February 19, 2026 • 27 mins
In this episode of Teach Me Something, Penny and Pro sit down with Veronica Romero, Vice President of HC Creative Event Productions, the powerhouse team behind high-impact fashion shows during New York Fashion Week. Veronica pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to produce runway shows at the highest level—from logistics and creative direction to talent coordination and crisis management.
With Berkeley College students volunteering alongside HC Creative during NYFW, this conversation highlights the value of experiential learning, mentorship, and real-world exposure. Veronica shares her journey into fashion production, the skills students need to succeed behind the scenes, and why hands-on experience is the ultimate classroom.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, what's up.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
This is DJ Prostyle and this is Pennydellas.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
And this is teach Me Something.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Brought to you by Berkeley College.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Okay, ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to teach Me Something
by Berkeley College with Pennydellas and DJ Prostyle. How are
you feeling today?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
You know, I'm feeling better because it's warm.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Yeah, it's warm. It's so cold outside New York City.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
The snow is no longer pretty.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
No it's not. It's the black. It's like the walls
now of dark, ugly snow.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
You know, it's just Christmas past, the ghost of Christmas past.
But what has brought clarity to our lives today and
a little sparkle in the studio is that we are
speaking all things New York Fashion Weeks, the business of fashion. Combermero,
(00:49):
vice President of HC Creative Event Productions, welcome.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Wow, thank you guys, and I feel so special, Thank
you special.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
So what do you wear when it First of all,
let's go right in. So what are you wearing right now?
Because because with the snow outside, I mean, she's onto fashion.
So like, what do you wear when it's ugly snow
like it is outside. This is not the pretty snow.
I know, I know, ugly snow.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
You know, I rather die than not being in style.
So of course I have my boots, old fox leather.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Of course.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Okay, so no, no disrespect, but you're not wearing like
ugs or something like that right now. No, no, no,
I'm just saying.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I'm I am Mexican. So I have my beautiful boots,
you know, like Rancho boots.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
That I love. They're good for the every day but
also for snow.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
That's right.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
So that's what I'm wearing.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
We're going to get some fashion tips that we're going
to have to do a carousel with her outfit, like
the tax because we're just wearing.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
No, I wasn't ready for it. I wasn't ready for it.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Wearing the merch. So tell us about your journey. How
did it begin? How did we end up as a VP?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Well, yes, so I started obviously in Mexico. My father
had his own brand and he was already in the
industry of fashion. He had a medium company in where
he was doing machilada, which is like mass producing for
other brands, but one of his inspirations was his own designs.
(02:20):
He was a mechanical engineer, can you believe that, and
ended up in fashions. So he was really good at
traying and he would like to do that on his
free time, like just draw sketches of different clothes. And
obviously he was a man, so he was drawing sketches
for women clothing.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
So it was funny.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
That about a year prior for me showing up in
his life, he had this inspiration of the name de Vetnik,
coming from I don't know, I guess French, and he
created the design of the brand and how different designs
were gonna, you know, encompass what the Veronique was showing
(03:01):
that that will be his first brand for women clothing.
And then later he decided, well, if someone within the company,
because it was a family business, is going to have
a girl, the name will be Veronica. And then I
come a year after. So I learned a lot of
the business from my dad. Unfortunately, you know, the Latin
(03:26):
American countries, they don't have a very political, stable economy,
and so in a downfall, I ended up coming to
New York because the economy in Mexico wasn't strong enough,
and with all the dreams I had, I started working
in restaurants first, and later I met my husband and
(03:47):
we decided to open up our own and then from
that we went to events, catering, creating events, special memories
for just like socials, from weddings, personal business, all type
of things. And then from one day to the other,
I met this beautiful Venezuela, lady Adriana Mauretra, which is
(04:07):
the creator of New York Fashion Week AM and literally.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
We just click.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
We was like when you meet a friend but it
wasn't your friend, and it's like you cannot is that
moment chemistry.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Like you know them for a long time.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I'm still trying to work on this.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Yeah, So it was that chemistry.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
We were sponsoring one of the events in where Adriana
was head of the of the runway and we just
had a few conversations and it was just very casual,
but eventually.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Our path cross again.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
We also had again the opportunity to sponsor another fashion
event and that's where we were able to see her
in her full you know, display of producing and creator.
