We recently had the chance to connect with Benjamin Medina and have shared our conversation below.
Benjamin, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
Right now a normal day looks like, waking up at 9am for a mile run- work at 12 (tattooing is my full time job) usually I’ll book appointments till 6/7pm. After, I go home and sew from 7pm to 2 sometimes 3 am. Right now i am getting ready for a show in New York Sept 13 that im super excited about. It will be the first time myself and my fashion will be in NY.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Benjamin, I am the designer behind ALIVE by Benjamin. I am a 1 of 1 fashion designer based in Texas. I am also a full time tattoo artist (@Medinabentattoos). Both trades have been self taught and have grown organically. I feel like the process of making art is relatively the same thru any medium, the only difference is what or who you’re designing for. I think tattooing has taught me to emphasize the detail and fashion has taught me to always design with the bigger picture in mind.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
The earliest memory of feeling powerful was probably when my mom let me paint a mural in my bedroom. I think that permission gave me validation in the idea that my ideas could come to life, and that i had the power to transform an area, and control the way an experience was being perceived. Truly a core memory and experience feeling that for the first time.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There’s so many moments feeling like it would be easier to give up. But happiness is a perspective and not a destination. If youre waiting for your world to change or life to feel different you will always give up too soon. However, if you are grateful for the people you have around you today, the resources you have available today and the progress you’ve already made- you’re already successful.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
In my opinion, fads are created and communicated in design and shapes. True foundational shifts are built and respected in culture and reason. It comes addresses “Why?”more so “How” or “What” in any field we look at.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the story people tell when I’m gone is that I stayed true to myself, that I transformed my struggles into art, and that I opened doors for others to do the same. I’d want people to say my work carried my heritage forward, that it gave people the courage to embrace who they are, and that I left behind not just clothes or tattoos, but proof that creativity can change lives. More than anything, I’d want to be remembered as someone who showed that reinvention is always possible.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @alivebybenjamin
Image Credits
MUA @cakefacetarynn
MODELS @alliemaeoverman @kennedygivens @ickyy_mickyy @kamdinmontagne @shambabbyy @jakavianmari
Photog @faraimphotography @joshguizar.photos @cinematicalchemist
