We were lucky to catch up with Sisley Rodriguez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sisley, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

Hi! Well, we are certainly back to 2012 with a huge emphasis on color blocking, and putting the color wheel to work cohesively. Prove that fashion repeats every 10 yrs. I’d also say vintage is still a big theme, not just the repurchasing of vintage goods but more so vintage silhouettes and fabrics, and people taking their style choices back to the early 2000s.

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.

It started with modeling school as a child; spending hours looking at fashion magazines, I’d dissect every page. I got my first job in retail at 17; I notice the passion I felt dressing people, and how my styling made them feel. So I decided that styling is something I would be doing for the rest of my life. At 19, I began styling fashion photography and dove into creative directing. I’ve worked with many photographers over the years and in some instances became a second pair of eyes for the creation of these visuals, directing shots. Directed videos, fashion shows, and have developed modeling portfolios. In 2017, I picked up fashion design and that has been my focus, taking my styling for projects at a design level to eventually in 2020 founding my own label, SLEYR. Pronounce (Slay-R). The name is my signature and a play on words for “slaying a look/outfit.” My line is inspired by my culture, lifestyle and the things that make me; me. My style is not pin pointed but I love things that feel glamorous and most of all transitional; adding irony to a look. I love pieces that can be worn day and night, beach or club, Miami serving as the perfect setting. I am a private designer but it is certainly my goal to see SLEYR worn around the world. I come from the high end retail world so paying attention to all the little details is essential! I choose the fabrics with love and do things limited because I find that owning unique pieces, and one of one is what it’s about. I also focus on sustainability mixed with vintage. I have a project on the side called #savetheblazer and it’s about the saving of luxury second hand blazers being reworked and glamorized. This project is about inclusion and exclusion. The blazers are for everybody but each is one of one. I’d like to help my clients curate their wardrobe, feel different and special when they wear SLEYR. I am proud of my dedication for this field that I so adore. Making things happen in a city that by definition is not high fashion and one that has also lost manufacturers can be a struggle. But I fuel myself in thinking with a pioneer mindset, and these are the times we are living in Miami.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I had put up an ad in January of 21’ to find assistance from a seamstress. Here, a lot of people do not hold this craft, so finding someone in town is difficult. I work a full time job in the day and design at night plus was attending school at the time to continue to pursue my studies. I came to a point where I was really frustrated with my design production because I’m just one person, and I have other things I do on the side like my styling/creative directing and retail job. I broke down crying then got up shook it off and then thought of a new project (#savetheblazer) days later I went through my email and found the number to a lady that could possibly assist me. The email had been there since January, I overlooked it, it’s now June. I had a meeting on the phone on my work break and next day we set to meet. I was overjoyed going back into work, and sat in the bathroom and cried of joy. It was a breakthrough. We’ve been working ever since.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process./

My products are handmade in Miami. I myself source the fabric. I’m very into textile and texture and like fine fabrics. I sketch and design the piece. The pattern is made and sewn. Of course there is the measurement and fitting process too. A process of design, and deliberations with my seamstress. I do stay active with manufacturer fairs, because I like to see who is out there producing getting insight on production prices and much more. I’ve learned a lot through these fairs and my day to day sourcing of materials for something I might be working on. I can say when it comes to pricing for the production of the designs you’re putting out, do not settle for the first price, keep searching. When it comes to paying for handmade work the price should be respected because it takes a lot of work to make one piece alone, also package it nicely.

Contact Info:

• Website: Sleyr.com
• Instagram: @sleyrmiami

Image Credits
@celiadluna @curtreynolds @haban_photography