Kervin Rojas is a denim designer specializing in development, production and sourcing of new washes. Yet, not only does he design jeans - his office (and apartment) is filled with original pieces of art and furniture he made out of denim. In the 1990s, when he reached the age of sixteen, Kervin decided to move to New York City to pursue his dream of becoming a fashion designer. What attracted him to denim in particular? Read on, as he unveils his fascinating journey.
Fashion Was In The Family
“Everyone in my family was either a butcher or worked in the fashion industry,” says Kervin. It’s no surprise he followed his family tradition, isn’t it? Not really. Except - he was the first male to take the fashion’s route.
Rojas grew up watching his grandmother making dresses in his family home in Costa Rica. “She was always so happy doing it,” he recalls. As different fabrics were often lying around the house, Kervin would sneak pieces from grandma’s studio to make clothes for his toy heroes.
“When grandma passed away, I decided to move to NYC to become a fashion designer,” says Rojas. Though, as many people in his situation, he found himself caught between a dream and reality: he had to pay the bills.
Denim Project
“When I got to the city, my brother got me a job as a mover,” Kervin recalls. “The money was good, but I hated that job!” At 5 foot 7 and 140 pounds, you can’t really blame him. Despite making decent paychecks, one particular winter Rojas found himself with hardly any work to do. "People weren’t moving that winter, so I wasn’t making any money."
With plenty of time on his hands and no money to pay the bills, Kervin was determined to make some changes in his life. One day, while watching TV in his apartment, he came across a college commercial which, as he explains: “reminded me what I moved here for.”
Seeing other young adults pursuing their dreams inspired Rojas to take control of his own life. He made a decision to enroll into design classes and was later accepted to New York’s most prestigious fashion schools: Parsons The New School for Design and Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).
After completing his classes, Kervin got a job as a graphic designer, but it wasn’t until he was offered to work on a denim project in California, by a person who happened to like his graphic design, that he discovered his passion for it.
Chair and denim designed by Kervin Rojas. Photo credit ©Tawfickphotography.
I Want to Hire You
Rojas moved to Los Angeles to pursue the opportunity and, as part of it, got to visit local denim factories. From the moment he got to experiment with denim - mixing colors and developing new washes - Kervin knew in an instant - it was what he was meant to do.
"Creating a good pair of denim is like creating a piece of art,” says Rojas. ”No two pairs are the same.”
While working on the project one day, Kervin received an unexpected call in his office. Without giving too much thought to coworkers working around him, he put his phone on a speaker.
“Hi Kervin. It’s David,” said the person on the other line.
“What’s up David?” Kervin responded.
David seemed a little bit puzzled. “Do you know who I am?” he asked.
‘Do you know how many Davids that I know?’ Kervin explains to me.
“Listen Kervin, I want to hire you,” said David.
Kervin's heart started racing. “I instantly grabbed my phone and asked the guy to call me back in few hours. All my coworkers have heard that, including my boss!” he recalls.
As it turned out, David was a friend of one of Kervin’s customers. They met up for lunch the next day and Rojas accepted his generous job offer: ‘I’ll double your salary if you become a t-shirt designer at my denim company.’ Sounds like a dream? Except - there was a catch.
You Are Our New Denim Designer
After working for his new employer for about a week, Rojas was informed that his entire collection had to be designed from a studio located outside of LA. A studio located merely seven thousand miles away from LA. A studio located in China, to be precise.
What did that mean for Kervin? It meant he had to spend two to four months at a time, a couple of times a year in China, with a fellow denim designer - away from his family, friends, and most importantly, his wife.
The new life wasn’t easy. As Kervin recalls: “T-shirts were selling, but it wasn’t amazing. The company specialized in denim, so that wasn’t their customer.” And things seemed to only be getting worst.
When waiting for his fellow designer at the LAX airport to board their flight to China one day, Kervin received yet another call he could have not foreseen: ‘Kervin, I’m not going.’ He immediately called David and was told the designer quit. As Rojas remembers:
"I called David and he said to me: ’You are our new denim designer. Forget about the t-shirts. Come back with a finished collection. Oh, and I’m giving you a raise.’”
Kervin was freaking out. But that year he came back with a denim collection which turned out to be the company’s best selling collection ever.
A portrait of Jimmy Hendrix handmade by Kervin on a canvas made out of denim pieces.
Be Creative With Your Search
Rojas has had a fascinating journey filled with uncertainness and challenges. Yet, it’s been a happy one. What’s his advice on creating a fulfilling career? He recommends getting to know yourself first; understanding the things you like and make you happy, to begin with. Then, he suggests, be creative with your search:
"If you like music, for example, you might be a good singer but you may not necessarily be good at writing your own music,” he says. “And that’s fine. Not everyone is.” He adds: “But be creative with your options. You might also enjoy working in a music production or a record shop instead.”
That way, Rojas argues, you can do something you are passionate about, whilst still making a good living.
Kervin’s story is a great illustration of how one’s childhood’s interests, combined with personal choices, and some lucky breaks, can lead a person to finding its passion. It is also a great reminder that, unless we are willing to work hard towards our goals, nothing will come to us easily.
For more inspiration follow us on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter!