Daniel Hernández (fashion designer)

Daniel Hernández

Daniel Hernández (born 1974) is a Colombian-born American fashion designer and educator. He is the founder/owner of DH Studios Inc. (established 2002), located at 316 Newbury Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

Awards

Hernández is the recipient of many awards, including The Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Massachusetts and New England (2003), presented by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA).

Gerry Villacres, executive director of the Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce in Boston, nominated Hernández for the SBA award, (stating) “Daniel is a well-rounded individual who has managed to integrate innovation and entrepreneurial skills.”^[1] Entrepreneurship

In 1996, in recognition of his first public fashion collection, Hernández received the Alfred Fiandaca Award of Excellence, chosen over more experienced New England designers. In a review of that collection, part of Boston Fashion Week, writer Vevlyn L. Wright described Hernández’s couture designs by stating “...(the collection)...brought to mind two late, great ladies of style: Jackie Onassis and Audrey Hepburn...”^[2]

Hernández’s designs won the Vision Excellence Award, entitled “Eye on Style,” during Boston Fashion Week, an award sponsored by Banana Republic, Lasell College, and Maverick Media Group, in 1999.^[3]

In March 2010, Hernández received first prize in the inaugural international contest for fashion design, a web-based competition, presented by justproud.com, described as “the first community- driven fashion brand.”^[4] Hernández’s designs were selected from among those entered by 65 designers, representing a dozen countries. He then had the opportunity to create the first fashion collection for Justproud, whose headquarters is in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Family

Hernández spent his childhood in Medellin, Colombia, and was raised primarily by his grandmother, Amanda Gil, a clothing designer. His grandfather, Arcesio Lugo, was a shoe designer who died when Hernández was four years old. His mother moved to the U.S. to make a better life for the family, which includes his four siblings. In 1986, at the age of 12, Hernández moved to Boston to join his mother. Immigration to the United States

Education

As a student at East Boston High School, Hernández excelled in math. He later studied hair styling and make-up at Blaine (now part of the Empire Beauty Schools), from which he graduated in 1994, as a certified cosmetologist.

From 1996-1998, Hernández attended the School of Fashion Design, Newbury Street, Boston.^[5] In 2000, Hernández completed a semester in Paris, as part of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology study abroad program.

In addition to Spanish and English, Hernández is fluent in French.

Fashion career

Hernández’s 1998 spring/summer clothing collection, had its debut as part of “Focus on Fashion,” during Northeastern University’s Centennial Celebration. In addition to showing his designs, he was also artistic director of the event from 1997- 1999. Hernández’s work was “...characterized by rustic tones, concentrated textures and dramatic angles. The multitalented (sic) designer, who is also a hair stylist and makeup artist, is known for his emphasis on creating the complete image for the modern woman.”^[6]

In July 1998, Hernández introduced his first product, Control Créme for hair. He later released many other products for hair care and makeup application.

In 2002, he founded DH Studios Inc., a salon/boutique and “Image Center,” located on Newbury Street, Boston’s answer to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California.

Hernández has participated as a designer in Boston Fashion Week for the past sixteen years.

“Androgynoux” was the theme for Hernández’s 2009-1010 collection, presented in September 2009, during Boston Fashion Week. He described the clothing as “...the mixing of masculine and feminine characteristics in one collection...inspired by strength, freedom and equality, allowing women to take control and lead.”

For his 2010-2011 collection, Hernández titled the presentation, “UNdeR DE_CONSTRUCTiOn, The art of reinventing ourselves: Letting go of insanity to maintain persistence.” Alexandra Cavallo, in Stuff Magazine, called his designs, “...urban sportswear that can be dressed up or down, accordingly, marked by sleek lines and a note of decided sassiness...The...male models...sported a variety of fitted t-shirts and tailored denim, so well tailored that I had to wonder if perhaps Hernández’s talents lie in men’s sportswear...The piecé dé resistancé of the evening...was a floor-length, elegant evening gown, which spoke to Hernández’s loftier aspiration.^[7]

“Anomaly,” the DH Collection for 2011–2012, debuted on September 27, 2011, at Venu in Boston. Inspired by acclaimed Spanish Surrealist Miro, whose work he contemplated during a recent trip to London, Hernández designs and produces his own fabrics for his creations. The new Collection incorporates textiles, feathers, leather, and rubber and is suitable for daytime or evening wear. Hernández also displayed his notable line of T-shirts, which are carried at selected boutiques. Antonio Maristela,^[8] of Star in the Sky Productions Digital Magazine, after viewing the rehearsal for the premiere of “Anomaly,” remarked, “Just minutes before showtime, Daniel has gathered his models in one harmonious pre-show hand hold of support, gratitude, and appreciation for making the DH Studios collection, ANOMALY, stand as among Boston’s better collection showcase, hands down.”

A video of the event is also featured on ^[9] Style It Up-Boston Fashion Week 2011. Video is hosted by blip.tv, originally on BNN, Boston Neighborhood Network Television.

^[10] Ami Albernaz, Boston Globe staff writer, noted that Wild Indigo boutique, in Boston’s South End, “…will host a trunk show featuring local designer Daniel Hernandez's latest pieces.”

Career as Educator

Hernández supports the Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE), for whom he has been an instructor since 1999. The classes he teaches include "The Modern Face: Makeup for Today," “Insiders Guide to the Modeling Industry," and “Choosing the Right Looks for Your Hair.”

In January 2011, Hernández was approached to teach a seminar at Harvard University appropriately named "Make-up Application 101." During this class (February 2011), he demonstrated to prospective Harvard graduates the way “... to supplement their brains, inner beauty, and confidence alike through skillful application of make-up, to create a professional appearance as they enter the job market.” Due to student demand, Hernández conducted another such seminar on April 28, 2011.

References

1. ^ Cromwell Schubarth,"Bizlines"The Boston Herald,08/28/2003,p.43
2. ^ Vevlyn L. Wright,The Patriot Ledger,10/28/1996,p. 18
3. ^ Maverick Magazine,1993
4. ^ [1]
5. ^ [2]
6. ^ Krista Thomas,The Tab,01/20-26/1998,p.13B
7. ^ ”Alexandra Cavallo,Stuff Magazine, 09/29/2010
8. ^ Antonio Maristella,[3],September 29th, 2011
9. ^ [4]
10. ^ [5],October 7, 2011

External links

• [6]
• [7]
• [8]

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Name	Hernandez, Daniel
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Date of birth	1974
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