Today we’d like to introduce you to Fabian Renteria.
Fabian, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am 26 years old and was born in El Paso, Texas. I first discovered sewing when I was ten years old growing up living in Glendale, Arizona. There was an old Singer sewing machine from the 80s sitting on a shelf in my family’s laundry room. One day, I asked my mom to bring it down and for some reason, I was so fascinated by it. Next thing I knew I had bought my first pattern and some fabric from Walmart (back when most of them had a decent-sized sewing/fabric section. The pattern was for a Caplet with buttons, buttonholes and a collar. Little did I realize how not so beginner friendly this was going to be but I did it anyway. The fabric I had bought was a red flannel. I definitely learned a lot from that first project.
I was hooked after that and started watching sewing videos on YouTube. I discovered Mimi G of Mimi G Style and I literally taught myself to sew from her entire YouTube channel. I started collecting patterns and fabric throughout Middle and High School. I would come home from school and sew on the weekends. Nobody really knew about this side of me. I realized I wanted to go to Fashion Design School midway through High School. FIDM was heavily on my mind after watching season 6 of Project Runway that had been filmed at FIDM here in LA.
Oddly enough there was a FIDM representative that would come and talk to students at lunchtime throughout the school year, so I went and spoke with them, requested some information and was connected with an admissions advisor. Fast forward to October of 2018, I moved to Los Angeles with my family to attend FIDM. Received an Associate of Arts degree in Fashion Design as well as an Advanced Study in Fashion Design Degree. I attended an extra year to be a part of the Advanced Study program which is also known as ‘FIDM DEBUT”. I created my thesis collection while in this program. My collection was based on the stories of the Revenants or “undead warriors” of the Mortal Kombat Universe. The idea of rebirth and how tragic events can reveal who we really are in the end.
Another major opportunity FIDM had presented to me after DEBUT I was hand selected to participate in the SUPIMA Design Competition where I created a 5 look collection and showcased it at New York Fashion Week in September 2022. This experience tested my creativity on every level and allowed me to grow and get to the next level. Other brands I have had the pleasure working with include: PAPER Magazine, NETFLIX, Preview Models, BERNINA of America, and bernette USA, just to name a few.
Today, I am working as a Project Manager for a production company in Downtown Los Angeles while working on my new Independent Sewing Pattern Brand: RŌNIN Patterns. We will be launching in Fall of this year. With this, I plan to release sewing patterns for sewists who sew for hobby and can create some of my designs in their own sewing rooms. There will also be patterns available that are geared towards learning to sew and showing how you can modify them to suit your own style.
Building my presence on Social Media has been another important task I have been trying to execute. Being a BERNINA Ambassador has helped in this area since I write about sewing and create tutorials on their blog called WeAllSew (weallsew.com). You can see all of my past work on this site and learn something new about sewing! One of my goals is become a full-time content creator in the sewing community through showing what I can do and teaching others how they can bring their own ideas to life.
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?
There have been the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in this journey. Just being able to move here to LA as a student was TOUGH and I didn’t realize the strain that would come with it. I am thankful to my family for coming along with me here BUT if you think coming to LA is going to be the way it is on tv, you are sadly mistaken.
Going through the AA program at FIDM was a struggle since I had a job 2-3 days out of the week while attending classes. The workload at FIDM was intense. I remember my first really bad mental breakdown was my first day of Computer Aided Design class. My teacher hadn’t taught this class in a VERY long time and I could not for the life of me understand how to draw a basic t-shirt. This first day of class ended in me crying in the bathroom. I also could not afford my own computer that was compatible with the programs we were required to use. I was stressed. I ended up being gifted a laptop by a good friend so that I could do my homework off campus and not have to return to use the labs.
When it came time to decide if I wanted to apply and interview for the DEBUT Program at FIDM which I knew was what I came to FIDM for all along, I said the only way I would be able to do this is if I received a full ride scholarship since I couldn’t afford it. I still applied and then was accepted with a full scholarship. If I had not done the DEBUT Program, I am 90% sure I would not have had any of the other opportunities that came my way from participating in that program.
In all honesty, I do not come from a wealthy family. Anything I have done, I have had to work my butt off for. Being in this industry is tough in the sense that money in a lot of ways, does drive your success BUT showing who you are and being authentic is such an important aspect. In today’s times, I think it is more important than ever for people to be able to relate to you. I find myself in a place where I want to be my own boss and I have the ideas but not necessarily the funding. THAT is the most frustrating part of all of this. BUT all I can do is keep showing up and putting in the leg work and everything else will fall into place.
Being in this industry is my dream and I will stop at nothing to make my dream a reality.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in Women’s Futuristic Apparel and Leather. I adore Hourglass Silhouettes BUT I am known for my oversized shapes and my special pointy/peak sleeve. I love creating pieces that make a woman feel secure, strong and like they can take over the world. My work has a strong sense of fantasy and warrior-like elements/qualities. Mixing materials and intricate seam work is what I live for as a designer.
I am most proud of my Debut collection from FIDM. All of the challenges and creative classes and push I received helped shape this collection into what it became. I had to fight for that collection as not everyone was on board with me in the beginning. I knew it was something new and it needed to be seen. Fast forward to now, I see glimpses of my work in other people’s work and I can’t help but feel like they were thinking of me when they created that.
Being a small-town boy, living in the big city with a dream and being the driven individual that I am is what sets me apart from others. I am constantly looking to see what is next and how I can improve my skill and share it with others who may be just starting out or if they are seasoned and just need some advice.
What makes you happy?
Being able to create, being able to wake up every day with my health, being able to see in color, the ability to taste and try new food, having an extremely supportive family, having a partner that loves me for me, being bale to live in a place with such diversity, listening to scores from my favorite movies, playing video games, trips to get iced coffee, hiking with my boyfriend and our dog, listening to nature, family dinners, reuniting with old friends.
These are all things that make me happy. They help me escape the struggles and challenges of everyday life. These are all reminders of what actually matters in life. The memories you create with others is the most important thing. Everything else are just long-lost items once we leave this earth.
Contact Info:
- Website: fabianrenteriafullgallery.myportfolio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_fabian_renteria_/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabian-renteria-218a961b2/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCt-mnDs1SJujc0IQqSd5ow
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@fabian_renteria_