It wasn't her event, but she was already helping big
firms and designers to do the wrong way, fixing the models,
getting the models, and you know, it's an entire thing,
(05:12):
it's an entire process, and so later on we just decided,
why don't we just do our own right and so
that is going to be I think it's two years
and something already, so we are already actualations. Yeah, so
now we're here for the fifth edition. Is like it
went on the blink of an eye. So many things happened,
(05:35):
so many memories. Also, one of my daughters has been
part of the wrong way with her learning from her
because she also has a model in school. So one
of the things that made me click with Adriana is
because she created the Women Without Limits in New Jersey
in where she we included everyone, so girls that were
(05:58):
really young but had the desire to become something better
and bigger, and also the older women that were already
in business and they were entrepreneurs, but they didn't have
the confidence in themselves to walk in a runway or
just walk and give a presentation to a lot of people,
(06:19):
like they were lacking something and they didn't really know
what it was. So once you meet Adriana and her organization,
she has an entire array of different seminars, classes.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Ways to teach you how to dress styling.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
All the people that are also contributing with us in
terms of the designers, the people, the artisans.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
That are doing the jewelry, and all these makeup artists.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
It's like an entire team that helped us and these
ladies build up in their confidence. So it is truly
transformational journey for all the girls and the women that
enroll into her organization. I got to see them from
coming like very shy, kind of like covering their face
(07:09):
with their own hair, and little by little taking the seminars,
taking the classes, going on the hills and starting with
different diets, feeling better, taking care of themselves completely. So
it was that transformational journey in where they started loving themselves, bringing.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
All these beautiful self love that that's really.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
The confidence that everybody needs, because yes, we're in the
business of fashion and we can't dress up really nice.
But what happens if you don't have that confidence inside
of you, then you're not.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Gonna really project that. Then it's just an illusion.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
So she is that type of person that creates that
inclusion in where she brings everyone real people, true people
like you me, like the neighbor, the person that has
a shop, downstairs together. If that's the transformation that they
are looking for.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That is so beautifully authentic building that ecosystem. And we've
spoken about this. I think every episode is your network,
is your net worth, and building that community and seeing
that professional development transferable skills go into personal development. And
we've talked about the fashion and when people think of
New York Fashion Week, we picture glamor, the lights, the glits,
(08:26):
But what is the reality for you within your niche
behind the scenes of the glamor.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Well, yes, like you said, we're a niche, we are
a Hispanic community, but we're inclusive for everyone. The platform
is really open to any designer from wherever part of
the work they want to come.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
They're all welcome. Just in case someone is hearing us.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
But yes, we started as a Hispanic community and so
we're very proud of it and we want to showcase them.
So we have a lot of the already upscale designers
that they have been here for thirty years, and we
merge them also with new emergent designers and within that set,
(09:12):
that's where we show that clamor. So I think that
you don't need to be you don't need to have
attag or you don't need to really have a record.
It's just like the desires and the creativity that the
designers want to bring to the run way. What really
projects the glamor. I think that at the end a
run way is that it's like seeing in physical contact
(09:37):
all that vision that the designers going back back back
into the time where they were seeing on their tables
and drawing those skeedges and drawing those dresses or garments
or whatever it is if it was jewelry, the blin
blink or no blin blink, but all that comes back
into the wrong way and then obviously yes, they're is
(10:00):
that glamorous aspect of it?
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Yeah, I mean I was going to be a model, so.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
You can still come and try it with them. I'm
actually we should go.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
I was gonna my wife actually has a clothing brand,
her own line, and I was going to model her.
Our kids did it. Obviously she did it. So I
was able to see kind of behind the scenes a
little bit on on during New York Fashion Week a
few years ago. What is so much that goes on?
But for the people watching right now and even for myself,
like these runway shows, right and and that whole week
(10:36):
and everything that goes because the shows, there's runways everywhere,
and there's all these different the objective of it, the
objective of it, right aside from networking, Like, who's in
the audience really like that that that the outcome? What
is the question trying to say here? I'm trying to say,
like what is the outcome that that is there people
like from clothing brands and stores that want to get
your fashion into their department stores or something like that.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Like so when it comes to you, you're let me
translate from my brother Alex here forever to get into this. Now,
what is the return on investment? Do you hand select
the audience members to choose warehousing, fashion houses, looking at
(11:25):
maybe press to cover the lines? How do you navigate
that portion of it?
Speaker 3 (11:29):
So we're more focused on awareness, uh and getting you know,
into the social media all that those assets that will
help us create and build more content. At this moment,
we are not looking for let's say, retailers or wholesalers
to come and sit down. I mean, obviously if they
would like to come, they're welcome, but they were looking yes, yes,
(11:54):
because there are different types correct, there are different type
of fashion shows that are ones that are pretty much
close to the public and where the biggest houses for retailers, wholesalers,
and you know, they come and sit and then watch
the show. Our show is not like that. It's more
like you said, the Glamoor, what is going to happen
(12:15):
be there.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
It's more of a curated experience, exactly.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Definitely, it's an entire experience. A lot of the audience
is going to be entrepreneurs there in different fields, so
you can find from banks, insurance to people that own
screws and ships and you know, retails, you name it,
they're there. So it is really interesting. It's a different mix, Yes.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
What kinds of clothing so specializinger? Is each show different?
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Yes, So right now we're going to have five different
designers and they are all from Latin background and they
are focusing more on women, on women, Gallas and Glamour,
So we do have some of them that they already
have their dresses and their garments and also the jewelry
(13:08):
on not only fashion shows but also on TV in
you know, for example, beauty contest like Miss Universe and
like high ticket contests like that, and it's very interesting.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Because they bring that to the show.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
So you get to see a mix sometimes between the
clothes of the designers that we have plus the artisan's
jewelry or the shoes or whatever, you know, other garments
or accessories that we put them together, so we portray
different experiences.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
So are you going to wear a gown or the
jewelry and.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
The jewelry.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Is they're gonna be only the jewelry?
Speaker 2 (13:58):
I well, you know, Justin Bieber just performed as boxers.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Yah. I've lost some weight, but not enough to do
that yet. Okay, don't get me in trouble with uh.
There's obviously a lot of moving parts to doing these
shows and everything you do with the runway. What are
some of the biggest challenges when producing multiple shows under
a time you know, a tight timeline.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Definitely, the time is exactly that, Like Kronos is the
god right, If things, people, vendors and the people of
the entire team don't synchronize on the timing, everything crumbles
from there. So I would say that absolutely the time
(14:45):
is the biggest issue here. But that's the reason why
we also try to select people that we definitely.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
Know we've worked with the team exactly, the team.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
That we know that we worked with them in the past.
We try to kind of marry with some of them,
you know, But obviously this is a big industry and
some of the team members sometimes they have other events
going on, so we have to pick and you know,
leave some aspects there. But definitely the timing that everything
(15:19):
comes in a sequence. If you don't have certain things
at the beginning, the next two, three, four steps won't happen,
or they might not happen with a good synergy. And
once again going back to synergy, I think that's also
one of the key elements. Having a good energy and
a good communication with all the members and the teams
(15:42):
and the designers and the models and the producers. It's
super super important the sponsors. If you don't have this
nice energy, then things start going in different directions. There's
a lot of resistance. But that's also one of the
things that I love from Adriana that she has always
been able to create this nice environment in where you
(16:06):
become part of a family, you become part of a friend,
a friend, friends and family, that's what I would call.
So all challenges can be overcome as long as you're
working a team, right.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
I love that how far in advance. Do you begin
planning for a fashion show? What does that look like?
Speaker 4 (16:27):
I know as soon as we finish.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Planning, absolutely, yes, it's It's a huge event. There are
so many elements, people coming from different part parts of
the world, not only the designers, but also the people
that comes with them, Dresses flying from one city to another,
from one country to another, models coming from one place
(16:52):
to another.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Uh, it's just so complex.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
And obviously we wouldn't be able to do this on
our just by ourselves, so we need also to get
help from sponsors. So we have a whole team of
people that trust in this project because you know, like
you said, it's glamor so it's amazing.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Who doesn't want to leave that, at least for a night.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
I'm just like envisioning the planning board. Oh my god,
of like all of the components working simultaneously.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Well, I can't tell your pen it's definitely worse than
my numerality chart.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
I love this and I'm here for it. I'm so
here for it. Well, what's cool is that this season
Berkeley College students will be joining you and your team
volunteering for this fashion show. So why is it so
important for you to open doors for those to come after.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Well, imagine, look at my face.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
You can see that from my frind now it brightens
up when we spoke about the students.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
I love young people.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
I am a firm believer that any industry needs young
people to drive because they are the new, They're the now.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
They're the ones that have all the new ideas. What's popping?
You have to ask them. It won't come from me,
that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
But aside from that, I think it's it's really amazing
that they get to have hands one on one experience
with the designers and the entire production team, that they
get to see the reality that is not all glamour.
That yes, from the sketch to the stage, there's a
(18:39):
huge gestation period in where a lot of things need
to align, a lot of things need to come in time,
things need to move. Like I said, try not to
build up that much resistant to make it a reality.
And for them to experience experience the feedings and also
the nerves from the design, it becomes.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
More real for them.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
It gives them a serious staple in what reality after
their dream is behind.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
I love that, you know, that's gonna be the name
of this episode. From sketch to stage. That was very catchy. Now, yeah,
it's been fun the past couple of New York Fashion
Weeks to see our students integrate. We have the designer
residence program and we're with our third designer now and
it's so nice to see them light up as they
see the different functionalities and logistics and shadow different segments.
(19:32):
So it's really cool to see that experiential learning take place.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Yes, absolutely, I think that creativity is the part that
likes all ideas and visions, right, So if they get
to experience that face to face and alive, it starts
building on them. So I mean, they are the ones
that are gonna tell us tomorrow what are going we
are going to experience in those fashion shows that they
(19:58):
will create when they come in into the field, you know.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
So it's really really amazing.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
It brings me, you know, like my heart opened for
them to experience this, and I really hope that a
lot of them join us.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Do you get a lot of their input? Do you
ask a lot of their opinions and input on things?
