Jasmin Rodriguez
Where are you from/Where are you now?
I am from Queens, New York, now residing in Las Vegas, Nevada.
How did your cultural upbringing influence your fashion sense?
It influenced my fashion sense greatly. I mean, New York is literally a melting pot of art, culture, and fashion. You can find inspiration on every corner. I still visit every few months to re-inspire myself when I get bored. (Even) though I have been in Las Vegas for about 8 years, so much of who I am is still rooted in where I come from. I have to hold onto those things because there is no place like New York and there aren’t many Puerto Ricans in Nevada.
Did you always know you'd be a fashion designer?
I actually had no idea I would be a fashion designer. I have worn so many hats in the fashion industry and this was the one thing I hadn’t tried to do so I said “f*ck it” and I can’t even believe this is my life now. I think I may have been subconsciously afraid to take that leap because I could fail. It isn’t easy leaving the security of a 9-5 to run your own business but I just couldn’t work for other people anymore. I was deteriorating working to help other people succeed. It was my turn and I took it.
What & who inspired you to embrace fashion design as a profession?
I love love love fashion from the 1920s-1980s. Being a shopaholic who loves vintage and history, motivated me to create my own designs inspired by those eras.
Are you the most stylish person in your family? If not, who is?
I actually come from a very stylish family so I am not the only one. My sisters style is incredible. My mom is super stylish too!
You serve many looks. One day, it's 80's B-girl flavor; another day, it's old Hollywood meets Rockabilly. As a designer, does this interchangeable fashion sense influence your design work?
Absolutely! I don’t believe in boxes. People are so multifaceted and should be able to be/channel whoever they want when they want. This is why I try to design clothing that is versatile enough that it relates to every type of person.
Who is your target consumer, and why?
My target consumer is anyone who doesn’t mind turning heads. lol
Your internet presence is quite the 'influence' for many women of color; some may even argue that you were an 'influencer' before the term was overused. What are some pros & cons to fashion-blogging for an online audience of 170K+ followers?
Thank you! I started blogging in 2008 when influencers weren’t really a thing and it has been amazing and brought me many great opportunities. However, the downside is that people come up with versions of who they think I am. Strangers on the internet literally feel entitled to tell me who I am. That’s the biggest issue I face with having a big following: everyone wants you to be the perfect version of who they want you to be. But I’m not here to be anyone’s social media puppet. I’m not looking for their validation. I am 100% myself, sometimes I am glamorous and sometimes I am a hot mess. All of us are human/imperfect, even the influencers we love.
As a Puerto Rican woman, have you had to dodge any pitfalls in your journey to becoming an in-demand designer? If so, were there any learning curves or lessons you took away from those moments?
All I am going to say is…If I was a white woman, I’d be a lot more successful in the eyes of the mainstream fashion world. My last name is Rodriguez, and I don’t intend on changing it to appeal to the masses. I intend on breaking down the walls built to keep us small so that others like me can walk through. I, like many other WOC, have to work 100% harder than my caucasian peers. The biggest lesson I learned is to keep going anyway. It’s been quite the journey and there were many times I wanted to give up, many tears I shed holding onto my dream, and I thank god that I had friends and family who believed in me and never let me give up. You need a good support system. You have to surround yourself with people who lift you up.
When you launched your first collection, did you expect such a strong response? Your collection sold out almost immediately. I'm sure as a new designer, this was a lot to absorb. What three words would you use to summarize your feelings the 'morning after'?
Shocked, grateful, overwhelmed. My mind was blown! (Even) ‘til this day, I am still in total shock and overwhelmed with gratitude for those who support me and love what I do.
As most self-starter entrepreneurs know, sleep and rest is a luxury. Have you gotten any peaceful moments to 'bask in the glory' of success? How did you treat yourself?
I honestly haven’t. I can’t believe a year has passed already. I’m just juggling a lot and going through a lot of changes constantly, that I haven’t had much time to bask in the glory of my success or even really rest. I think because I have been through a lot in my life, I am always in survival mode. It’s getting better though now that I have some extra hands to help me with my work load. Soon I’ll be able to rest and trust in the process.
Who are your favorite designers? (dead or alive, popular or not)
Versace, Thierry Mugler, Jean Paul Gaultier, Betsey Johnson, Christian Dior, Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Schiaparelli, I could go on!
You wear many hats: model, business owner, blogger, fashion designer. what else is on your bucket list of career moves?
I really want to open a designer vintage store!
What advice would you give to a young person from the diaspora who wants to do what you do?
At the risk of sounding cliché, just never give up. The system was built to keep us small. Defy the system, break down the walls. Become so good at what you do, that the world can no longer turn a blind eye.