Meet Rain Hashimoto | Fashion Marketing & Styling

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

Hi Rain, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Although often referenced, there’s a quote that I read recently from the Dead Poets Society that deeply touched me. It goes,

“Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to stay alive. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”

Oftentimes we see accomplishments in the STEM field as far more impressive or inspiring, which don’t get me wrong, I wholeheartedly believe that people who excel in this field deserve every bit of praise. I could never perform open heart surgery or do the amazing work engineers for NASA do. I do, however, believe that many people disregard the importance of creative careers.

When we feel sad or joyous, we can listen to music that touches our hearts. When we want to feel inspired we can visit art museums and awe at each meticulously sculpted statue or detailed paint stroke. When we want to feel confident in ourselves we can put on any outfit in our closet. When we want to be entertained we can immerse ourselves in plays, movies, and stories. We are able to partake in all of these “little” joys between work, school, and our busy life, because of art. Art is what makes us feel moved, and stirs our soul to feel something deeper. If everyone who wrote music or acted in plays or made clothes disappeared, our world would feel empty, becoming bleak and dull.

I often think about this quote as someone who is pursuing a career in the creative field. When I was growing up, I realized that my love for the arts and fashion wasn’t just a “girly” interest I had, but something that was becoming a bigger passion for me. When I was struggling to find my self identity in the midst of my awkward teenage years, I realized that fashion helped me feel more unique and confident. My clothes were like an extension of my body, a way I could express my interests and personality. It was then during my junior year of high school, that I knew I wanted to start a career in the fashion industry.

In all, some people may view the fashion industry as something superficial, however, I believe that the creativity and passion that goes into designing a garment or creating a fashion brand is bigger than most think. I went into a creative career path not only to pursue my passions but to help other people see how influential fashion can be in one’s life. I want to inspire other people to realize the profound impact that art, fashion, and creativity have on each and every one of us. These fields hold the power to shape our identities and bring meaning to our lives.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m currently a recent graduate as a Magna Cum Laude from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising with an Associates in Fashion Marketing & Merchandising. I’ll be continuing my education in the spring with a degree in Fashion Business with a dual degree in International Relations and a minor in Anthropology. During my two years at FIDM I completed 5 internships, 3 certifications, several runway styling gigs, and recently have gotten my foot in the door with a position as a Fashion Marketing Assistant.

I would say that even though I’m very young and just starting in my career, what sets me apart is grit. My dad used to tell me that you can wish for anything you want but tenacity is what’s important. Tenacity and grit will give you the strength to keep pushing even when there is no light at the end of the tunnel, even if you’re in a class and everyone might be smarter than you or have more opportunities than you. If you have the grit to push yourself past your limits you can do anything you want.

With the extremely competitive job market, I feared that I would end up not having a job in my field post-grad, with seemingly all my other classmates doing way more than me. This fueled my drive in my sophomore year of college to push myself to gain all the experience I needed and wanted. Now, I can confidently say I am successful for my age and I’m willing to continue to push myself to get even further with my goals.

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 my friend was visiting I would definitely take them to some of my favorite eatery spots. Hanbat Shu Lung Tang is my favorite seolleongtang place ever, my mom and I have been going since I was a little girl. If you want authentic seolleongtang, that’s the place. There’s also a place in Downtown near where I lived called Little Sister that specializes in Vietnamese food. It’s very nostalgic for me as it was one of the first places I ate at when I moved to LA, their dinner and lunch menu are both amazing. Little Tokyo is one of my favorite places to go to as well, especially the smaller mom and pop stores. For a drive a little bit outside Downtown I would take them to visit Huntington Library or the Aquarium of the Pacific, you could honestly spend the entire day at both places and not get bored at all. For nightlife Weho is obviously a must if you come to California. I love places like Perch LA as well that do rooftop bars, perfect for a more calm and scenic night.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I know it’s a common answer but I wouldn’t be anywhere without my family. Growing up I always wanted to spend more time with my friends and never fully appreciated my family, specifically my parents. However, the saying that friends can come and go but your family is forever holds true in my case. I’ve lost and gained so many friendships going into my early adulthood, but my parents have been behind me every step of the way. My parents have always supported my dreams and aspirations in my career, especially my mom. I could tell my mom I wanted to be an astronaut and she would be 100% on board and truly believe I could accomplish that outlandish dream. Without their support I don’t think I would have made it as far as I have in my career and education.

Website: https://rainhashimoto04.wixsite.com/raindigitalspotlight https://rainhashimotomarketingportfolio.my.canva.site/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rain-hashimoto

Image Credits
All Images taken by me (Rain Hashimoto).