About

Yabette

As a kid in school, Yabette Alfaro decided to wear her hair a different way every day. This thinking brought about all sorts of creative presentations and trends with braids and accessories! Concerned with justice, beauty, nature, and uniqueness, this thought process and self-motivated stretching has always been a part of Yabette’s way of life. After spending 20 years and college devoted to music, she traveled around the states performing live electronic music and released her own trip hop and experimental drum n bass tracks on CD and vinyl.

After landing and staying in San Francisco, she asked herself how to apply the “Think Globally, Act Locally” mantra to her own life. She came up with a brand, “Swankety Swank” and became a retailer of some notoriety in the city by the bay. Using her mastery of transformation, she would makeover and upcycle in many art forms. From showcasing her plus size clothing designs at The Supper Club, to throwing extravagant Steampunk events at her shop, she always put forth a successful effort with pomp and flair.​
Having an excellent reputation of creating good quality art furniture, she built a following and repertoire of consistent sales. Winning a grant from The San Francisco Travel Center, as well as many spotlights in The San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, Brooklyn’s Bohomag and San Francisco local rags, she earned the attention for her non conformist’s style and practical approach.

As 2012 dawned, she had an epiphany to let go of it all. No longer needing the enormous undertaking in retail, she closed her shop in favor of a studio and took up oil painting. She has released herself from all unnecessary distractions, started meditating with discipline, and has an intense focus on her art. Keeping busy with commissions from followers, she has been compiling a complete collection of undersea creatures and is releasing The Luscious Bum Project in 2013.