We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jency Abarca a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jency, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Before we talk about all of your success, let’s start with a story of failure. Can you open up about a time when you’ve failed?

I used to be scared of failure. It was once something that paralyzed me with fear; the thought of not reaching the version of myself I had set out was a disappointment I thought would hunt me in every space I walked into. I guess a big part of that was the feeling of rejection that accompanies us failing at something; this became a reality for me in 2021.

After years of working as an automotive receptionist, I knew I wanted to do more within my company but felt stuck. I decided to pay for my OMVIC certification, which led me to two major promotions; the first, was a finance assistant position which led to finance manager within a 6 month period.

I remember the feeling hearing the title ‘manager’ attached to my name, it was a goal or dream I had set out for myself without even being able to identify the steps on how to obtain it. So, Spring 2021 I left my team of 3 years and started a fresh chapter as a finance manager in a different jurisdiction/team.

My goal became short lived after only 10 months, when the company I worked for nonchalantly slid, across a big boardroom table, a termination letter notifying me that effective immediately I was no longer employed with the company.

There was many emotions and thoughts that day but the only one that still rushes to the forefront was the feeling of failure, feeling like I failed at one of the biggest milestones I had ever accomplished. However, it was that moment that pivoted me into relaunching the legacy and mission behind VYB3 & CO.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Jency Abarca, I’m a Latina entrepreneur born and raised in the community of Jane and Finch. I came from a single parent household, my mother is an immigrant from Costa Rica and my father from El Salvador. However, I was raised within a big family setting, my aunt and cousins migrated to Canada when I was 5, so my childhood is packed with memories. Till this day my cousins and I are extremely close, we make it a habit to catch up every week/month and we make sure to create memories worth looking back on.

VYB3 & CO was initially a blog which hosted original pieces covering the state of hip-hop culture; what or who was contributing to it, its history, and innovation, etc. Due to how quickly it became a hit amongst our audience, we decided to launch a streetwear brand associated with the blog. We are now completely focused on the streetwear line, and have five collections available online for people to choose from; we have track-pants, hoodies, crewnecks, graphic t-shirts, and hats for shoppers to enjoy!

I’m the designer behind every design in VYB3 & CO’s collections; so from the graphic images, to the color of embroidery used, the material used, I source it all and then team up with my graphic designer/design team to create a live piece for our tribe to wear and enjoy.

For us, our biggest objective is for everyone to feel inspired to blossom where they are currently planted. Meaning, stop waiting for the better job, more money, the right time and/or partner to follow your dream. We encourage everyone to find what they do and do you; no need to kick like Messi, shoot like Kobe or spit like Drake. For us, we feel our brand reminds and inspires supporters to dream big and to dream unapologetically even if it seems crazy or unrealistic – your passion sorts out the insanity.

I believe being a local brand that doesn’t come from major funding, or daddy money separates us from the existing streetwear brands that are available on the market. I believe this separates us from others because the hustle, and grind is authentic and relatable to our audience. Our brand legacy, of pursuing purpose and ambition, and putting in the grind behind it is what captivates our audience to follow us and our journey; everyone loves an underdog and that’s us at the moment.

Our top moments that I am most proud of is the expansion of our network. We went from a network that consisted of only close family and friends, to now local/international entrepreneurs, models, fashion designers/coordinators, jewelers, journalists, and celebrities. Since relaunching in 2022, we have connected with names such as: Donovan Bailey, Tony Yayo (G-Unit), and Dave East which have been humbling and memorable highlights for us. Having the opportunity to sit across others who have applied our formula; through their own pursuit of purpose, grind, and ambition is extremely humbling for us and engraves the reminder that our dreams are valid!

What we would love our city to remember is to: fall in love with the process; every setback, every struggle, every loss, and every injury. The journey is going to be a marathon never a sprint but during your season of fruition you’ll learn how to build your stamina, pace, endurance, focus, and discipline, and that’s what wins championships!

Have you ever had to pivot?

Our first pop-up was on: May 21, 2022 and every last detail went wrong. From the quantity size, to the embroidery placement, the color of the blanks/garments, etc.

I remember completely breaking down in my old apartment, and finding absolutely no comfort in anything or anyone; I felt defeated, I felt lost, and disappointed which almost led me to canceling our first pop-up debut and being a no show!

However, a friend of mine at the time slowly made me realize that no one aside from me knew how I intended for the pop-up to look or go, so make the best of it!

Fast forward to, May 21, 2023 we landed our first store placement for VYB3 & CO in a local streetwear boutique in Brampton, ON. Three weeks prior to my store placement, I was laid off from my job and had limited funds to fulfill the inventory I needed for the store debut, and although, the same feelings rushed back of disappointment, defeat, and confusion this time around I knew it was in me to figure it out and make my vision happen!

The week leading into our first store debut, I secured the funding for the store placement, and my team/I managed to put together a 80 piece collection to debut on our 1-year anniversary at Shop DNJ’s.

So, had I not learned to pivot during our first pop-up nightmare I wouldn’t have been able to believe in myself enough to push our store debut through.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Those in your corner are swinging with you and for you!

The concept and/or idea that the same family and friends that loved you through your lowest moments, who you shared laughs with, and broke bread with will be your biggest supporters has been the biggest misconception and/or lie I’ve had drop/unlearn.

The reality is the biggest group of supporters we’ll experience will be from complete strangers, and/or friends of friends. Some of those who have been with us the longest, will be the ones who refuse to celebrate your smallest or biggest victories because although they love to see us doing good, they’ll never want to see us doing better than them.

I recently had to end a few friendships with people I loved dearly because I noticed the energy from them when I was at my lowest moments versus my highest moments were extremely different and inconsistent. When I’m low they’re readily available to sit with me, hear me out, and comfort me but when I am happiest, or most successful they’re too busy, or forget to congratulate or celebrate me, and my wins with me.

Why does the magnifying glass only come out during my low/loss season? Why isn’t it used during my wins/successes too? So once I started noticing a pattern, and brought it to God and asked for him to reveal the truth behind the friendship/connection, I knew certain people just weren’t meant to come into the next chapter/season with me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.VYB3.com
• Instagram: officialVYB3
• Facebook: officialVYB3
• Linkedin: Jency Abarca

Image Credits
Instagram (photographer): @shooters_ave Instagram (models 4-5 image): @linda.mariehair @margaritaenriqueznavia Instagram (models 6-7): @its._naomi_ @emmm__official