Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elena Pineda. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Elena, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Back in 2015, I had the idea to pair up my Vegas Runway Fashion Shows with the Vegas Runway Magazine, everyone in my circle told me it was a stupid idea and a gigantic waste of money. Of course, none of those people would invest a dime, so I decided their opinion didn’t matter.
I’d create a first issue and it if didn’t take, it wouldn’t matter, at least, I would’ve tried something new and different.
The first issue was launched paired up with a magnificent fashion show, numerous up and coming models, make up artists, photographers, designers and hair stylists started bombarding me with inquiries on how to be a part of my selective team.
The magazine became a huge success that helped launch the careers of hundreds of professionals in the Las Vegas area.
This has been one of my proudest ventures, a risk that certainly paid off.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
It all started with an obsession with Vintage jewelry, started collecting magnificent pieces from a very early age (I believe I was 6 years old when I got my hands on a vintage earring) and from then on, I would seek out the beautiful pieces. You see, my great-great-grandfather was the president of Nicaragua (1929-1933), he didn’t have a wife, so my great-grandmother was the first lady, she had a love for jewelry and was a huge collector.
I was able to snag a few of her pieces in the early 80’s and started what would later become and incredible collection and a thriving business.
I started making jewelry for myself in 2013, Soon, every time I went out to a casino or a restaurant, women would compliment my jewelry, sometimes even offering to pay my tab and buy the necklaces right off me!
I signed up in every expo and craft show that would have me; is not easy to carve a path as a unique jewelry creator in a world full of jewelers, but pretty soon I was getting recognized as “the lady with the big necklaces”
From there, the jump into the competitive fashion world was quite easy, I had already done the hard part, I was ready for more…
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I have been in the business for over a decade now, I had to learn the hard way that the best way to get something done is to do it yourself.
I used to think that along the way, I would meet mentors, and people who would help me go far. In my personal experience that never happened. I’ve been robbed, swindled out of thousands of dollars, and have had many doors shut in my face (not a great feeling).
In the beginning, it used to bother me, it used to defeat me, and whenever something didn’t happen right away or when I was told “No”
Looking back, I realized that every single time things didn’t work out the way I planned, it was the Universe showing me another path.
For example; I signed up to be a featured designer for Fashion Week Las Vegas in 2014, but the organizer cancelled the event a day before it was scheduled to start and stole all of the designer’s money (myself included)
The universe had provided me with a great opportunity. At first, I was enraged, because I felt so stupid losing all that money. But as soon as I calmed down, I saw it. I would create my unique fashion show, I rallied an entire city to help me create a show for all the designers who had been robbed, cheated, and had doors shut in their faces. I created VEGAS RUNWAY! The show was a huge success and from that moment on, people knew my name; Elena Pineda, the designer who got swindled out of money but came back with a new way of showcasing emerging and established fashion designers.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My intense desire to matter, and to leave a mark in this world.
I now live in Poulsbo, WA. One of my favorite things to do on the weekends is to go to local estate sales. I enjoy learning about person’s lives through their prized possessions and collections.
I have yet to visit an estate sale that has a similar collection of handmade statement jewelry as I have. I can say that when my time comes, and my estate sale is up, it’ll be quite a show, Everyone that will visit will know my name.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vegasrunwayfm.com
- Instagram: @hausofhellen @iamvegasrunway
- Facebook: @Vegas Runway @HausofHellen
- Linkedin: Elena (HausofHellen) Pineda
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/waRSmlLCLEA?si=7zvukt4bAH9nFF9u
Image Credits
Photographers; Roger Talley, Mario Ramirez, Ash photography, Angelina Dorogui, William Zimmerman