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Absolutely, from the time that they are in the mix
in the day, and also a follow up after, you know,
because I think feedback, especially respecting everybody points of view
and opinions, it always gives you more and it makes
you richer.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
So yes, we follow up with them. A lot of
the times.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
We've worked with other colleges in the past and we
have a really good feedback from them and they always
want to come back. So that tells us that we're
doing something good.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
That's nice.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
In terms of talent acquisition, what are the qualities that
you look for when hiring.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
You mean for hiring or for volunteers. Yeah, for hiring, well,
like I said, try to get things done. Be as
a problem solver rather than one that creates problems.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Just eliminate it.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Bro It seems like you're gonna get into deep waters here,
you know when the cameras go.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Sweet are on.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
But really it's just more about the desire and the
eager to drive.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
I remember back in the past, before we even started
the first fashion show, Adriana and I we sat down
and when she had that idea it looked really crazy.
She was like, let's do our fashion show. When I
was like, okay, that's a lot coming and she was
telling me, you know what, this is how I do
do my plans, I start backwards. So the first thing
(21:58):
I do is I sit down and I imagine exactly
to the detail, how I really envisioned how things are
going to come, and me sitting down next to you
opening a bottle of champagne celebrating that we had a
beautiful time and the experience was amazing. And from there
I started building the dots going back and all that.
(22:20):
I think it really is so profound if you take
a minute and take it in, it teaches us a
lot of things. She really taught me a lot of
things in my personal life. And also aside from this production,
we you know, I have other businesses. So it really
was really profound that message.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
So that's awesome. Yeah, and you've heard, I mean, you
see it a lot because you can envision something right,
like an outcome of where you want to be in
life or where you want to be in your career,
and you could write it on a vision board and
you could do all that kind of stuff, right. But
then after you write the ultimate end goal right of
where you want to be, then the next step is
to okay, now let me backtrack. Why I have to
(23:00):
do to get to hear right. So sometimes writing or
creating or envisioning the outcome is great and then coming
up with the plan on how to get there.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
I use a Smarkle approach to almost everything. So do
you use it?
Speaker 4 (23:16):
Of course?
Speaker 3 (23:16):
That means if you aproach, yes, if you don't, If
you don't have if you don't set your goals, you
don't know where you're going. You really need to have
a goal to know where to move, otherwise the universe
will move you its own way.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
That's true. And for those of you at home, let's
teach you something. So smartles S is for specific, M
is for measurable, A is for attainable, and T is
for time bound. And you can apply this to everything.
Pro wanted to lose thirty pounds. He made a goal.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
I'm over here thinking smart goal was like an appla.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Pro does not know what's popping in fashion or the
market because he refers to social media as the Internet
YouTube Smart goals later, ladies and gentlemen. So in true
teach me something podcast Fashion, we close with a nice question,
(24:10):
no pressure, but I what's coming? In one word, if
you could articulate which you would want your legacy to be.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
What would that word be inclusion?
Speaker 1 (24:26):
She was ready.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
That is the fastest response.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
Was already had inclusion.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
I like it.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Okay, I like it, And nobody's ever used that one.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
No, that's a new word.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
Yes, definitely is. My life has been an example of that.
I am a Latina Mexican five four that came to
New York when I was eighteen years old. And I
reach where I am, but I still dream and I
want to reach a lot much higher. And I have
(24:58):
my family, so I want my kids to be able
to see me and you know, be proud of mama
and know that they can make whatever they want with
their lives. And I think that the key is inclusion,
bringing everyone together, making a beautiful mix because we're all different.
So whatever you don't have, someone else is gonna have.
(25:20):
And that's what makes us, you know, a team, and
that's what makes us beautiful.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
I'm just you know, we're coming off a weekend where
we had Cardi b on essenl Bad Bunny, Benito Bowl
is coming off and we're just all very inclusive and
emotional Latinos right and representing our communities. And you know
what Benito said it and you know, love is powerful.
(25:50):
So love inclusivity, beaute.
Speaker 4 (25:54):
Yes, I love this.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Oh drop your socials? Where can they find you? How
can those volunteer for your organization?
Speaker 4 (26:01):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (26:01):
So if they go to our Instagram, I think it
will be the fastest way to get linked. If they
go to nyf W Underscore am and they are gonna
find there the clicks either to purchase tickets or to
apply for volunteer or anything like that. That's the fastest
way to find us. Or they can always DM us.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Of course.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
I love it. And when it's the show February fifteenth, Oh,
in Sunday.
Speaker 4 (26:30):
It is a Sunday at Valentine.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Yes, So we're closing the fashion week and we're doing
it at the Angel Orients's Foundation by the Lancey Street
something like that. I think everybody knows.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
Do you know that spot?
