Meet Jay Cardoza | Trans/Non-Binary Artist, Entrepreneur, Activist & Model

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

Hi Jay, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
One piece of conventional advice that I disagree with is many people believe that if you choose a career or lifestyle that is creative, you always need a logical plan b incase it doesn’t work out. I don’t believe in plan B. I believe you chase your dreams and you don’t stop until you’ve succeeded. If you believe in yourself and never stop believing in yourself no matter what happens, you will always come out on top. If you put time into learning about how amazing our brains are, you will understand how powerful we are as human beings and really see that we are capable of anything. Nothing is impossible. There is no dream that is too far-fetched. As long as you believe in yourself and you put the time and effort into making your dreams come true, there is truly nothing that you can not do. And for that reason, you don’t need to worry about having a plan B because you know your dream is absolutely tangible and achievable no matter what it is.

If you are chasing your dreams and its not working out, don’t quit! Just try again in a different way. Failure is the greatest lesson, it teaches us how not to do something, and gives us the opportunity to tweak our plan and keep moving in a different direction that works better. You can never truly fail as long as you see setbacks as stepping stones instead of an end all be all.

Many people pursue a career or life of art, music, creativity and if they don’t gain “success” within the first couple years they believe they have failed or they give up and find a job that’s more stable and safe. I’m here to say never give up on your dreams. It’s not about instant success, it’s about longevity. Slow and steady wins the race. I believe we should chase passion and happiness even if it’s scary. You don’t need to be doing a 9-5 desk job that you hate just because you crave safety and stability. You can find that in your dreams too. Life is about happiness and joy, so make sure you aren’t settling, and instead make sure you are doing something that makes your soul feel alive.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am an artist who hunts for unwanted clothes + fabrics, and repurpose them into new, one of a kind pieces, giving them a new life and saving them from ending up in the landfill. I use cut and sew, painting, sublimation and screen-printing to make unique designs that reflect my aesthetic, my beliefs, and my style.

I’m most proud that my art helps the environment unlike most brands that are hurting the environment with every piece they create. When fast fashion brands create clothing, they are creating more waste. When I create clothing, I am saving waste and giving it a new life. I think that is so important, and I wish all brands could see how easy it is to make use of the abundance of used textiles there are, instead of continuing to create more waste which is hurting our Earth and filling up our landfills.

Something that sets King Coast apart is all of the clothing we make is genderless. Meaning, we create clothing for all genders + identities, and doing so we are intentionally de-constructing the gender binary. Clothing is genderless and it’s time that we as a society recognize that. Clothing is simply just fabric and fabric doesn’t have a gender. So wear whatever you want, whatever makes you happy and confident. Not what other want or expect you to wear. All that matters is how you feel.

Aside from art, I also love to model. My dream through modeling is trans/non-binary representation. When I was younger there were no trans or non-binary models or actors on the tv or in movies. I never saw anyone that I could relate to, and because of that it took me many years to realize my true identity. That is why I wanted to be a model. I want kids and even adults to see me and know that they can be whoever they want to be. That trans and non-binary people are real and valid. I want to be the person I wish I had growing up.

I got to where I am today by following my heart, taking risks, making sacrifices and staying true to my self and what I believe in. It’s definitely not easy running a brand or following an unconventional lifestyle, but I wouldn’t trade a thing. I wake up knowing I’m chasing my dreams and doing something I love and believe in everyday and I’m grateful for that. I’m doing something that is rooted in love and hope to change the world, and help the Earth and all people, and that’s something I’m deeply proud of and keeps me motivated and passionate every day.

There have been many challenges. One challenge was I was having to pour all my hard-earned money that I was making from my art directly to rent. I was trying to save up but it wasn’t possible because the rent in San Diego is so expensive. I was frustrated because I felt like I fell into the flow of making art to make money because I needed to pay rent, instead of making art because I felt inspired to do so. And that did not sit right with me. As a result, me and my partner decided to invest in a 1993 Ford Coachmen Van to live in so we could avoid having the pressure to pay rent cus living in a van our costs were much lower. 2 years later and we love van life so much we’re still doing it. There are still some sacrifices that come with VanLife, but it fits perfectly with our laid back lifestyle of creating art, traveling and enjoying life to the fullest.

