Meet Carolina Hernandez | Fashion Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carolina Hernandez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carolina, what makes you happy? Why?
One of the things that makes me very happy is being able to collaborate with others in my industry and also getting involve in my community. I think its powerful when you are around other people and get to know them. In my opinion thats what makes life more interesting. No to mention you never who will inspire you or who you will be inspiring.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am the 3rd generation of seamstress in my family and I started learning how to sew when I was 16 years old just because I thought it will be fun to transform fabrics into garments. One of the things that I am more excited about is that I get to see my growth through out the years. In my designs I see how much I have been improving my skills and gaining knowledge by looking at the garments that fit better and are more aesthetically pleasing compared to the early designs. Just like any creative platform it takes time and dedication to sharpen skills and get to a level of maturity. Even the years where I was serving in the military I didn’t stop sewing. The way I overcome the challenges was by repetition, making mistakes and failing over and over again until I mastered it. There are no shortcuts when it comes to mastering a trait and consistency is key. Some of the lessons that I learned along the way is that I am not alone and I can always reach out for help. Another thing is that there is always someone watching your journey and admiring it. So when I feel tired, demotivated and want to give up I pause for a second and take a look at the messages I receive from friends and people in the industry. What I would like the world to know about me is that I live my life giving my all in every opportunity I get. I want to be able to be a resource to anybody who crosses my path whether is in the fashion industry, within the community or in the military. When you think about life we are only in this earth for a period of time so why not make the best of it while we are here.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I had a good friend visiting I would definitely take him/her to the beach and go for a hike in the morning. I think being surrounded by nature, listening to the sound of the waves and enjoying a nice sunrise its one of the most therapeutic things to do. From there we will go and get some poke and Jasmin Tea as snack and then later some Thai food. I love outdoor adventures because thats what takes our minds out of our busy agendas. During the afternoon I would take my friend to Hollywood walk of fame where you can see a glimpse of the history of American movies and grab some pizza. At the end of the night we will go to the Abby to shake our bodies and drink some sparkly wine.Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to recognize The Mission Continues organization and give a shoutout to the Women Veteran Leadership Training that I am part of because they are my sisters of wisdom. The encouragement and mentorship I have been receiving from them is incredible. Another organization that I am thankful to be part of is Bunker Labs/We Work where I have been getting the business guidance I need from my fellow entrepreneur veterans across the country. Last but not least, my gratitude goes to the non profit organization that I am part of: Veteran Stand Together, where I get to empower the community, provide assistance to our veterans and make an impact nation wide.

Website: https://www.veterancoutureart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veterancouture/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chcarol72/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chcarol72

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veterancouture

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm8lhjkfzxWCOM0H_-gcNxw

Other: Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VeteranCouture

Image Credits
Photographers: Amanda San Martin, Anthony Mitchell, Anjanette Arnold, Trudy Moylan & Joseph Mustin Models: Karenn Beltran, Selina Hall, Marie Cornell, Ariuka Nergi, Timayo Williams, Elena Tretyakova, Lindsey Rummings, Francesca Manz, Luana Ceratti, Madeline Salazar, Diane Mae Tan, Denise Morales, Jena Masero, Valeria Amor, Megan Kutschal. MUAH: Isabel Valencia, Jessica Hernandez, Fatisha Trish, Michelle Limon, Amanda Coots, Jennifer San Martin & Madeline Salazar.