Speaker 3 (26:45):
It's like an old church, so it has this beautiful
background that looks amazing with the dresses and the pictures
and the press go wild with those pictures, everybody.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
Yes, I love it amazing. Well, we're gonna stop by
definitely and try on all of the jewelry.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Yeah, just a jewelry.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
I'll make sure that if it's only going to be
the jewelry pro. I'll get you a big one.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
I like it all right, love it well.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Thank you for listening to teach Me Something with DJ
pro Style and Pennydellas And.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
We'll see you guys, of course, presented by Berkeley College.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Where your potential is our promise, See you guys next time. Bye, Hey,
thanks for listening. Tune in next week for all new
episode of Teach Me Something, brought to you by Berkeley
College
Hey, what's up.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
This is DJ Prostyle and this is Pennydellas.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
And this is teach Me Something.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Brought to you by Berkeley College.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Okay, ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to teach Me Something
by Berkeley College with Pennydellas and DJ Prostyle. How are
you feeling today?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
You know, I'm feeling better because it's warm.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Yeah, it's warm. It's so cold outside New York City.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
The snow is no longer pretty.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
No it's not. It's the black. It's like the walls
now of dark, ugly snow.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
You know, it's just Christmas past, the ghost of Christmas past.
But what has brought clarity to our lives today and
a little sparkle in the studio is that we are
speaking all things New York Fashion Weeks, the business of fashion. Combermero,
(00:49):
vice President of HC Creative Event Productions, welcome.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Wow, thank you guys, and I feel so special, Thank
you special.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
So what do you wear when it First of all,
let's go right in. So what are you wearing right now?
Because because with the snow outside, I mean, she's onto fashion.
So like, what do you wear when it's ugly snow
like it is outside. This is not the pretty snow.
I know, I know, ugly snow.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
You know, I rather die than not being in style.
So of course I have my boots, old fox leather.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Of course.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Okay, so no, no disrespect, but you're not wearing like
ugs or something like that right now. No, no, no,
I'm just saying.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I'm I am Mexican. So I have my beautiful boots,
you know, like Rancho boots.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
That I love. They're good for the every day but
also for snow.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
That's right.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
So that's what I'm wearing.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
We're going to get some fashion tips that we're going
to have to do a carousel with her outfit, like
the tax because we're just wearing.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
No, I wasn't ready for it. I wasn't ready for it.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Wearing the merch. So tell us about your journey. How
did it begin? How did we end up as a VP?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Well, yes, so I started obviously in Mexico. My father
had his own brand and he was already in the
industry of fashion. He had a medium company in where
he was doing machilada, which is like mass producing for
other brands, but one of his inspirations was his own designs.
(02:20):
He was a mechanical engineer, can you believe that, and
ended up in fashions. So he was really good at
traying and he would like to do that on his
free time, like just draw sketches of different clothes. And
obviously he was a man, so he was drawing sketches
for women clothing.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
So it was funny.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
That about a year prior for me showing up in
his life, he had this inspiration of the name de Vetnik,
coming from I don't know, I guess French, and he
created the design of the brand and how different designs
were gonna, you know, encompass what the Veronique was showing
(03:01):
that that will be his first brand for women clothing.
And then later he decided, well, if someone within the company,
because it was a family business, is going to have
a girl, the name will be Veronica. And then I
come a year after. So I learned a lot of
the business from my dad. Unfortunately, you know, the Latin
(03:26):
American countries, they don't have a very political, stable economy,
and so in a downfall, I ended up coming to
New York because the economy in Mexico wasn't strong enough,
and with all the dreams I had, I started working
in restaurants first, and later I met my husband and
(03:47):
we decided to open up our own and then from
that we went to events, catering, creating events, special memories
for just like socials, from weddings, personal business, all type
of things. And then from one day to the other,
I met this beautiful Venezuela, lady Adriana Mauretra, which is
(04:07):
the creator of New York Fashion Week AM and literally.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
We just click.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
We was like when you meet a friend but it
wasn't your friend, and it's like you cannot is that
moment chemistry.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Like you know them for a long time.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I'm still trying to work on this.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Yeah, So it was that chemistry.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
We were sponsoring one of the events in where Adriana
was head of the of the runway and we just
had a few conversations and it was just very casual,
but eventually.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Our path cross again.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
We also had again the opportunity to sponsor another fashion
event and that's where we were able to see her
in her full you know, display of producing and creator.
It wasn't her event, but she was already helping big
firms and designers to do the wrong way, fixing the models,
getting the models, and you know, it's an entire thing,
(05:12):
it's an entire process, and so later on we just decided,
why don't we just do our own right and so
that is going to be I think it's two years
and something already, so we are already actualations. Yeah, so
now we're here for the fifth edition. Is like it
went on the blink of an eye. So many things happened,
(05:35):
so many memories. Also, one of my daughters has been
part of the wrong way with her learning from her
because she also has a model in school. So one
of the things that made me click with Adriana is
because she created the Women Without Limits in New Jersey
in where she we included everyone, so girls that were
(05:58):
really young but had the desire to become something better
and bigger, and also the older women that were already
in business and they were entrepreneurs, but they didn't have
the confidence in themselves to walk in a runway or
just walk and give a presentation to a lot of people,
(06:19):
like they were lacking something and they didn't really know
what it was. So once you meet Adriana and her organization,
she has an entire array of different seminars, classes.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Ways to teach you how to dress styling.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
All the people that are also contributing with us in
terms of the designers, the people, the artisans.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
That are doing the jewelry, and all these makeup artists.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
It's like an entire team that helped us and these
ladies build up in their confidence. So it is truly
transformational journey for all the girls and the women that
enroll into her organization. I got to see them from
coming like very shy, kind of like covering their face
(07:09):
with their own hair, and little by little taking the seminars,
taking the classes, going on the hills and starting with
different diets, feeling better, taking care of themselves completely. So
it was that transformational journey in where they started loving themselves, bringing.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
All these beautiful self love that that's really.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
The confidence that everybody needs, because yes, we're in the
business of fashion and we can't dress up really nice.
