We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Javan Plummer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Javan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Texas Runway is one of the most meaningful projects I have ever created because it represents the evolution of an idea that started with purpose, to showcase true role models and redefine what the fashion industry looks like in Texas. The journey began with our first show, Beyond The Runway, which was more than just a fashion event. It was created to highlight diversity, inclusivity, and social change, and to remind people that beauty and strength come in every size, color, and background. I wanted to give real people a platform, individuals who inspire others through their authenticity and resilience, not just traditional models who fit one narrow standard.
After the success of Beyond The Runway, I co-founded Houston Runway to transform that single event into a thriving creative community. My goal was to bring the fashion industry to Texas in a way that felt genuine and accessible. We built connections between designers, photographers, models, and creative professionals who often felt overlooked or underrepresented. It became a space where opportunity met passion, and every participant had a voice.
That vision has now expanded into Texas Runway, a statewide platform with divisions in Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. Each city brings its own energy, culture, and style to the stage, but we all share the same purpose, to elevate local talent and make Texas a true hub for fashion and creativity. What makes this brand unique is that it’s not just about the runway; it’s about empowerment. Every show we produce tells a story, one of perseverance, community, and breaking barriers. We’re redefining what it means to be part of the fashion world by leading with inclusion, collaboration, and heart.
For me, Texas Runway isn’t just a brand, it’s more of a movement. It opened the door for my other creative ventures, from Dynamic Visual Productions, where I tell real stories that help spread awareness through film, to VonGio Designs, where my parter Sergio Balderas and I bring individuality and confidence to life through fashion. Every project connects back to that same core mission: giving others the stage to be seen, valued, and celebrated.
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’ve always been drawn to creation, not just fashion or film, but the process of taking an idea and turning it into something that moves people. My journey began long before Texas Runway existed. I was a kid fascinated by structure and presentation, whether that meant organizing events or studying what made certain visuals stand out. Over time, that evolved into a passion for production, and eventually into the foundation for every brand I’ve built.
I learned early that success doesn’t come from having endless resources, it comes from resourcefulness. Everything I’ve created from Dynamic Visual Productions, to VonGio Designs, to my magazine and agency work, started from the ground up with limited tools but unlimited determination. That experience shaped my leadership style. I believe in giving people space to learn, fail, and rise because that’s exactly how I grew into who I am.
What drives me now is impact. I want to help rebuild the creative industry into something more accessible and sustainable for emerging talent. My approach blends art with entrepreneurship creating ecosystems where fashion meets film, and creativity meets business structure. Whether it’s developing a production team from scratch, designing a new collection, or helping someone gain their first professional credit, I see each step as part of a larger mission to build legacies, not moments.
I’m most proud of staying grounded through all of it. My brands may differ in focus, but they share one philosophy: creativity should uplift. Everything I produce, on screen, on stage, or in design is rooted in purpose, progress, and a belief that no dream is too far for those willing to build it.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
The biggest pivot in my career came when I realized that Houston Runway had grown beyond what two people could manage on their own. For our first year, it was just me and my partner, Sergio Balderas, handling everything from the logistics, the production design, the marketing, the casting, the visuals, and the direction for multiple brands and events. Between Houston Runway, Dynamic Visual Productions, VonGio Designs, Dynamic X Magazine, and Dynamic Enterprises Global we were running an entire ecosystem with no full team, no outside funding, and no playbook.
When Beyond the Runway succeeded, it showed me that the vision worked, but to scale it, I had to change how I operated. I couldn’t be the one doing every single job anymore. The pivot came when I decided to transition from a two-person grind into a multi-partner network. That’s when Texas Runway was born, uniting Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio under one platform, but this time with a larger creative family stepping in to help make it sustainable.
We brought in partners like Queens & Kings Entertainment Management, RAYA Entertainment, Quiet Echo Studios, Keotic Visuals, and Gio’s Photo Service to strengthen production and creativity across the board. Letting go of full control wasn’t easy, I was used to building everything by hand, from the stage layouts to the social campaigns, but it was the only way to truly grow.
That shift taught me that leadership doesn’t mean doing everything yourself. It means creating a foundation others can build on. This pivot changed everything and now, instead of managing burnout, I’m managing momentum. And for the first time, I can focus on the bigger picture: turning Texas Runway into a movement that unites fashion, film, and opportunity across the entire state.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Resilience has been the core of everything I’ve built because, for a long time, it was just me and Sergio trying to hold multiple brands together with pure determination. We didn’t have big sponsors or full-time staff, just a shared belief in what we were building. We learned to stretch every dollar, wear multiple hats, and find creative solutions when resources ran out. I’ve spent nights designing flyers, writing contracts, planning stage layouts, and managing casting calls, all within the same week. There were times when I questioned whether I was doing too much, but giving up never felt like an option.
There were also setbacks, canceled shows, last minute talent dropouts, and projects that fell through, but every challenge became a reason to adapt. When things went wrong, I didn’t let it define the journey. I learned to pause, restructure, and start again. That mindset carried over to Texas Runway, where resilience turned into a survival skill.
Now that we’ve brought in incredible partners like Quiet Echo Studios and Gio’s Photo Service, I can finally see the reward of all those years of building from the ground up. What once felt like survival mode has evolved into collaboration. We’re no longer just holding things together, we’re expanding with purpose.
My resilience comes from learning how to build with limited resources but limitless drive. Every setback became a setup for what’s next. Looking back, I’m proud that I never waited for ideal conditions to start, I created movement in the middle of uncertainty, and that’s what made all the difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.houstonrunwayshows.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/texasrunway
- Twitter: https://x.com/texasrunway_?s=21
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@dynamicvisualproduction?si=ZWITi0i5U5n1eot1
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/modeljavan
Image Credits
All image credits to Gio’s Photo Service
Photographer: @officialgiophotography
Personal/Main: @l.gio95.l