic because you get that special new you.

Aimee: Yes. And then Chiffique is very special for you, right?

Kerry: It’s like this whole journey. It’s a fairy tale and that’s the perfect celebration. A lot of these women have real new bodies, new faces, and this is like the icing on the cake.

Aimee: Yes. Whatever makes you feel happy.

Kerry: Agree. Wait. And tell me about how you came up with the name Chiffique.

Aimee: Well, my husband came up with the name. Because when we were going out, like on a night out, he always told me wear something very chiffique, and like that it went for years. He made up that name. So when he said that to me the first time I said what is that? I don’t know. And he says I’m meaning something chic, elegant. He told me that was in his brain. His word was that. So over the years that was the word, right? And then when I was looking for the name, looking and looking, and it came out like that very natural.

Aimee: So at the beginning a lot of people cannot pronounce the name because of the spelling, right, and now it’s more normal for everybody. And I was telling my daughter the other day and my husband, it’s like Gucci, you know, when people from other parts of the planet read the word they read it different. But today everybody knows what is Gucci. So now the whole universe is going to know what is Chiffique and they’re going to pronounce it right.

Kerry: I love that he just made up the word. Does he make up other words like that?

Aimee: Well, it’s funny because he’s the one who makes all our companies’ names.

Kerry: Really? Does he have any training in that or that’s just his thing?

Aimee: No, he’s natural. He has his own language.

Kerry: It’s awesome. And did you face any challenges along the way as you were creating this line?

Aimee: Plenty. Yes, plenty.

Kerry: Cuz I mean it’s not easy, right? To go from idea.

Aimee: It’s a lot. Plus remember that I was starting when COVID-19 happened and then when I was ready to open, to start to work, to create, I had to shut it down, everybody, and then Disney closed. So the whole world was shutting down and I had to wait, I waited like seven, eight, nine months, we were already in 2020, at the end of 2020, and then I was seeing a lot of people lost their jobs and so I said I have to bring something back to my community and to the country that I love so much. They gave me a lot. And then I said I have to open Chiffique and do something. So I started with having no idea what I was doing, but I knew I had a mission, that I was supposed to support these ladies, and keep the jobs. And I started production and I started to make and make and make and I said I don’t know where I’m going to sell it, but this is going to happen.

Kerry: We’re making this. We’re doing it. That’s amazing. And so you created the pieces and then it was just building awareness?

Aimee: Right. All the challenges. I have many. Remember the Orlando area has nothing to do with fashion, right? So it’s very difficult to find people in that area.

Kerry: It’s not like New York. Interesting. And what’s your goal? Do you want to expand beyond those markets? It’s available online, right? So people can go online and find what’s available, custom. How does that work?

Aimee: Yeah. People go online or they can visit the Hamptons. Very popular now. In Palm Beach we are also going to open. And we keep growing. My daughter’s been doing a fantastic job. She is the one, right? You know, I just put my idea and I started to create and now she’s taking over. She is a machine.

Kerry: Well, no, she’s a genius, right?

Aimee: Yes, she’s a genius.

Kerry: All right. So, I just want to revisit. You had this idea cuz you liked the clothing from Dynasty, and you didn’t just decide to make it for yourself, you decided to launch this clothing line, which is a big deal. What were you doing before that, that you would just go full force into a clothing line? Have you had other businesses?

Aimee: Yes. All my life I’ve always been in a project and creating businesses. So yeah, I’m a serial entrepreneur. I saw another opportunity. I see something missing, and then I went forward.

Kerry: And you seem very busy. So you still have these other businesses happening in addition to this, right?

Aimee: Yes. I’m in the energy business, for many years, and we’re still creating because the world keeps moving and we keep creating. So now the energy goes to another level, right? To be fully green. We’re working on that.

Kerry: And now like we talked about, there’s a new type of energy. The energy that’s in the clothing.

Aimee: Oh yes.

Kerry: That’s what it is, the energy that’s in the silk and the design.

Aimee: Powerful energy.

Kerry: And I feel like this needs to get to more people. What’s your vision for building awareness or growing the reach?

Aimee: At the moment, the whole universe is going to find out about it.

Kerry: Wow, that’s a big goal, the whole universe. What does that mean?

Aimee: That means soon Miss Universe is going to wear [inaudible] and the whole world is going to look.

Kerry: That’s amazing.

Aimee: We’re going to be also in Switzerland by the end of September.

Kerry: Wow. Is that the Miss Switzerland pageant?

Aimee: The Miss Switzerland pageant is coming and Miss Universe is going to be [inaudible] and I’m going to be one of the jurors.

Kerry: Wow. Yet another job.

Aimee: No, no. It’s something that I enjoy really much, to be around all these powerful women because they are very powerful. Beside beauty, right? They’re very smart.

Kerry: And I think we read that Miss Universe is actually more about women’s empowerment. It’s not just only about beauty, that’s not why they win. There’s more.

Aimee: Yes, it is.

Kerry: That’s really cool. And is that your first time doing that?

Aimee: To be on a jury? Yes, the first time.

Kerry: Right. That’s exciting. Congratulations.

Aimee: Thank you, Kerry.

Kerry: All right. So, I’ve been traveling around Europe a bit, and I noticed that some of these high-end lines like Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, they have beach clubs around Italy. Do you think Chiffique would ever do something like that?

Aimee: We already have.

Kerry: Really? Wait, where? What is it and where is it?

Aimee: Well, it’s a members-only club. In the mountains of Colombia. So, we have villas, individual villas. At the moment, 10 villas. We’re going to open in two weeks’ time.

Kerry: Oh, in two weeks you’re opening. Wow. You have a lot going on. And so what’s it like at the villas?

Aimee: Well, they are very luxurious.

Kerry: Is it all silky like Chiffique? Silk, like in the bed sheets?

Aimee: No, no, not yet. Not yet. But that is a good idea, Kerry. Maybe we do that.

Kerry: Well, because I know sometimes the pillows are better for your hair.

Aimee: That is true. I’m going to put that idea in. So, yes, it’s very luxurious inside the villa. And then in the morning you wake up, with the remote control you open your curtains, and then you see the mountain in front of you. You walk outside, the birds are singing, you see all the flowers. It’s fantastic. And then we have a peacock sanctuary.

Kerry: Peacocks. Wow. That is so unique. And so when is this opening?

Aimee: In two months.

Kerry: Two months. Oh my gosh. You have so much going on, from one thing to the other. And these villas already exist?

Aimee: Yes, they already exist.

Kerry: Sounds very exclusive and really different.

Aimee: It is so beautiful up in the mountain with the nature, but you’re going to have all the luxuries, the things are custom, and you’re going to feel not like in Italy but better than that, because the mountain is yours.

Kerry: That’s amazing. And is there a direct flight from New York?

Aimee: [inaudible] Well, it’s a little bit of a journey. It’s not a big journey. And then we pick you up from there. Then a 45 minute drive up to the mountain. Very safe.

Kerry: Amazing. That’s beautiful. Oh, that sounds amazing. Well, you are so impressive, you’re a jack of all trades, a very powerful woman. I can see lots of parts of your brain just constantly working. And so I just want to say thank you so much for coming and congratulations, and we’re so honored to be a part of this collaboration with fashion week.

Aimee: Thank you.

Kerry: Cheers to you.

Aimee: Cheers. Thank you.