Meet Estevan Ramos | Stylist/ Fashion designer/ Tailor/ Illustrator

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

Hi Estevan, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I’ve been a freelancer since 1993 after my last full-time position was dissolved from the company downsizing and ultimately closing. Self-employment for over 30 years is a Big Risk in itself. It really isn’t for everyone. You really have to be very self-disciplined, motivated, patient and have the drive on a daily basis. I’ve always been a non-conventional type of employee since my first real job as a stock boy in shoe retail back in the day.

Changing career journeys after high school from architecture to fashion design was a risk in itself. I was venturing in to an industry that was growing in the 80’s. During my 2nd year in design school, I got hired as head designer for a start up denim company in Los Angeles called “Steel Jeans”. The company had been manufacturing product for many denim brands in LA and decided to venture into their own denim line. They took a risk and hired me in 1985, me being a current student in my 2nd year, to head the design room,. All I had in my interview was school projects and the will to take charge. It paid off and I stayed with the company for 5 years. After the 5th year, we parted ways because I felt I needed to grow and take some risks in my own journeys,. From there, I started freelance designing for numerous clothing brands, plus doing trend forecasting for companies in Paris and New York. I also did design lecture series and work shops for FIDM fashion school and a couple trade schools in Los Angles. I was hungry to get on my own and make my own mark in the in industry, doing whatever it took to get connected in the industry. I felt it was important for me to experience many aspect of the fashion world, making many connections along the way. I eventually produced my own namesake line in 1994, self financing it myself, sold to retailers worldwide. Through the exposure of having a line of clothing sold at retail, it gave me the visibility I needed to spread my work into other categories of the business. I began doing custom designs for private clients and industry stylist and costumers. This lead me to becoming a wardrobe stylist, doing campaigns for numerous clothing brands and corporate companies. As of now, I’m still doing custom work for many private clients and celebrities, work as an on=set tailor for many advertising and branding companies, photoshoots and private clients and styling.

This is just a quick review of where my professional career has been for the last 39 years. It’s more detailed than this but wanted to give you a quick overview of how my career transitioned. It was all do to me taking many risks throughout all the years. I continue to be on the same energetic path as I have always been since the start of my education!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I grew up as the youngest of 9 children with the determination of having strong family values, the lessons from my parents. We had little money but knew how to survive with the support of family and love. This is where I first saw how to be a self motivator with the prize coming from hard work, risk taking and discipline.

If I were to summarize my career, I think I’ve been successful by reinventing myself,, taking my experiences and making a complete 360. What I mean by this, I’ve covered many sectors of the fashion industry, from being a designer and business owner, to editor and tailor, an educator in fashion school to brand consultant, animator and fashion illustrator. I use a combination of all these experiences and apply them to every project I get involved in to this day. This sets me apart from many of my peers because I’m able to bring many of these experiences to clients. I continue to evolve from what I learned throughout my whole life from my early days of schooling to work experiences.

Some of the reasons I’m where I am today is because of always networking, connecting and trying new ventures. I feel it’s work experiences and meeting many people along the way that help you grow. I always would say this to my students in fashion school, get as much work experience as possible and make as many connections along the way. You never know that person you meet along the way could be a future venture prospect. Below, I’ve included a collage image of some of my past business cards, illustrating the many ventures and roads I’ve taken throughout my career.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m love being outside in nature so a hike in the local places like Griffith Park or the northern mountains trails where you can a get a view of the whole city or a day at the beach from Santa Monica to Malibu or to the South Bay. My design studio is in the Silverlake area, so there are many places to check out in the area, or going west to Hollywood, Beverly Hills and beyond or east toward Echo Park, Downtown LA to East Los Angeles. Within these areas there are many eateries and retail therapy places to check out. It’s a melting pot of restaurants, shops and galleries. I’m a SoCal native, so I’m always a fan of the California lifestyle. We’re blessed to have so many options of day trips from the center of the city, going north, south, east or west. Have a mountain, beach, dessert or urban experience in one day!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
That’s a really hard question to answer. Throughout my career, there has been so many people that have crossed my path. Some who have already departed, others whom I’m still in contact with today. I get inspired by many people from different sectors of the industry and beyond.

My family has always been my life’s backbone for inspiration and support. My close friends and colleagues that are my extended family are an inspirational drive for my success and still are to this day. If I could to give names of individuals who have been my mentors and influences through my life’s journey, these are just a few.
Robert Ramos, Gary Hauss, Joseph Resendes, Jos Berry, Alison Nieder, Kiel Kong, Miguel Duque, Kari Woodruff, Lourdes Moscoso Ransier, Vince Marchica, William Rideout, Roni Miller, Daniel Caudill, David Cordova, Richard Ransier, Robert Del Campo, Heinz Jacobson are just some of the people who have been an influence in my career and life’s journey. I have so many more people to add to this list who are a big part of the creative world. ’d like to give a special Shout Out to a few Wardrobe Stylists and Costumers who I’ve had the privilege to work with throughout the years. Linda Medvene, Chandra Chavez, Trish Summerville and Anna Marie Moore are all very special professionals who have helped my journey!

In my family, my big brothers and sisters, all my nieces and nephews including grand niece and nephews, my 5 godchildren, etc. They are all the true backbones of my success. I strive to stay a positive role model to the next generations in my family!

My list of the departed is long as well from George Martin, Vicky Estridge, Vicki Lee, Kaycee Hale, Terry Hauss, Roz Clarke, Mary Stephens, Aldaberto Vidal, Violet Weber, etc. One of the biggest of course is my mother Aurora and father Adolfo. They were forever my biggest allies!

Instagram: estysmundo

Facebook: Estevan Ramos