Some of the most important lessons I’ve learned is everybody has different times to shine. Don’t compare yourself to others, your time will come. Work smart not hard. You can make a living doing something you love, so why do something that doesn’t make you happy. Always believe in yourself, and only take what others say with a grain of salt. Just because someone else doesn’t believe in your dream does not mean you shouldn’t. Figure out what success means to you in run with it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you’ve ever been to San Diego you know there is so much to do. From the beach to the city there’s an abundance to take in. But a perfect day in San Diego to me looks like this-

Vegan Breakfast at Plant Power in Ocean Beach- try out the bacon, egg and cheese bagel sandwich. I could eat it every day of my life.

We’d skate down to the beach with our breakfast, eat in the sand and then jump in the water and surf the perfect waves.

After, we’d skate around Ocean Beach, grabbing an oat milk latte at OB Beans and stopping in the local thrift shops and see what vintage gems they have to offer that day.

We’d grab lunch at another vegan spot. It’s hard to choose because there are so many amazing options in San Diego. But I would probably end up deciding to grab the best vegan pizza around at Donna Jean.

We’d probably close out the night by watching one of the most beautiful sunsets at Sunset Cliffs. There’s no better view in town.

The following days we’d check out all the best beach towns like La Jolla, and tumble in the waves at Windansea Beach. We’d make our way up to Encinitas, taking the coastal drive all the way up. Once we’re there we’d stop at Swami’s Meditation Garden. The most peaceful and cleansing place I’ve been. Overlooking the vast ocean you sit in the garden and clear your mind, feeling like there’s nothing else to the world except now.

We’d skate the picture perfect neighborhoods and stop at Culture Brewing to have my favorite sour beer. Kick around a soccer ball at Moonlight beach, then grab some vegan sushi at Sushi Lounge. There is so much to do, and no matter what you do, you’ll have a good time and you’ll experience the beauty of San Diego.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
As an artist, inspiration is everything. My art, my words, my business is all a result of being inspired by someone else.

I want to give a Shoutout to my biggest inspirations and supporters:

My amazing Mother- who filled me with so much love and confidence since I was a child. She always supported me and told me that I could do anything, and never made me feel like my dreams were too big. She encouraged me to be whoever I wanted to be, and made me feel like I could succeed in anything I put my mind to.

My Dad- who taught me that the Universe is here to grant me all my greatest wishes, and directly inspired me to become an entrepreneur. My dad taught me all I know about business, and he encouraged and helped me to start my brand, King Coast. He also introduced me to the book, “Think And Grow Rich” which changed the entire way I think, and taught me the power of Law of Attraction which is one of the biggest factors of my success.

My brother Mitch- who got me into thrifting, taught me about vintage fashion and showed me how fun it is to hunt for up-cycled gems. This inspired me to up-cycle and repurpose clothes from thrift stores in hopes to save clothing from landfills which then turned into the creation of my brand King Coast. We still to this day call each other whenever we find a rad piece at the thrift store.

My wife Sarah- The love of my life, my better half. My partner in life and in King Coast. We do everything together. Whether it’s making clothes, producing photo shoots, thrifting, selling at events, she’s always there, making every part of running a brand more fun and beautiful. She believes in me, makes me a better person and she inspires me in every way.

Website: Instagram: @kingcoastclothing (currently working on our website. All of our available items are in the highlight FOR SALE. DM us to purchase any items.

Instagram: @jaycardoza23 (personal Instagram)

Image Credits
2nd photo: @keroulz 3rd photo: @surf_ford 4th photo: @keroulz 7th photo: @keroulz