But what happens if you don't have that confidence inside
of you, then you're not.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Gonna really project that. Then it's just an illusion.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
So she is that type of person that creates that
inclusion in where she brings everyone real people, true people
like you me, like the neighbor, the person that has
a shop, downstairs together. If that's the transformation that they
are looking for.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That is so beautifully authentic building that ecosystem. And we've
spoken about this. I think every episode is your network,
is your net worth, and building that community and seeing
that professional development transferable skills go into personal development. And
we've talked about the fashion and when people think of
New York Fashion Week, we picture glamor, the lights, the glits,
(08:26):
But what is the reality for you within your niche
behind the scenes of the glamor.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Well, yes, like you said, we're a niche, we are
a Hispanic community, but we're inclusive for everyone. The platform
is really open to any designer from wherever part of
the work they want to come.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
They're all welcome. Just in case someone is hearing us.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
But yes, we started as a Hispanic community and so
we're very proud of it and we want to showcase them.
So we have a lot of the already upscale designers
that they have been here for thirty years, and we
merge them also with new emergent designers and within that set,
(09:12):
that's where we show that clamor. So I think that
you don't need to be you don't need to have
attag or you don't need to really have a record.
It's just like the desires and the creativity that the
designers want to bring to the run way. What really
projects the glamor. I think that at the end a
run way is that it's like seeing in physical contact
(09:37):
all that vision that the designers going back back back
into the time where they were seeing on their tables
and drawing those skeedges and drawing those dresses or garments
or whatever it is if it was jewelry, the blin
blink or no blin blink, but all that comes back
into the wrong way and then obviously yes, they're is
(10:00):
that glamorous aspect of it?
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Yeah, I mean I was going to be a model, so.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
You can still come and try it with them. I'm
actually we should go.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
I was gonna my wife actually has a clothing brand,
her own line, and I was going to model her.
Our kids did it. Obviously she did it. So I
was able to see kind of behind the scenes a
little bit on on during New York Fashion Week a
few years ago. What is so much that goes on?
But for the people watching right now and even for myself,
like these runway shows, right and and that whole week
(10:36):
and everything that goes because the shows, there's runways everywhere,
and there's all these different the objective of it, the
objective of it, right aside from networking, Like, who's in
the audience really like that that that the outcome? What
is the question trying to say here? I'm trying to say,
like what is the outcome that that is there people
like from clothing brands and stores that want to get
your fashion into their department stores or something like that.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Like so when it comes to you, you're let me
translate from my brother Alex here forever to get into this. Now,
what is the return on investment? Do you hand select
the audience members to choose warehousing, fashion houses, looking at
(11:25):
maybe press to cover the lines? How do you navigate
that portion of it?
Speaker 3 (11:29):
So we're more focused on awareness, uh and getting you know,
into the social media all that those assets that will
help us create and build more content. At this moment,
we are not looking for let's say, retailers or wholesalers
to come and sit down. I mean, obviously if they
would like to come, they're welcome, but they were looking yes, yes,
(11:54):
because there are different types correct, there are different type
of fashion shows that are ones that are pretty much
close to the public and where the biggest houses for retailers, wholesalers,
and you know, they come and sit and then watch
the show. Our show is not like that. It's more
like you said, the Glamoor, what is going to happen
(12:15):
be there.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
It's more of a curated experience, exactly.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Definitely, it's an entire experience. A lot of the audience
is going to be entrepreneurs there in different fields, so
you can find from banks, insurance to people that own
screws and ships and you know, retails, you name it,
they're there. So it is really interesting. It's a different mix, Yes.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
What kinds of clothing so specializinger? Is each show different?
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Yes, So right now we're going to have five different
designers and they are all from Latin background and they
are focusing more on women, on women, Gallas and Glamour,
So we do have some of them that they already
have their dresses and their garments and also the jewelry
(13:08):
on not only fashion shows but also on TV in
you know, for example, beauty contest like Miss Universe and
like high ticket contests like that, and it's very interesting.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
Because they bring that to the show.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
So you get to see a mix sometimes between the
clothes of the designers that we have plus the artisan's
jewelry or the shoes or whatever, you know, other garments
or accessories that we put them together, so we portray
different experiences.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
So are you going to wear a gown or the
jewelry and.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
The jewelry.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Is they're gonna be only the jewelry?
