Today we’d like to introduce you to Hadrian Shawn Miguel.
Hadrian Shawn, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a writer, poet, artist, and designer. I was born & raised in the Mission barrio of San Francisco and I have called New York, Miami, Seattle, and now Los Angeles home.
As a writer & poet, my love of storytelling and body of work has given life to over 50 poems, short stories, plays, and songs. My play, Meet Me at The Bodega will be produced by Q Youth Foundation as part of the Eastside Queer Stories Play Festival 2020 and slated for production in May 2020. This play started out as a poem and song, is a love letter to Nueva York, and will be published in a poetry anthology, Queeronthology: Homespun Poems of Interwoven Migrations on September 27, 2019.
As a designer and artist, I have been trained in jewelry, accessories, apparel construction, millinery, graphic design, interiors, ceramics, and fine art. My work in these areas allowed me to start my business in San Francisco as Hecho En San Francisco in 2005 and then became American Hecho in 2012 with a move to Los Angeles.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My journey has not always been a smooth ride because I juggled many hats and traveled as an artist, writer & designer from San Francisco to New York to Miami to L.A. and abroad to London, Paris, Greece and Costa Rica for work and also pleasure. Some of the challenges have been trying to stay focused and dedicated while finding inspiration from the local scenes and international cultures around me.
Taking myself and business to the next level is always a goal and on my radar. I would love the financial freedom to just keep developing and producing goods and products.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Some have called me a Renaissance man or Jack of All Trades, but these various skills have provided me with an arsenal of many abilities that I can easily flow into any area of work as needed. It has also given me the opportunity to conceive, construct, and make a variety of products that people can use in their everyday life, a little something for everyone. I love the process of designing, making and creating by using my mind and my hands. Lost wax casting, jewelry, and apparel design were mainly my focus, but recently ceramics and pottery is a new venture for me and it’s been therapeutic and mad fun.
It’s important to me that everything I do stays true to who I am and carries a footprint of my identity and multiculturalism. My history and land of the brave is a fluid, cultural mosaic of simple and complex backgrounds that is seen in the many faces of the families here in this country. I embrace a new Americana of products and stories with deep roots in music, art, fashion, camp, barrio, beach, and pop culture. I am also very excited about the prospects of having a few more plays and stories produced, and making a film or musical.
I have spent part of my career working for 13 years at cosmetic & skincare companies, a part of which was in product research & development. This has allowed me to create and develop skincare, makeup, and food products. I now make my own custom, original blends in soaps, candles, and fragrances with an eye on expanding and creating my own skincare in the next year or so. Right now, I make unique, or small quantities & small batches of products to ensure quality and workmanship and to make my customers feel special. Their stuff is handmade, designed & created in L.A., and slightly a little different than what another may have. A few items are curated and developed by other artists & designers, but we require them to mirror our sense of humor, adventure and style and must add value to our emporium of goods.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define my personal success as happiness and passion in what I am doing. Ultimately, I am successful if I am happy and passionate in what I am creating, and yes, I am! If I can also provide some light and joy with a little wit and humor, then that is an added icing on the cake bonus.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.americanhecho.com
- Phone: 213-375-5730
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanhecho
Image Credit:
Photo images courtesy of Hadrian Miguel and Havana Razi-Symes
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
