Check Out Monica Leigh Rodriquez’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Leigh Rodriquez.

Hi Monica Leigh, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story starts back when I was a little kid, probably eight years old in 3rd grade. I was a quiet kid, introspective, and creative inside. I don’t know what I longed for, but I remember a soft whispering. Getting ready for school one morning, I didn’t know what to wear, so my mom helped me choose something in my closet. I picked my Easter dress, a lightweight pale yellow floral dress with ruffles on the neck and bottom hem. I loved my dress, and I knew it was a special dress, but I asked if I could wear it anyway. My mom said yes! I was so happy wearing this dress to school. It made me feel special, a new feeling that filled me with hope. A little nervous, I went into class and my teacher also loved my dress. That was a day I will never forget, the feeling of special has stayed with me. This memory along with my natural creativity lead me to becoming a designer. I have always enjoyed nature, colors, and texture. Metal colors and texture, the color, shape, and texture of flora, moonlight, the shades of the progressive night sky fill me with inspiration. In my imagination, I love envisioning swirling lines and geometric lines falling around the body creating designs that have unique details that elegantly adorn the wearer.

Pushed innately by my visions, I crunched through experience in fashion becoming a pattern maker and designer, many times in both capacities at many companies, I learned an incredible amount of skill by doing both designing and making the patterns for the designs. I started a side business in my late twenties with private clients designing custom gowns and ensembles that were unique for their special events. Eventually, I went into a highly corporate world at BCBG and Halston in Los Angeles and FJ Benjamin in Singapore. The immense amount of business acumen learned at these companies became a part of my present business, fortifying the transition to becoming completely independent. The Fashion industry is a rigorous and tough business. Not for everyone. My upbringing instilled me with fortitude and an ability to see through some unethical business practices. My childhood also created in me a super sensitivity to youth and fairness. Today, I work diligently to create an inspiring working atmosphere rife with creativity. I got to where I am today by holding onto my vision, learning aggressively, knowing the difference between my truth and someone’s needs. I am inspired to create by an intrinsic internal push that I always listen too.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The pursuit to independence and pursuing my vision in fashion with Monica Leigh SVX has had many challenges; both from external challenges inherent to the aggressive business fashion is and to internal turmoil and sadness that used to reside within me. The combination of these two at times crashed and created difficulties that become obstacles I had to learn to climb over. As a young fashion professional, I didn’t realize my own talents until fellow co-workers tried to take credit for some of the creative things I made. I am thankful there is also a tiger in me that jumps right out vocalizing misrepresentation. And, fortunately, those in higher positions listened. I can be a quiet person, but I become instinctually extroverted. This used to surprise people., Now, it has become a known about me. I have always focused and worked hard. I used to imbibe way too hard. This seemed to be a running joke in fashion and in all fast-paced pressure-filled businesses.

As it were, “work hard, play hard”. Unchecked sadness with the workaholic addiction and heavy drinking caused heartache and chaos. Horrible. So many times, I had to work even harder to pay for crashed cars and such. But…..I never called in sick. My pride and determination kept me laser-focused, even in the worst of times. Even when I didn’t believe in myself, my natural talent in design showed through. I never faltered in my talent. I have a seriously high work ethic and high value for quality in everything I do for myself and anyone else. I think my creativity for a time grew beyond me and keep me going strong even in the dark. With care, meditation, health, and sobriety, I quickly became successful to the place I wanted to be at. My experience has given me deep insight into societal challenges and what I can do to inspire community and colleagues.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love finding unique ways of expression. I can sit with pencil and paper and start to draw lines and curves, “carving” out a new design or a fanciful ethereal shape. I often mention when speaking, whether it’s to students or in interviews, that I am obsessed with curved lines, shapes, and dimensions. I think I could have as easily been a metal sculptor (because I love metallic and love the feel of metal). The special feeling clothing gives me though is something I can’t deny. `I have had visions in my head since I was a teen, at times terrifying, and in more times, detailed, complex, esoteric beauty. I love to paint, a medium I yearn to get back into. What I dig so much is designing jackets and gowns with detailing that is genuinely unique, then taking the next step to drape the design onto a dress form, drafting the pattern from the drape, then cutting and sewing the piece. I love the whole process of this. When I can do the cutting and sewing myself on some pieces, I have a sense of completion. A bit of an out of body experience. I am an artist and an entrepreneur together.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Oh, my journey, a bit more complex than I think it needed to be, but I learned to be socially confident. Confidence is truly a “lesson” I learned. Social confidence did not come naturally to me, nor did I learn it growing up. I have a natural calling to be creative and show it, I have a natural calling to speak what is on my consciousness with well-spoken words, and I have the ability to focus on what I want and get it. The pain came in with awkward ill confidence with the social side of my personal, professional, and creative lifestyle. I had to learn through some challenging experiences that people genuinely like me, I had to learn that colleagues respect me. I had to learn that people genuinely enjoy the creativity in design I put forth. I learned through not ever giving up, continually putting myself out there to learn how to socialize and feel comfortable doing so. I have a core of believing in myself. It was such a welcome understanding that people believe in me too.

Pricing:

• $675.00 average Monica Leigh Jacket
• $725.00 average Monica Leigh Cocktail Dress
• $2925.00 average Monica Leigh Gown
• $315.00 average Monica Leigh Pants
• $325.00 average Monica Leigh Blouse

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://monicaleigh.com/
• Instagram: @MonicaLeighSVX
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MonicaLeighSVX/

Image Credits:
Thomas Louvagny Tatiana Neva SouKeyna Diouf Natascha Unkart Isabel Christina Wilhelm Jamar Hart Aliana King Dylon Perlot Alexandra Themm