Today we’d like to introduce you to Raquel Rhodes.
Hi Raquel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Well this is never an easy question to respond to but here we go… so I got started in 2003 and I started designing and creating jewelry while I was a shoe salesperson for Dillard’s. I would spend my breaks studying shoes and accessories and I was studying people how they responded and reacted to accessories, how they made them feel many times I even saw people fighting over Mass produce merchandise. So from that point, I set out to create something that would show people the importance, the freedom, the love, and the blessing of standing in the power of being your own individual self.
So I was doing very well with my accessories brand and then along the lines I was living in Atlanta Georgia at the time and I totally lost myself I lost my creative freedom because I started appealing to the masses trying to keep up with what was current instead of creating my own Avenues so I went on a fast and I did a lot of praying and meditating and from there my eyewear line was born.
So my brand is created for individuals who were made to “stand out and not fit in,” people who create their own path. I started off as “Necessities by Raqui-“Trend steppers”, then “I-Wear by Raqui,” as the letter “I” Stands for individuality, inspiration, ineffable, Irreplaceable, and evolves with an “I” lol.
Since then my journey has put me in the face or on the faces of many celebrities starting with KeKe Wyatt, Kandi Burress, Kirk Franklin, Kym Whitley, Carla Hall, Lisa Raye McCoy, Janelle Monae, Raheem Devaughn, Beyonce…and more.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As they say, the road to success is never easy, but it has been a beautiful I can honestly say that the only challenges I have endured along the way were physical challenges and financial challenges.
Last year I had two strokes the first one was March 26th and the second one was August 1st my doctors labeled me as “Cryptogenic” Because I did not embody any of the typical reasons or causes of strokes on my tests were normal they really couldn’t explain it or figure it out and that they could not find a source as to why my Strokes happened but during this time I had moved to Ohio to live with my mother after the pandemic hit and I was in New York at the time and I moved to Ohio with her and became a nurse and that took a toll on me a lot of stress I endured.
By the grace of God, he kept me and the blockage they said that I had is no longer on the left side of my brain I only residual side effects I endured was just a few some light-headedness, some dizziness, maybe a little vertigo and initially, there were some eye challenges but I am alive and well and the “MARATHON CONTINUES”….. (Nipsey Hustle)
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Well, I specialize and customize I-wear and I am known for my customized eyewear. All of my designs and creations come from my mini travels and living in a lot of different countries and states have lived in Haiti, Aruba, Martinique, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. I feel like I’ve lived in all the major states I think I have LOL
What sets me apart from others is that I’m not afraid to challenge myself and push myself nor back down on any challenges that anybody else sets before me.
I’m most proud of the fact that no matter how many times I get knocked down, I get back up sometimes, I don’t give myself enough credit and I’m always pushing to have more and do more and be more. I’m almost proud of that and a lot of things that I’ve learned from living so many different places and that’s shows in my work.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something surprising that most people who know me or my work and my brand that and not know about me?!?! Hmm mm🤔 Maybe that I’m extroverted introvert and that I “on” suffer in silence that I’m a very spiritual person. I see things and feel things differently than anybody else. I moved differently, I talked to the stars, I talked to the moon, I talked to butterflies, I talked to the birds. I’m very much a nature person sometimes I feel like I’m not enough it may not seem like that on the outside but that’s something that I struggle with.
Pricing:
- 50.00-7500
- 100.00-150.00
- 150.00-200.00
- 200.00-275.00
- 300-400.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.I-WEARBYRAQUI.com
- Instagram: I-Wear by Raqui
- Facebook: I-Wear by Raqui
- Twitter: I-WearbyRaqui
Image Credits
DragQueen “Eureka O’Hara”, Kym Whitley, Kelis, KeKe Wyatt, r&b “Lil Mo”, all celebs, photos were taken by Myself.
