Rising Stars: Meet Gabrielle Aguirre

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Aguirre.

Hi Gabrielle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I initially was a clarinet performance music major in college. I thought I was going to be a lesson teacher or play in a symphony. Throughout that experience, I realized I didn’t have the same passion or drive as my peers but I persisted because I thought maybe I would eventually end up loving it. During my sophomore year of college, I had discovered that there was a Retail and Consumer Science degree. Classes consisted of fashion buying and merchandising and I was obsessed. Growing up, I didn’t think fashion could be a career option. It was only something I had seen in the movies like The Devil Wears Prada. I felt like I had a late start going into the fashion industry so I took every fashion internship that I could. I interned for runway coordinators, fashion designers, and bloggers. It was the summer of 2014 when I interned for a fashion designer in London. It was during that time that I discovered I loved fashion illustration but I had no idea how to draw. When I came back home from London I started taking lessons, going on YouTube finding drawing tutorials, and taking college courses on fashion sketching. I finally graduated with only one degree in 2016. A year later I became a Visual Merchandiser for Nordstrom and Target. It wasn’t until the end of 2019 when I would gain the courage to launch my business Gavi Leveaux.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not! I believe life brings you challenges or tests that you are capable of overcoming. They are meant to guide you to your purpose. Along the way, there have been many challenges.

The most prominent one that led me to fashion illustration was failing out of the music school What initially was my biggest failure turned into a blessing. Overall, it became difficult trying to juggle double majoring and working full-time. I knew my passion was being in the fashion industry but I wanted to persist and finish my music degree. Looking back, I didn’t want to feel like I had wasted time studying a subject I knew I wasn’t going to be a part of but I wanted to have that piece of paper and be able to say I didn’t give up. My ego was getting in the way of my dreams and I am glad that God intervened and forced me to let go and get out of my comfort zone.

Throughout my time of being an entrepreneur, the biggest challenge that I face daily is overcoming imposter syndrome. The feelings of I’m not good enough or this dream is too big to accomplish can often creep up like an unwanted weed. I don’t think those feelings will ever go away but utilizing the correct tools to tame those thoughts is crucial in winning those mental roadblocks. I like to pray/meditate, write words of affirmations in my journal, and have gratitude for all of the small wins that have led to huge victories.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a fashion illustrator and created Gavi Leveaux, an illustration brand that celebrates the everyday fashionista one sketch at a time. I wanted to base my brand around a character I created, Gavi, a Latina fashionista. Gavi has always been there in my mind as a voice of guidance saying “you got this girl, keep going”. She has helped me get through some of the darkest moments of my life and I wanted to share that character with my fellow fashionistas.

I’ve currently been working on a new art print collection set to launch in June. It will focus on Gavi, her fashion besties and their love for fashion.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
During Covid, I was furloughed from my Visual Merchandising career. I was unable to work for two months. With the world at a standstill, I used that time to reflect and focus on my dream career, fashion illustration. I allowed myself to create, make mistakes, and try again.

Contact Info:

• Email: shopgavi.leveaux@gmail.com
• Website: www.gavileveaux.com
• Instagram: gavi.leveaux
• Facebook: Gavi Leveaux

Image Credits
Danielle Aguirre