Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenneth Rodriguez Jr.
Hi Kenneth, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
There’s nothing brief about how I got to where I’m currently at. I was always interested in fashion since high school, so after graduating I decided to take up strictly design and art classes in college to get familiar with programs that would benefit me and my passion. I started a clothing line called K.O.I. (Kenneth’s Original Ideas) Clothing my first year in college with my loans. I held on to this clothing line for nine years as if it were a child doing everything by myself including designs, photoshoots, modeling, marketing, social media, pop ups/events, orders, and everything in-between. I made a lot of mistakes but I definitely learned and took everything as a learning lesson. With no organization at all and four 27 gallon clothing bins filled with products that no one was buying, I figured it was time to rebrand with a plan. On January 1st of 2020, we launched MANNERS. The idea behind it was simple; a clothing line that was designed and dedicated to help bring back manners into everyday society.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If I said, this journey has been smooth my nose would grow and probably crack the computer screen I so desperately need for designing. Late on deadlines, not enough sizes for a specific design we want to drop, labels lost in mail, hosted nightclub events canceled the week before. One of the first drops we had was a super clean cut crewneck sweater made out of French Terry and the print/quality was far beyond what we pictured. It was that sweater you never wanted to take off. Unfortunately, after you washed it was a sweater you could never put back on because it shrank three sizes smaller. Our customers were not thrilled about that and did not hesitate to let us know. So to answer the question, yes, we had good amount of struggles along the way, ha-ha. It’s funny now but talk about pulling hair out. I wore an XL and after drying it my sweater was a crop top on me. Not a good look.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What do I do? I create. I grab ideas from events or situations that life throws at me, mix it with today’s fashion with a twist of my own and try to deliver that same excitement and reaction you used to have as a kid getting a happy meal. MANNERS is all about spreading positivity and trying to bring out the better human in everyone. I’m really proud of the progression we are having through this brand not only with quality (no more surprise crop top hoodies) but with the influence we’re having on everyone that wears our brand. When you see our product, you think twice about what comes out of your mouth or what your actions are. I think what sets me apart from others is the burning passion that I have in this brand. I know it’s cliche to say “it’s more than just a clothing line” but it really is. I honestly take the expression “treat others how you would like to be treated” to heart. Would you rather be addressed as “AYE!” or “Excuse me miss?”?
I’m most proud of the support that we’ve gained over the last year and a half. Launching three months prior to the pandemic and to still be standing and relevant in multiple cities is truly a blessing. I moved out to Vegas with no family members except my partner Chris who I call my “cousin”, and now I can proudly say I have more family here than any other state. I have an upcoming solo art show in December that I’d like to let the reader know about.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
S-U-P-P-O-R-T. I lived in Florida and Texas before making my way to Vegas and coming from a “dog-eat-dog” world, Vegas welcomed me with open arms. They say it’s all about who you know, but I honestly think it’s how you treat people. If you’re a genuine person and treat them with respect, you will get that in return. I’m not saying EVERYONE is like that because you will run into those people in Vegas that will only hit you up when they need comped bottles or trying to skip a line, but for the most part Vegas offers some of the most warm-hearted individuals I have ever met.
Contact Info:
- Email: kenneth@mannerslv.com
- Website: www.mannerslv.com
- Instagram: @howdoeshedoit
Image Credits
Pictures taken and edited by: Attapon Mingklin
