Manuel Garcia Cruz Manuel Garcia is a Puerto Rican fashion designer who has been living in St. Louis for the past 7 years.

With a background in finance, Manuel created his own fashion brand, Manolo Bouvier in 2019, focusing on custom made garments and one-of-a-kind handbags. He is obsessed with fashion history and draws inspiration from the classic forms of Dior, Chanel, and Alexander McQueen while infusing his work with the vibrancy and free spirit of his Puerto Rican upbringing. Manuel designs for women who are comfortable with their power and sexuality and who lead and advocate for change.

In 2024, Garcia introduced the Louie bag, a line of handbags inspired by St Louis, that combine artful, geometric constructions with practical, aesthetically pleasing designs. These bags debuted at the Threads biennial fundraiser of the Missouri History Museum and were featured in the June-July 2024 issue of St. Louis Magazine