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

Hi Benny, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The concept of Ben Hurt was born from my own personal experiences. When you strip away differences like culture, religion, colorism, and racism, what remains is our shared humanity. One thing all humans have in common is that we experience either pleasure or pain. I would say the majority of life—about 80 to 90 percent—is spent in pain, while only a small portion is spent in pleasure. Much of this pain is self-inflicted or a result of not knowing how to celebrate happiness because it’s something we’re rarely taught.

Ben Hurt reflects this universal experience. The brand is a synonym for the balance between pleasure and pain, just as love and life are filled with both joy and struggle. Our motto, “Everybody’s Ben Hurt,” captures this reality. You can interpret it in two ways: either everyone has ben hurt, or everyone is experiencing hurt. Either way, Ben Hurt is inclusive, diverse, and a reflection of the human condition.

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.
As artists, I think many of us are held back because we place so much weight on what others think of us. We tend to view creativity as this massive, overwhelming concept, when in reality, it’s simply about being yourself. Being an artist or a creative is about taking what’s in your mind and expressing it, whether that’s through music, poetry, art, illustrations, branding, or any other medium. Creativity is just self-expression in its purest form. The key is not to let the opinions of others influence or hold you back.

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 thank everyone that has supported and been a part of Ben Hurt over the years. From the models, to the photographers, and especially those who love and support the brand.

Website: https://www.benhurtclothing.com

Instagram: https://benhurt.dept

Facebook: benhurt

Image Credits
Elias Ruiz
Christopher Umana
Nick Jewelz
Lilli Wang

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.