Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting for Carmen Flores: Foundational Apparel by Ruby Ribbon Thursday. Pictured are Raquel Kline, Paddock Springs; Dawn Jaggers, American Family Insurance; Scott Clay, NAPA Auto Parts; Erik Reck, son-in-law to Carmen Flores; Victoria Lopez, Carmen’s daughter; Andres Lopez, Carmen’s son-in-law; Ernesto Flores, Carmen’s husband; Carmen Flores; Veronica Flores, Carmen’s daughter; and Rob Parker, Chamber president and CEO. Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-Union.

By Jackie Gorski
Times-Union

WINONA LAKE – Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting for Carmen Flores: Foundational Apparel by Ruby Ribbon in Winona Lake on Thursday, Dec. 30.

Owner Carmen Flores said she joined Ruby Ribbon, the brand of foundational garments she sells, 2-1/2 years ago. It wasn’t until recently she decided to join the Chamber and open her own studio in her house.

“Ruby Ribbon is an apparel company and we replace the bra. So we fit women from 23 AA to 56 Q and from X-S to 3X. So we’re for all the girls. And we’re an option that women really don’t know about. We’re wire free and comfortable. Back support and different,” she said. 

Flores said Ruby Ribbon will be in business for 10 years in 2022 and has 4,000 stylists across the U.S. and only sells in the U.S. 

Women can text the word “curious” to 574-400-6709. That will put the customer in contact with Flores. The customer can then go to Flores’ studio, where she will take the customer’s measurements. 

Flores has samples customers can try on and the products will be shipped to the customer’s home. Flores said once the products are shipped, the customer can try them on and a fit check is done to make sure the customer likes what they have. If the customer needs to exchange or return what they bought, Flores said they have 30 days to do that. 

She says she has a website, which can be found at www.brasaretheworst.com. She likes to talk to clients first because sizing “is very important and I want them to love what they get,” she said. 

Flores says she offers a range of products, including demiettes, camies, underpants, leggings, activewear and workwear. 

She said her primary focus is helping women with better breast health and back support and to be more comfortable every day, and Ruby Ribbon’s products encourages good lymphatic flow. Flores said breasts need good lymphatic flow to get rid of toxins in the system and bras, in general, hurt the lymphatic system. The type of undergarments she sells is a better option for women, she said. 

“And there’s a lot of back support in our products as well. So women who have shoulder, back and neck pain because of the weight of their breasts, this product really helps.”

Flores has degrees in business, Spanish and education. She has a licensed principal’s license and teacher’s license in Indiana. She had a 17-year teaching career. When her children were grown up and out of the house, Flores said she was looking for something to fill her time and found Ruby Ribbon by accident and decided to try it to see if she liked it.

As far as store hours, it is easiest to text her at 574-400-6709 and set an appointment. She said her hours are flexible and she does what’s best for her clients. People can also contact her through her website.