Meet Christina Bernal | Co-Founder

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

Hi Christina, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Taking risks is everything! but they should be calculated risks. If you have done your homework and looked into whatever it is carefully or its a passion of yours then take the risk. Sometimes those risks don’t always work out but at least you tried and you learned something. In business taking a risk on yourself is a must.
Having a solid support team of family or friends that believe in you help.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I come from a fashion background, I was a Pattern Maker and Fashion Designer, I have about 25 years of experience in garment manufacturing. I have always been very inspired by vintage fashion and would shop all the thrift stores in my neighborhood back when thrift shopping wasn’t a cool thing to do, like it is now. I would create patterns from the clothes I found and I had a pretty eclectic wardrobe I’d have to say! I started my own line of clothing called Chop Siouxy Clothing in the early 2000’s, the name represents my Native American background. It was good while it lasted but its very expensive to create a new line season after season and I had to eventually stop but I do hope to reintroduce the line and carry the pieces in the shop one day. I learned a lot from that experience of having to create a line of clothing that people want to buy and do that over and over again, you need to stay inspired and have a strong team of talented people to support you, nobody can do this on their own. I learned how to create a team of creatives who inspire me and each other and if I can teach or inspire them, then that’s a perfect scenario.
The most important thing is to stay relevant and always keep learning. Have friends, teachers etc…of all ages and backgrounds and learn from each of them. I have mentors who are much older than me and ones who are much younger and I learn things from both.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love our little city of San Fernando most people in Los Angeles don’t know that there is actually a city called San Fernando, within the San Fernando Valley. The city of San Fernando is the oldest incorporated city in LA County. I would start off with a good Mexican breakfast from Carrillo’s Mexican Deli for huevo’s rancheros or a burrito (they have a burrito named after George Lopez) who is from San Fernando.
Shopping at the Midnight Hour for records, A cold beer from both of our local breweries Shadow Grove Brewing and San Fernando Brewing.
A cocktail or burger from The Truman House Tavern.
Stop and enjoy the mural on Maclay and Celis street and visit the Lopez Pico Adobe house (the oldest home in San Fernando)
Enjoy a handmade ice cream from Pops Creamery.
On the 4th Saturday of the month head to the San Fernando Mall for the “SF Outdoor Market” an artisan vendor pop up experience with music and vendors and a car show!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family, my Husband is the other half of our company and my strongest supporter. We both were raised by a strong independent single Mother and that was definitely an influence on us.

Website: 1984vintage.com

Instagram: 1984vintageshop and 1984.horror

Image Credits
San Fernando Business Journal