We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Earnest Diaz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Earnest below.
Earnest, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Covid has brought about so many changes – has your business model changed?
Before the lock down designing was my main focus. Everything from casual, formal, remake, touch ups, alterations, to costumes. Anything and everything bespoke, to clients specifications.
I was toying with the idea of music before the pandemic. I had worked with a couple of artists and the songs I wrote for them had marginal success, play-wise. As well, I had written and self published my first book “Thankful” which went on to win IPAs Best Inspirational of 2016. Shortly before winning this award, I pulled together a rough draft of the screenplay based on the back story of Thankful.
Once we were in full lock down I started making masks as I’m sure most creative types did. While cutting and sewing and mailing out orders, something lingered in the back of my mind. A connection was being made. The rhythm, hum and vibration of the machines started to make me think of the next phase. I already had a small collection of music I had worked on. This was the point that made me connect the music I made with the second manuscript I completed in 2015.
“Unity – New Traditions for LGBT Nuptials”. A completely redesigned wedding celebration for gay and lesbian couples. The basis of Unity was to redesign a celebration for myself and people like me as a way of respecting traditions that many mimic by simply replacing a bride for a groom or vice versa.
While sewing I would glance over and see three people helping by cutting fabric I had previously chalked out. Pre-lock down I flirted with the idea of a documentary to explain the birth of Unity. All of this made me confirm the direction. Between seeing the work come to life and hearing the rhythm of the machines, something told me to move forward. That was when I began working on a soundtrack for a Unity documentary.
This made me throw out the business model and change everything.
Now, I would incorporate making music, story boarding music videos, figuring out the best way to promote these new projects along with sending out email query letters to agents regarding Unity. All the while continuing to design costumes for Halloween clients and sewing various projects that came in.
And then I discovered… film festivals, which was a game changer.
The cycle is non-stop. A daily constant grind that keeps me on my toes 24/7.
And I love it!
Earnest, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Little Ole Me….
I began sewing at the age of 5, designing by the age of 12. This was also the age I began coming up with the idea of redesigning weddings for LGBT couples.
By 18 I would create designs for various friends and family. Skip forward to 1999, I worked for interior designer Tim Hamrock who designed for Olympic Gold medalist Carl Lewis. It was then that I was asked if I’d like to design a Halloween costume for Mr. Lewis. Of course I jumped on the offer.
In 2002 I built up a small collection of message tees that I named “The Reject Collection”.
The basis of the collection revolved around the message that stated, “Democrat Reject” & “Republican Reject”. At the time George W Bush was president. It wasn’t a jab at any politician party, I had just grown tired of the constant bickering between both parties. The pandering, finger pointing and constant…we are better than….
Looking back now I guess it was my way of decompressing from politics.
That same year I designed an Avant Garde Cowboy collection to show at a Non-profit charity in Houston, Texas.
By 2002 I began designing swim wear along with a few pieces to complement The Reject Collection. This lead me to hosting small fashion shows across Houston and Galveston.
Later I branched out to host my first solo major fashion show at Rich’s in Houston. That was amazing and scary at the same time. In the back of my mind, I knew if I succeed it was me that created the success. In the same aspect. If I failed, it was me that created the failure. Luckily it was a small success.
In 2002 I also designed a menswear collection for Avant Garde designer Richard Saenz. Shortly thereafter I began working on the next major collection “The Revolution Collection”. With the main focus being Black satin, fuchsia raw silk and white as the accent color.
While meeting new clients in 2003, one approached me and asked if I made underwear. At the time I did not. But I accepted the challenge. I created a few pieces for this gentleman, and utilized the remaining sketches to come up with “Sk’n – The Uninhabited Pleasure for Men”. A flesh toned collection of 18 different under shirts and 18 different underwear released in 2006. The collection was met with open arms. From Texas, California, Illinois to Florida.
By 2009 I locked in a manager. This opened the door for me to design for the likes of reality star couple Mykel & Ruth Hawke, multiple Emmy award winning kids show Janet’s Planet, and Winston Churchill’s Great Grandson Jonathan Sandys.
It was also around this time I began designing for painting artist Jumper Maybach which included various pieces from tuxedos to merchandise. I also created designs for singer Tamar Davis.
Jump forward to the pandemic with masks, music, music videos & screenplay. It was towards the end of the pandemic that I discovered film festivals, via Filmfreeway.com.
The debut song from the “Unity” soundtrack “Let Them Eat Cake” (Chapter 18) was released via online radio and film festivals.
To date, Let Them Eat Cake has achieved 104 decorations across 6 continents. The second release Beauty and Grooming Chapter 9 (Official Video) was released Aug. 5th 2023. To date Beauty and Grooming has won 47 decorations.
For the screenplay Thankful I was lucky to have found an editor in the USA and one out of Spain. Once everything was finalized, the script was also submitted to film festivals. To date I am proud to share that “Thankful” the screenplay has won 32 decorations.
Between designing, sewing, magazine interviews and winning awards for music videos, and the screenplay. I was humbled to receive 7 Honorary Doctorates of Fine Arts. Never in a million years would I have thought me becoming an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts was a possibility, let alone having 7 times.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
It might sound silly to some, and not stepping on any religious toes. But the ability to create various projects at times seems to be a gift from a higher force. And no I don’t do drugs, I rarely drink, my focus is creativity and work.
The connection at times feels like absolution. The rhythmic vibration when a project is in motion is probably understood more by creative types. I try to work from that place when I create. Everything from writing and producing music to NFTs and designing the clothes and outfits. Even to the simplicity of designing the cover of the Unity Journal.
Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
The NFT market is one I am all in for! I adore various modern ways of thinking out side of the box. I do have a number of NFTs available on https://opensea.io/EarnestHouseofDiazMusic
I had images from the Let Them Eat Cake (Official Video) turned into NFTs with prices that vary.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://earnestdiaz.com/
- Instagram: Intagram.com/earnest_diaz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earnest.diaz
- Twitter: https://X.com/Earnest_diaz
- Youtube: @earnestdiaz
Image Credits
Photographer: C. Elzinga
Clothing: Earnest for Earnest House of Diaz
Location: Mercer Arboretum. Houston, Tx.