Speaker 2 (13:58):
I well, you know, Justin Bieber just performed as boxers.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Yah. I've lost some weight, but not enough to do
that yet. Okay, don't get me in trouble with uh.
There's obviously a lot of moving parts to doing these
shows and everything you do with the runway. What are
some of the biggest challenges when producing multiple shows under
a time you know, a tight timeline.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Definitely, the time is exactly that, Like Kronos is the
god right, If things, people, vendors and the people of
the entire team don't synchronize on the timing, everything crumbles
from there. So I would say that absolutely the time
(14:45):
is the biggest issue here. But that's the reason why
we also try to select people that we definitely.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
Know we've worked with the team exactly, the team.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
That we know that we worked with them in the past.
We try to kind of marry with some of them,
you know, But obviously this is a big industry and
some of the team members sometimes they have other events
going on, so we have to pick and you know,
leave some aspects there. But definitely the timing that everything
(15:19):
comes in a sequence. If you don't have certain things
at the beginning, the next two, three, four steps won't happen,
or they might not happen with a good synergy. And
once again going back to synergy, I think that's also
one of the key elements. Having a good energy and
a good communication with all the members and the teams
(15:42):
and the designers and the models and the producers. It's
super super important the sponsors. If you don't have this
nice energy, then things start going in different directions. There's
a lot of resistance. But that's also one of the
things that I love from Adriana that she has always
been able to create this nice environment in where you
(16:06):
become part of a family, you become part of a friend,
a friend, friends and family, that's what I would call.
So all challenges can be overcome as long as you're
working a team, right.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
I love that how far in advance. Do you begin
planning for a fashion show? What does that look like?
Speaker 4 (16:27):
I know as soon as we finish.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Planning, absolutely, yes, it's It's a huge event. There are
so many elements, people coming from different part parts of
the world, not only the designers, but also the people
that comes with them, Dresses flying from one city to another,
from one country to another, models coming from one place
(16:52):
to another.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Uh, it's just so complex.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
And obviously we wouldn't be able to do this on
our just by ourselves, so we need also to get
help from sponsors. So we have a whole team of
people that trust in this project because you know, like
you said, it's glamor so it's amazing.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Who doesn't want to leave that, at least for a night.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
I'm just like envisioning the planning board. Oh my god,
of like all of the components working simultaneously.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Well, I can't tell your pen it's definitely worse than
my numerality chart.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
I love this and I'm here for it. I'm so
here for it. Well, what's cool is that this season
Berkeley College students will be joining you and your team
volunteering for this fashion show. So why is it so
important for you to open doors for those to come after.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Well, imagine, look at my face.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
You can see that from my frind now it brightens
up when we spoke about the students.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
I love young people.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
I am a firm believer that any industry needs young
people to drive because they are the new, They're the now.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
They're the ones that have all the new ideas. What's popping?
You have to ask them. It won't come from me,
that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
But aside from that, I think it's it's really amazing
that they get to have hands one on one experience
with the designers and the entire production team, that they
get to see the reality that is not all glamour.
That yes, from the sketch to the stage, there's a
(18:39):
huge gestation period in where a lot of things need
to align, a lot of things need to come in time,
things need to move. Like I said, try not to
build up that much resistant to make it a reality.
And for them to experience experience the feedings and also
the nerves from the design, it becomes.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
More real for them.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
It gives them a serious staple in what reality after
their dream is behind.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
I love that, you know, that's gonna be the name
of this episode. From sketch to stage. That was very catchy. Now, yeah,
it's been fun the past couple of New York Fashion
Weeks to see our students integrate. We have the designer
residence program and we're with our third designer now and
it's so nice to see them light up as they
see the different functionalities and logistics and shadow different segments.
(19:32):
So it's really cool to see that experiential learning take place.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Yes, absolutely, I think that creativity is the part that
likes all ideas and visions, right, So if they get
to experience that face to face and alive, it starts
building on them. So I mean, they are the ones
that are gonna tell us tomorrow what are going we
are going to experience in those fashion shows that they
(19:58):
will create when they come in into the field, you know.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
So it's really really amazing.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
It brings me, you know, like my heart opened for
them to experience this, and I really hope that a
lot of them join us.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Do you get a lot of their input? Do you
ask a lot of their opinions and input on things?
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Absolutely, from the time that they are in the mix
in the day, and also a follow up after, you know,
because I think feedback, especially respecting everybody points of view
and opinions, it always gives you more and it makes
you richer.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
So yes, we follow up with them. A lot of
the times.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
We've worked with other colleges in the past and we
have a really good feedback from them and they always
want to come back. So that tells us that we're
doing something good.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
That's nice.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
In terms of talent acquisition, what are the qualities that
you look for when hiring.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
You mean for hiring or for volunteers. Yeah, for hiring, well,
like I said, try to get things done. Be as
a problem solver rather than one that creates problems.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Just eliminate it.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Bro It seems like you're gonna get into deep waters here,
you know when the cameras go.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Sweet are on.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
But really it's just more about the desire and the
eager to drive.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
I remember back in the past, before we even started
the first fashion show, Adriana and I we sat down
and when she had that idea it looked really crazy.
