Today we’d like to introduce you to Renacio Reyes.
Renacio, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I had originally been on the path of medicine, studying dental science since early high school. It wasn’t until I was taking an elective design class that I was able to think creatively rather than logic or by equation. I made my first sculpture that was received extremely well at the school so I decided to enter it into a competition titled “Michele Hebert X Stylish Fabric. This was an international art competition so I figured my chances were slim. However, I won 1st place and received a sewing machine as well as fabric. I had never considered becoming a fashion designer until this point in my life, but the butterfly effect came in full force and I dropped dental science that week. Almost three years later here I am with my own brand and a feature in Vogue and three seasons of fashion shows under my belt.
I was even given the opportunity to talk a little bit about my brand on Good Morning Texas. Most recently I received a scholarship to study in Paris during Paris Fashion Week and made a lot of connections and got to practice my french. The woman pictured with me is Anna Cleveland, a huge fashion model and longtime inspiration of mine I met backstage at a Ralph Rucci show. I have done so many amazing things but the path to get here hasn’t been easy in the slightest, facing adversity from professors, family and colleagues. I am grateful for the good and bad, I have learned so much along the way and continue to polish my craft since I am still in school at UNT, graduating in May.
Has it been a smooth road?
Much like everyone else in any creative industry, I have faced a lot of adversity. The way modern society views the arts is very dismissive and belittling, so aside from the ‘financial’ struggles of being an art student its disheartening to know that my work is viewed as less-than. I always found this interesting because we all understand that ‘knowledge is power’ however our culture determines what ‘knowledge’ is worth more than others based on whether or not we see it as ‘frivolous’ or ‘necessary’. The mentality that revolves around working in the fashion industry to me is always faced with this gross notion that my work will never be as important or appreciate as, say, an engineer or businessman. This brings me to one of my favorite quotes by Robin Williams in the Dead Poets Society, “And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”
Aside from the preset variables placed by society, I have had little to no support from school and family. My friends, surprisingly enough, have been my main support.
I am however extremely proud of how far I come by myself without the mentorship or any external force propelling me forward, it has all been by my hard work and resilience.
Please tell us more about your work. What do you do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from competition?
My brand revolves largely around inclusivity, my models’ sizes range from 00 to 20, all gender identities and sexualities as well as color and race. My goal with this is to break the mold of the regular white, tall, skinny model. This unrealistic expectation has been beat over our heads by the elite of the fashion industry, affecting the mental health of our society since its dawn. I want to be apart of the wave of designers that sees beauty in all types of real people instead of just the idealized version. Luckily, this point of view is only becoming exponentially popular and accepted amongst mainstream culture.
I specialize in woman’s evening wear, however, I love to branch out and get experience in all the facets of fashion. I am mainly known for my seductive black lace pieces and sexy silhouettes, however, I have been featured in Vogue for something that was pastel and avant-garde so I don’t like to limit myself to a certain ‘aesthetic’ per say.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I would say yes and no. Yes because the city of Dallas is growing and attracts a lot of people that could be beneficial in terms of making connections and clients. This would be a lot harder if you were in a city that attracted less industry attention. There is also a lot less competition here in Dallas as far as independent designers go. This city also, from my experience at least, has great places to go fabric shopping with comparatively cheaper prices than other big cities. On the flip side Dallas is not a fashion capital, so if you’re looking to expand and become a big name in fashion, moving to a fashion capital would be beneficial.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6801 curtis road colleyville texas, 76034
- Phone: 8179178617
- Email: renacio.designs@gmail.com
- Instagram: renacio.designs
Image Credit:
Ashley Highberger @wyldcosmia
Hortense Vinet for the Paris American Academy @hortensevinet
Jaudon Markyll @jaudonmaryll
Nate Bishara @naturallynatey
Ian Malone for Vogue Magazine @iangmalone (I am not FULLY sure that this vogue screenshot can be published by another publication besides vogue)
Kenny Truong @kennytruog
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas 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.
