Today we’d like to introduce you to Rolando Fonticoba.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Rolando. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
What first started as a simple goal to make myself a pair of pants from a table-cloth I found while out thrifting has blossomed into a passion for creating. Since that point on, I have made sure to give every one of my pieces a story or idea that can be felt and seen within the details. Some messages can be direct such as the shooter pants project I recently finished, which highlights the current events going on in America today, or indirect as the plaid pants that turn into shorts, which translates my childhood into a physical form. After my first project and somehow getting it done with little to no knowledge on how to use the sewing machine I borrowed from my cousin, I got overwhelming support from all my friends and family. From that point on, I realized that this was the perfect way to express myself to the world.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. From teaching myself to sew entirely through trial and error and YouTube, there have been a lot of mistakes made that turned hopeful projects to scrap. In my personal experience, failure is the best teacher, and id rather be wise and make human mistakes than be smart and not make any. It gives a personal feel to every piece knowing the struggles I went through to get the end product.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the SLAK Clothing story. Tell us more about the business.
SLAK Clothing is a brand that specializes in 1 of 1 piece made by an up-cycling old used cloth that would otherwise be thrown away or never used. The main goal in this is to express me artistically while delivering a message. What I am most proud of is having the ability to connect with the local art community and meet the many people involved in the beauty of Miami. The thing that most sets me apart from others is the thought process that goes into each piece, the stories of nostalgia, sadness, happiness, love, hate, and kindness can be seen and felt within each one.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Within the next 5-10 years, I see my brand growing into something everyone can enjoy, where my message can be understood loud and clear. I have high hopes that this brand can go somewhere exciting with more effort and time being put into it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://slak.bigcartel.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slak.clothing/
Image Credit:
https://www.instagram.com/kayvalx/
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