Richard, known as Jimmy Richard, an emerging local Miami Fashion Designer.

The spark of becoming a fashion designer started at a very early age when he discovered that he was able to manipulate fabrics and materials to create imaginative garments. As he grew older, his interest in clothing and style intensified. Determined to pursue a career in fashion, he began looking for a path to turn his hobby into a profession.

Although his path has taken a few turns, he has always remained true to his love of fashion. Even while serving four years in the U.S. Marines, he sketched garments at every opportunity and found inspiration in the unique fashion footprint of Iwakuni, Japan. It was during his military occupation as a Flight Aircrew, where he acquired the Aviator call sign name “Jimmy”, a short name for Jimenez. At the end of his service in the Marines, he took the plunge to pursue his dream to become a Fashion Designer in the “Big Apple.”

After being accepted to the Fashion Institute of Technology (“FIT”) as a fashion design student, Richard excelled in his academic merits and he was selected to present one of his garments at the Adrian Gilbert Student Exhibition and graduated with his Associate in Applied Science Degree 2013. In early 2017, he decided to return to his educational goals and to return to FIT to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree as a Sportswear Designer.

Returning to FIT in the fall of 2017 presented new challenges and inspiration for Richard. He met these challenges head-on used his CFDA portfolio submission to express his creativity and vision. Richard’s CFDA portfolio submission, “Chasing the Dream”, which integrated elements of activewear and businesswear into a cohesive fashion-forward collection, earned him recognition as a semi-finalist for FIT.

He also entered a competition in connection with “Design for Disability” and he was nominated to represent FIT in the annual gala for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. Mentored by Fashion Icon Anna Sui, he was selected to showcase his garments and close the Cerebral Palsy Foundation’s Fashion Show Gala 2019 with his collection.

Post-graduation, he worked for the known fashion event production team, Raul Avila Inc, MET GALA 2019, production team and reached his ultimate fashion checkpoint of being part of a pinnacle event and moment.

Today he continues to design under the name – Jimmy Richard, and currently designs as an Associate Fashion Designer for Miami-based Global Fashion Company, Perry Ellis International were he hopes to make an impact and transform the fashion industry.

Follow Jimmy on Instagram @Jimmyrichard_fd