Heather Ricardo
Today, I had the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with Mrs. Heather Ricardo. As a woman of business in the fashion industry, Mrs. Ricardo has a special passion when it comes to her company. Her and her husband started their custom clothing line Vincent and West 5 years ago while being in the fashion industry for 10 years. However it was about so much more than just making clothes for Mrs. Ricardo. Being a mom of three and an inspiring role model, she discusses what has helped her become the woman she is today.
"Being able to design a garment that says who you are, to me that's feeling like the most powerful person in the whole world."
Heather Ricardo has many passions in her life. After starting her business she was faced with a personal challenge that drove her to become the woman she is today
I've always been in fields where I'm helping others, and that's always given me gratitude. You could put me in any profession and I'll succeed at it and do my best because I always want to help people and leave them better than how I found them.The foremost thing for me is being a mom. My first passion is my family. It's really important that as a mother of two girls that I'm being a good role model. Besides my number one passion, about five years ago my husband and I started Vincent and West, which is just our men's division. We help folks who can't just buy off the rack like athletes. We get to create and pattern what you want, so that it's made to fit you. In the last few years we've developed these relationships with our clients and not just with the husbands but also their wives, and a lot of the other side of the table is, "hey do you have anything for [women]?" And we've always been like "no, sorry" and I think for me it began to turn personal.
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She decided that she needed to start a women's line for custom clothing no matter the struggles.
I have a love hate relationship with shopping because I'm curvy and I'm a woman, and I don't fit what is usually made for everyone out in the stores. I thought if anyone needs [custom clothing], it's us women. And so I thought, okay how can we do this? And there have been lots of tears, lots of breakdowns, and lots of questioning, But I [kept] at it because it was almost a personal challenge for me to figure out. This is my little piece of trying to give back to what kept pushing me to find empowerment.
Being incredibly involved in the fashion industry overall, Mrs. Ricardo believes that women are still struggling with self love, and that the fashion industry can be used to help fix that.
I think [the fashion industry] is trying. But I still think it's going back to women not feeling good about who they are, and I don't see that getting better anytime soon. I think it has to come from within. How do we do that? For me it's about being able to put someone is a garment that they choose and they picked. If that can change a little bit of how they feel inside and begin that self love, then I'm in.
Self image among women is already low due to social media and unrealistic expectations. Mrs. Ricardo believes that being present in the world around you is the key to self love.
We all have those narratives, those voices in our head that bring negative thoughts. For me, it's about not listening to those voices in your head, being present, and just loving what I see.
As a mother and a wife, Mrs. Ricardo believes that family is crucial in keeping you going and that it's important that she is a role model for her children.
There is no manual for [being a parent]. I think it's all about staying balanced and staying real. Like I said, you can't listen to those voices in your head, because we all have our moments. But when you have self love you can help and support those around you. My husband has been a big support for me. My children everyday help me keep that fire lit. Treating those relationships how we want to be treated is crucial. It's all about good support and a good home.
So what's her advice for young women who believe they can't make it because it's a man's world?
Learn how to do EVERYTHING. Never put yourself in a box. You can do everything if not more than the opposite sex. If you [believe] that and [do] it, you're going to be fine.