She was like, let's do our fashion show. When I
was like, okay, that's a lot coming and she was
telling me, you know what, this is how I do
do my plans, I start backwards. So the first thing
(21:58):
I do is I sit down and I imagine exactly
to the detail, how I really envisioned how things are
going to come, and me sitting down next to you
opening a bottle of champagne celebrating that we had a
beautiful time and the experience was amazing. And from there
I started building the dots going back and all that.
(22:20):
I think it really is so profound if you take
a minute and take it in, it teaches us a
lot of things. She really taught me a lot of
things in my personal life. And also aside from this production,
we you know, I have other businesses. So it really
was really profound that message.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
So that's awesome. Yeah, and you've heard, I mean, you
see it a lot because you can envision something right,
like an outcome of where you want to be in
life or where you want to be in your career,
and you could write it on a vision board and
you could do all that kind of stuff, right. But
then after you write the ultimate end goal right of
where you want to be, then the next step is
to okay, now let me backtrack. Why I have to
(23:00):
do to get to hear right. So sometimes writing or
creating or envisioning the outcome is great and then coming
up with the plan on how to get there.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
I use a Smarkle approach to almost everything. So do
you use it?
Speaker 4 (23:16):
Of course?
Speaker 3 (23:16):
That means if you aproach, yes, if you don't, If
you don't have if you don't set your goals, you
don't know where you're going. You really need to have
a goal to know where to move, otherwise the universe
will move you its own way.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
That's true. And for those of you at home, let's
teach you something. So smartles S is for specific, M
is for measurable, A is for attainable, and T is
for time bound. And you can apply this to everything.
Pro wanted to lose thirty pounds. He made a goal.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
I'm over here thinking smart goal was like an appla.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Pro does not know what's popping in fashion or the
market because he refers to social media as the Internet
YouTube Smart goals later, ladies and gentlemen. So in true
teach me something podcast Fashion, we close with a nice question,
(24:10):
no pressure, but I what's coming? In one word, if
you could articulate which you would want your legacy to be.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
What would that word be inclusion?
Speaker 1 (24:26):
She was ready.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
That is the fastest response.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
Was already had inclusion.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
I like it.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Okay, I like it, And nobody's ever used that one.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
No, that's a new word.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
Yes, definitely is. My life has been an example of that.
I am a Latina Mexican five four that came to
New York when I was eighteen years old. And I
reach where I am, but I still dream and I
want to reach a lot much higher. And I have
(24:58):
my family, so I want my kids to be able
to see me and you know, be proud of mama
and know that they can make whatever they want with
their lives. And I think that the key is inclusion,
bringing everyone together, making a beautiful mix because we're all different.
So whatever you don't have, someone else is gonna have.
(25:20):
And that's what makes us, you know, a team, and
that's what makes us beautiful.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
I'm just you know, we're coming off a weekend where
we had Cardi b on essenl Bad Bunny, Benito Bowl
is coming off and we're just all very inclusive and
emotional Latinos right and representing our communities. And you know
what Benito said it and you know, love is powerful.
(25:50):
So love inclusivity, beaute.
Speaker 4 (25:54):
Yes, I love this.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Oh drop your socials? Where can they find you? How
can those volunteer for your organization?
Speaker 4 (26:01):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (26:01):
So if they go to our Instagram, I think it
will be the fastest way to get linked. If they
go to nyf W Underscore am and they are gonna
find there the clicks either to purchase tickets or to
apply for volunteer or anything like that. That's the fastest
way to find us. Or they can always DM us.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Of course.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
I love it. And when it's the show February fifteenth, Oh,
in Sunday.
Speaker 4 (26:30):
It is a Sunday at Valentine.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Yes, So we're closing the fashion week and we're doing
it at the Angel Orients's Foundation by the Lancey Street
something like that. I think everybody knows.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
Do you know that spot?
Speaker 3 (26:45):
It's like an old church, so it has this beautiful
background that looks amazing with the dresses and the pictures
and the press go wild with those pictures, everybody.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
Yes, I love it amazing. Well, we're gonna stop by
definitely and try on all of the jewelry.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Yeah, just a jewelry.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
I'll make sure that if it's only going to be
the jewelry pro. I'll get you a big one.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
I like it all right, love it well.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Thank you for listening to teach Me Something with DJ
pro Style and Pennydellas And.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
We'll see you guys, of course, presented by Berkeley College.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Where your potential is our promise, See you guys next time. Bye, Hey,
thanks for listening. Tune in next week for all new
episode of Teach Me Something, brought to you by Berkeley
College
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