MinerAlert
MinerAlert
November 2025
By Alexandra Sanchez ’17
When Elizabeth “Liz” Trow graduated from The University of Texas at El Paso with her bachelor’s degree in art education in 2008, she went on to teach middle school and most recently co-founded Heike&Liz, a children’s boutique dedicated to handmade garments that empower clients and help tell their stories. The company takes pride in repurposing materials into meaningful keepsake pieces and offering engaging workshops that bring the El Paso community together through creativity and connection.
A proud first-generation college graduate, Trow went on to earn her master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from UTEP in 2013. For more than 18 years, she has taught middle school art in El Paso, encouraging students to explore their creativity through everything from painting and drawing to 3D design and sewing.
“Even if they never take art again, I want my students to experience a little bit of everything,” she said.
Trow’s love for sewing began early, when her mother taught her to cut patterns and make small projects. After becoming a mother herself, she started creating handmade pieces for her daughter, reigniting her creative spark. That passion grew into a business in 2024, when she and a fellow designer founded their boutique, an LLC dedicated to handmade and sustainable garments for children and young adults.
“We want to bring value back to the art of sewing,” Trow shared. “It’s a skill that’s slowly being lost, but it teaches you that not everything has to be disposable.”
Trow’s designs quickly caught attention. In February 2025, she and her business partner were named Designers of the Year at New York Fashion Week, a milestone that affirmed their craftsmanship and creativity. They plan to return in 2025 with a new collection, donating proceeds from the show to pancreatic cancer research in honor of Trow’s late father.
Trow has hopes to open a brick-and-mortar boutique in El Paso—a space where shoppers can find unique, handmade pieces and take sewing classes that preserve the art form for future generations.
“Our ultimate goal is to give back to the community,” she said. “Whether that’s through creating something special for a family milestone or teaching someone to sew for the first time, it’s about connecting through creativity.”
Reflecting on her UTEP experience, Trow says the path she chose shaped both her personal and professional journey.
“If I had gone to California to study fashion like I once planned, I wouldn’t have met my husband or had my daughter,” she said. “UTEP gave me the foundation for the life I have now—and for that, I’m grateful.”
From her art classroom to the fashion world’s biggest stage, Elizabeth Trow continues to inspire through passion, purpose, and Miner pride. You can support her business by following her business page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/heike.liz or website https://heikeandliz.com/.