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Meet Ruben Barraza

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruben Barraza.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I go by Majorwavez. I started making custom shoes about 3 to 4 years ago prior to that, I had retail and management experience. I started painting my shoes when I worked at urban outfitters and I would get quite a few customers asking for the same or similar designs couple of months passed by and I was introduced to a buddy of mine that worked for Kanye West. He really believes in me and gave me opportunities which led to my first project for ASAP rocky, Ian Connor and Playboi Carti.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would definitely have to say that there has been several obstacles that I had to overcome. First of all, I knew how to design but I didn’t know exactly how to run a business. I would say that was the first obstacle and as well with transitioning with trends and learning how to use industrial sewing machines. When I first started, all I did was the design and different types of fabrics. I was contacted by Gucci and Louis Vuitton which I was not aware that I could not use their fabrics which lead to a completely different creative process and vision for my brand this was probably one of the largest obstacles but I’m glad it pushed me to more creativity.

We’ve been impressed with Majorwavez Inc, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a clothing company that goes by majorwavez and primarily specializes in custom shoes. I would say my specialty is being able to do anything from painting, printing and sewing. I really like to stay on trend and to come up with my own designs not as much as a traditional customizer where I take personal requests. I would say what sets me apart from others would be my expertise with industrial sewing machines and the creative process that goes into each shoe. Overall I really love what I do and I am opening up a store this month where I will be hosting free workshops to give back to artists and to like-minded creative individuals.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I would say that doing things for free to learn such as internships or opportunities, even if it may be a small project to take it. I know when I started, I did so many things for free which helped me gain organic following and brand awareness and still to this day, I still take any opportunity. I would also recommend if anyone is interested in the same path I took would be to join my class free of charge, I would be glad to help.

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