Daily Inspiration: Meet Hazel Rojas Davila

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hazel Rojas Davila.

Hi Hazel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello! My name is Hazel Rojas Davila. I am Fashion Designer and brand owner of Hazel Noir. Since childhood, I had a fascination with making clothes for my bears and eventually for myself. My mother let me express my personal style at young age. She was always a stylish woman. I loved picking her outfits and borrowing her heels. She was my first introduction to women’s wear. I couldn’t fit in women’s clothing yet, but I longed for the day to be able too. My grandparents in Nicaragua were also talented artisans in their small town. They encouraged me from afar and even occasionally mailed me fabrics. I felt it was my duty to honor them and continue in their footsteps.

Eventually my enthusiasm grew along with my talents. I gained my first clients in high school. This fueled the fire in me to continue pursuing my dreams. After graduating, I attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. This school is where I met my amazing mentor, Colleen Quen. Through her I learned a completely new method of design; Couture. I studied under her for many years.

During this time, I was designing out of my parent’s garage next to the workout equipment. It would flood all the time during rainy seasons. I would have to move papers and fabrics inside just to keeps them safe. COVID hit and the world shut down. There were many times where I questioned if I was going to fail, if I should switch to a different career, or if I was good enough. Those moments were pivotal in my growth even though they were painful and uncomfortable. I decided in 2022 to let go of the fear and join a local Fashion Show in the Bay Area. To my surprise and delight, the audience loved my work!

I continued to work hard on building a website, marketing my work, and buying labels. Eventually I gained local clients who also became dear friends to me.

Eventually I received a message about a show in NY. I decided to put my fear aside and accept the call. I happily showcased my capsule collection of five looks. This wonderful experience gave me more confidence to continue pursuing my goals. I couldn’t believe I had showcased in NY and now I had to fly back home. I made the decision to move into an apartment with a small area for a studio. I am so grateful I did. It was a big moment of growth for me as a brand and as a person.

The same year I received an email inviting me to showcase in Paris. This was always a childhood dream of mine however, I was only a team of one showcasing with luxury fashion houses. So once again I put fear aside, worked night and day for months, and prepared for the show in Paris with my family’s support. It was intense work and planning, but it was worth it in the end.

Sitting on my mother’s couch, I got the shock of a lifetime. My show had been covered by Elle Italia, Harper’s Bazaar France, Madame Figaro, and Amica. It was a full circle moment for me as I sat in the house I grew up in.

Soon after, I received an email from The Her Group PR Showroom. It was a blessing. Not only are they extremely kind, they are also extremely professional. I decided to embrace my fears and showcase my work in their showroom! It brings me so much joy seeing different types of people and artists wear my work. I know my grandparents would be proud.

Some of my work is currently available at The Her Group PR Showroom in Downtown Los Angeles. I am also available for commissions through The Her Group or via my website www.HazelNoir.com. Preorders for Ready-To-Wear are now available on the renovated website!

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?
Launching your own clothing brand and becoming a fashion designer comes with a lot of struggles and difficulties. I don’t think it would be as meaningful to me if it was easy.

Believing in yourself is the biggest key to overcoming these obstacles. I’ve had people laugh at me when I told them my goals. I’ve also had people say nasty things about my work. If you know who you truly are as an artist, you have to stand by it no matter what is said.

As a daughter of hard working immigrants, I didn’t have limitless income to pursue my dreams. I worked throughout the years at stores, coffee shops and for my father’s garage door business. To help grow my father’s business, I learned how to build websites, accounting from my mother, SEO, and tax preparation. These tools helped me when starting my business.

Learning how to legally launch a clothing business, is an obstacle as well. Learning what community resources are available for first time business owners is so helpful. Maintaining a business license and learning all of the tax requirements for your business can seem daunting. Thankfully we live in an era where if you dedicate some hours or a day to it, you can find a lot of information online.

Being a team of one is difficult. I hope to grow and expand my team in the future.

A common struggle many Fashion Designers face is struggles with mental health. When you wear so many hats, you will experience burnout, anxiety, and depression. Having ways to disconnect and ground yourself is very important. Family and friend support has been pivotal in my growth as a designer. If you cannot function properly and care for yourself, then your goals will follow suit.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Fashion Designer and owner of my brand Hazel Noir. I specialize in made-to-measure Couture clothing. I just launched my online store where you can shop my latest collection.

My work is reminiscent of the 1950’s, 1980’s, and 1990’s. These aspects include angular shapes, detailed trims, and larger than life silhouettes. I love to take aspects of these times and put a postmodern twist to it. I often work with wool and prefer to use natural fibers if possible. Texture is essential to my work, as I love to use black fabric.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I was not born with green hair, haha!

I design furniture with my fiancé for our home. I draw and select materials; he builds them and brings them to life! My cat and I have matching dining tables. We might pursue making furniture for sale in the future.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.HazelNoir.com
• Instagram: @HazelNoir
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thehazelnoir
• Other: [email protected]