Her Story
About Jennifer
I started my fashion career in 2000 in Colombia, where I studied fashion design at Universidad Autonoma de Caribe and worked for two different companies. After three years working for a company, I decided to open my own business, which I ran successfully for 11 years. When my mother, who had been living in the United States for a long time, received approval for her family petition, I emigrated to America. I started doing small jobs to find my way into the fashion industry here, took courses at FIT over the summer to understand how education worked in the US and to meet people, and got internships to learn the business. In 2018, I officially opened Creative Pattern Makers. As the pattern maker, I work with new and established designers who come with ideas, sketches, or sample references. We develop patterns, create proto-samples and final samples, and I walk clients through the entire process including fittings, design adjustments, fabric selection, and grading. I'm in charge of everything from initial concept to final production-ready product. What I love most is being recognized for my work and getting new clients through word of mouth because it means I'm doing something good and people trust me with their projects.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jennifer
01What do you attribute your success to?
I don't think that any work is impossible, it's just challenging. And then there is a way to do it. I remember that I had a customer that she went to so many places, and everybody told her, no, we cannot do this, and I was the only person that I found a way to make it possible. She thanked me for that. She said, Jennifer, you were the only one, the only one. Everybody told me no, no, no, no, and you were the only one. So it's just like, if you see it hard, it doesn't mean that it cannot be done. You just have to find a way to make it possible.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Pass your knowledge. You don't have to be selfish with your knowledge, because somebody else gave it to you. So in the same way you have to pass it on.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say just don't think about it. Don't be afraid. There are gonna be days that things are not gonna work, but we will have to find a way to work around. There are going to be doors that they were not gonna be open, but this is good, because only one will open, and then things are going to happen through that only one door that opened. So don't be afraid, just try. It's just like trying, do the work with your effort, use your imagination. Go beyond. Never quit.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Right now, I don't have challenges to be honest. I have been blessed. I have plenty of work, and work continues coming. Just a few months ago, I had a few clients that were concerned about the tariff and all the fabrics that were held on customs and things like that, so we had to put a pause to a few projects. That was the only thing that hurt at the time. But right now, I think that we are good. We have a lot of work, we have a lot of customers, and we're getting new customers, so for now, we are good.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The value for me is the people that I work with, and also my family. My family has been supporting me in all the changes that I have been doing through my life, and the people that surround me. I value the people, because I don't think that my work will be what it is right now without the help of all the people that surround me.
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