The dramatic flair and uncompromising designs have already garnered attention from the fashion and entertainment industries. Villasanta has been featured in BBW magazine as well as on programs such as Veronica's Closet and the Queen Latifah Show. Best Supporting Actress nominee Tyne Daly proudly wore a Villasanta gown to the 2000 Emmy Awards Show.

- Biography -

Louie Villasanta Quedding hails from the exotic islands of the Philippines. Growing up in Manila, was raised around his mother's beauty salon and boutique, which featured couture creations worn by singers and movie stars. In his teen, inspired by the glamour, Louie began designing his own wardrobe and created beauty pageant gowns for his sisters. In 1980, Louie moved with his family to the United States. By this time he yearned to work in the fashion industry and took up visual merchandising in several high-end department stores. At the age of 32 he decided to commit himself to his passion and enrolled in the prestigious Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles where he was an honor student and was awarded two consecutive scholarship events in 1992 and 1993. In 1992 Louie met and married Kay, a plus-size woman who would become his inspiration. She resided in Las Vegas and realizing that a long-distance relationship was not feasible, Louie relocated to Las Vegas and commuted to Los Angeles weekly to complete his studies at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.

Two years into his schooling, Louie and Kay decided to decline an offer from the institute for him to continue to the third year graduates program. Louie opted to move to Milan, Italy where he apprenticed and freelanced for various Italian designers. Soon he was brought back to the United States by an offer as a designer for a woman's golf wear company. Before he could begin his professional career as a designer, the deal fell through and left Louie in New York working as a sales associate at Bergdorf Goodman. He eventually moved back to Las Vegas and worked in sales for exclusive boutiques including Gianni Versace, Ralph Lauren, and Giorgio Armani. Selling merchandise in designer boutiques only increased his appetite for creating his own line of clothing. Louie and Kay pooled their finances and finally formed their own company, which was christened Villasanta after Louie's mother's maiden name. While in Italy, Louie had seen a flashing sign that read "Villasanta" in a town outside of Milan and he knew instantly that the coincidence was too strong to overlook.

Inspired by Kay, and aware that plus-size women had very little to choose from when it came to fashion, Villasanta became synonymous with elegant, sexy garments created to ensure the plus-size woman that she, too, could make an enviable fashion statement. Within a year the expressive, daring designs that defined Villasanta were being sold in exclusive boutiques across the country. The year 2000 was a banner year for Louie and Kay. Villasanta garments were donned by Kirstie Alley and Kathy Najimy on their TV show, Veronica's Closet as well as plus-size model Debra Kristofferson and a pre-surgery Carnie Wilson. Villasanta fashions were also featured on the Queen Latifah Show. At the 2000 Emmy Awards, best supporting actress nominee, Tyne Daly, chose to grace the Red Carpet in a Villasanta gown. That year also saw Villasanta designs featured on the pages of both MODE and BBW.

In just four short years, Villasanta has evolved into a better contemporary, plus-size company specializing in After Five and Evening Wear as well as sportswear separates and dresses in sizes 14-24. Their designs retail from $85.00-650.00 and attract a wide range of buyers aging from 25 to 65. Fans of Villasanta can buy their favorite pieces at several top boutiques across the country including Rose of Sharon, Great Changes, Daphne's Dangerous Curves, Lisa Todd Exclusive, La Grande Dame, Abundance and Princess Cruise lines.