Hernan Rios is a 26-year-old education worker and elementary school teacher who makes unique clothes with a storyline based in his origins and the brand name Frxxdom.
A first-generation low-income student who struggled with English, he remembers being inspired by one of his teachers who pushed him to do well in school.
Hernan is now a role model for students who remind him of his younger self. “It’s not just about college, you’re more than capable of getting that higher-paying job,” says Hernan. His passion for making clothes started back in his elementary school days.
“I didn’t have many clothes and the clothes that I did have my parents bought them at the beginning of the school year and I ended the school year with them. I was someone who changed outfits twice or three times before going to school because I like dressing a certain way,” says Hernan. As he got older Hernan explored more of the fashion industry and he became a fan of many brands.
Old English reflective font is one of the creative details Hernan incorporated into this particular clothing piece he designed.
Hernan makes clothes based on what he would wear, making them affordable but still providing high quality. Hernan describes the style of his brand as minimalist and designed with street fashion/streetwear in mind. “Right now I'm leaning into the Chicano vibe so I do tend to use a lot of old English,” says Hernan.
“Finally during Covid, it was around the time of the BLM Movement, which is still going on, but I was doing a few readings of everything that was happening, and I finally came down to the name Frxxdom,” says Hernan. The meaning behind his brand name is the freedom to be able to go out and make ideas happen not just think them.
“Some people tend to be too shy or they have too many obstacles and they never really take that risk. That’s my brand, it’s that mental freedom to go out there and pursue whatever you want,” Hernan says.
Hernan models one of his more minimalist designs on a t-shirt in a previous clothing release titled Glory is Coming.
In the beginning for Hernan, the difficulties were a lack of resources, but not of vision. “I had a little laptop that didn’t do much it was just meant to do homework. I downloaded Photoshop, watched a bunch of Youtube videos, and learned how to curve letters and more,” Hernan says.
Financials also played a part as he didn’t always have what was needed to invest in his business. “Had I not been bold enough or brave enough to spend the amount of money I did to get this started- I think it’s all worth the amount,” Hernan says.
Currently, Frxxdom has had eight different clothing drop collections. two of which were this year, and Hernan hopes to do at least two more in the coming months. Everything he knows about running his brand and designing he’s learned on his own and he says he doesn’t gatekeep. Hernan is more than happy to direct others that go to him for help in the right direction or give them advice.
“Just the influence that I'm having on the few people so far is what keeps me inspired,” Hernan says. He’s also looking for collaborators, as he makes clothes designing his main career. “It’s not if, it’s more of when. I do want this to become my main priority. As much as I do love teaching I know there’s more ways to be that role model I want to be,” says Hernan. He plans to give back to his community when his brand grows and give back to the kids especially those of Latine descent and those in the Sun Valley area where he’s been teaching there for the past nine years.
For Frxxdom, his goals include being represented at local art shows and events. For now, he is vending from his website which can be found linked to his Instagram handle @frxxdom2020