Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliana Heredia.
Hi Juliana, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Brazil, surrounded by a big family. My aunt, who raised me until I was 10, is a professional seamstress, and I grew up seeing her creating beautiful things. Every birthday or Christmas my aunt would gift a family member with one of her unique pieces.
I think that was what sparked my interest in fashion. I remember watching project runway when I was 6-7 years old instead of normal kids’ tv shows. I had many periods of my life questioning what I wanted to do after graduating from high school. More traditional paths came to my mind, such as being an architect, doctor, and diplomat, but fashion was already in my essence from an early age.
I started my fashion degree at a Brazilian university. I remember that I was 100% sure that I was on the right path right on the very first day of classes. Unfortunately, fashion design is still limited in Brazil so I decided to leave everything behind to come to the U.S. and study at SCAD, where I can have more creative freedom and access to more facilities.
After four years in Savannah, I do not regret any choice I have made along the way. Here I had the chance to experiment with other areas of fashion and really find my voice as a designer. I came here as one person with a rigid aesthetic, and I am graduating with a bigger purpose for my career.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I believe every obstacle I faced, moving to a foreign country and becoming the person I am today, was only possible because I had my family and friends supporting me. It was not easy, as a lot of people questioned my decision of studying fashion design.
I studied in a preparatory german school in Brazil, and a lot of people that studied with me at school are now graduating to become scientists, businesspeople, lawyers, and politicians. However, once I found my people here and started being more gentle with myself in my adaptation period, things became more smooth.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Since last year, I’ve been venturing with denim. It is a fabric that if you asked me four years ago if I intended to use for my collections, I would have said no. However, I did a project about a denim brand in one of my Fashion Marketing classes, and I started recycling the same subject for other projects. The more time I spent understanding the qualities of denim, the more I fell in love with it.
Sustainability also came along in my journey with denim, since it is one of the most problematic fabrics as it wastes a lot of water. My purpose as a designer became to find solutions to create beautiful denim designs while conscious of my impact. I realized that what my aunt taught me about creating unique one-only designs has influenced my decisions.
For the past nine months, I have been working on my senior collection, and it is all about reutilizing and upcycling deadstock denim and pre-made denim garments to create unique pieces. I am doing boro and sashiko techniques and mixing them all with two original prints I have created. This is definitely the work I am most proud of since it reflects me finding myself as a designer.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Be open, and do not be afraid of asking people for advice. I have messaged many people in the industry to get more feedback on my portfolio and these interactions have thought me a lot. The worst thing it can happen is being left unread, but there will always be someone to help you.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://jujuheredia.wixsite.com/website
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianaheredia_/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/juheartt/
Image Credits:
Alice Winter
Luana Paiva
Madi Learner
