We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Juan Rodriguez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Juan below.
Alright, Juan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
As a child, my parents always valued their appearance. They often wore stylish, well-put-together outfits, no matter the occasion. Seeing their care in the way they presented themselves influenced my taste for fashion, even into my adulthood. My parents backgrounds has heavily influenced me throughout my life. I was born in New York City, immersed in a melting pot of cultures and traditions. My Puerto Rican mother was born in Morovis, and my Dominican Father was born in Moca. It seems that I have always identified more strongly with my Caribbean roots. Music was very influential throughout my childhood. My father often placed large headphones over my mother’s womb, playing bachata, merengue, salsa and other ethnic genres. From my first conceivable moments, I became a lover of their music.
During the Pandemic, my life was halted, like the rest of the world. As society shifted to fit the current circumstances, my long-term vision for my life began to transform. I decided I wanted to make a change for myself and experience a new sense of freedom. I dedicated much of my time to developing new skills and made significant progress in my overall personal growth. Shortly after, I decided that joining the entrepreneur world was my next step. Working for myself would be challenging but would bring me the rewards I sought. At first, I was unsure what business I wanted to embark on. After much thought, everything fell into place. Once I realized that my business should reflect my passion, it was clear that custom men’s apparel was a perfect choice. Clothing is an essential aspect of almost everyone’s lives. Self-expression and authenticity are crucial, and I believe clothing allows you to embrace your expression fully.
In my opinion, a shirt is the most important aspect of an outfit. I have always loved versatile shirts that are fit for any occasion. A shirt must have a pleasing texture, breathable fabric, and be true to size. The design of a shirt should also be fresh and eye-catching. I’ve found it difficult to find shirts that I enjoy and feel comfortable to wear. My goal was to create a custom shirt brand that provides style without sacrificing comfort and quality. Another issue I’ve strived to overcome within the clothing industry is sizing. As men, we come in various shapes and sizes, and my vision is to offer clothing that any man can find comfort in. As fashion trends continue to mold and shape the current industry, more range is needed in sizing, how clothing fits, and the quality of the product.
Juan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One of the most profound points in my journey was facing significant delays with manufacturing. My business was held back for several months, and there was uncertainty about when progress would be made. Although I was met with opposition, I still believed that all of the events unfolding led me towards success. Sometimes life unfolds in ways you could not have predicted, and that’s okay. We gain wisdom and experience through these challenging times, which make us stronger and benefit us for future incidents. For this instance, I researched different manufacturing companies and pieced together all of the possible solutions. Trial and error helped remove any unsuccessful options. Because of my resilience, I continued reaching out to manufacturers to find the best solution for me. Finally, I connected with my current providers and have been lucky to build a lucrative partnership with them. Together, we’ve built a foundation of exceeding customer expectations in all ways and providing unique and superior quality in all of our designs.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
What has helped me the most to build my reputation within my market is the transparency I’ve had with my customers. The time when I was having significant manufacturing delays I made sure I communicated that through social media. The superior quality of my designs is also what’s set me apart in the market and garnered a positive reception for my brand. Each fabric is hand selected and undergoes an extensive quality control process. Some of my shirts have coconut buttons on them and I purposely chose those buttons to give them a Caribbean flair. I will always strive to stay firm with the significance of my brand and it’s true values.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jibarourbano.com
- Instagram: @jibarourbano
- Facebook: @jibarourbano2022
- Other: Pop-ups coming soon… stay tuned on our social media platforms!