Today we’d like to introduce you to Nestor Hernandez.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Nestor. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in Puerto Cortes, Honduras, where I was raised with my grandma and grandpa till age five. I then migrated to Denver, Colorado, where I met my parents and my brother. Everything was very new to me; it took me a while to get used to my parents and brother. When I was young, I wanted to create everything and anything; I soon grew a love for performing arts and started acting at a young age. My parents put me through acting school, and at age 14, I signed with Wilhelmina. Being signed to such an agency was the best and worst time of my life. At a young age, I knew how racist the entertainment industry is and went through so much humiliation; I ended my contract with Wilhelmina.
Fashion has been something that has been admired and loved. It became a prominent part of my life, and I grew a passion for designing my clothes. In 2015 KoKo Brand Co. was born. I released my first collection, the “King and Queen” collection, and in 2017 I released my “Third Eye” Collection. After graduating from high school, my desire and passion never died, so I decided to pack my bags and move to Los Angeles. My parents were the most powerful support system I had. In Los Angeles, I quickly got into the film industry and produced my first documentary and transferred to UCLA, which was one of my most significant accomplishments yet. I’m now going to launch my third collection for KoKo Brand Co. and I decided to owe it to Los Angeles. The city where I found my community, my undocumented community, my central American community, my Afro-Honduran community.
Has it been a smooth road?
Being undocumented, everything takes a bit more or work to obtain. Being able to afford school was one of the biggest conflicts, and I could not receive financial aid because I was not eligible for in-state tuition due to my status. My brown complexion and thick hair would be ridiculed at auditions in Denver. I would get auditions that were clearly not for people that looked like me, and I would get the most disturbing stare downs and comments from directors and actors when I would enter the audition room. Those traumatic experiences then led me to terminate my contract with Wilhelmina.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I first started my business on Instagram, where I grew a small fan base by collaborating with brands like Nordstrom, TOMS, Express Men, and Reebok. I then used my Instagram name to create my clothing line. Koko Brand Co. is a streetwear brand that intertwines Los Angeles culture with my inner thoughts and interpretation of the modern 21st-century. As a company, my proudest moment is seeing people walk down the streets with my clothes and seeing their confidence and style while wearing it.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
In general, Los Angeles is the best city for my online business. Seeing the way people express themselves with their clothes and style is one of the things I cherish the most about LA culture.
Pricing:
- Most of my clothing ranges from 20 – 30$
Contact Info:
- Website: kokobrandco.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiing_koko/
Image Credit:
Eduardo Cardos and Patrick Amon
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