Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose-Noel Rocha.
Hi Jose-Noel, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story begins with family, as much being in San Diego as starting our business together.
I was born and raised in San Diego, CA, where my mom grew up, and my father moved after they met. Their desire to provide me with opportunities led to their success in our primary business and their ability to start a new company focused on our ancestral trade.
Our business: J.L. Rocha Collections – gave me the opportunity to channel my love of fashion, culture, and creativity into marketing and design. I’ve been challenged in learning to become an expert in digital marketing, manufacturing of leather goods, and international business, all while balancing relationships, friendships, high school, and college.
While I still run the day-to-day of our brand, my career has grown across the last decade and continues to provide me with enriching experiences while reinforcing life lessons I carry with me.
I know that who I am is due in no small part to my families love but also thanks to my ability to work hard while creatively adapting to any challenge and lesson.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No one’s road is easy, but if you’re lucky like me: it’s a road you’d never trade for anything.
When I was younger, I struggled with Spanish and Mexican identity, facing challenges of being too Mexican for some groups while not Mexican enough for others. I’m so thankful that my parents focused on teaching me about my culture but that I also had the opportunity to immerse myself in it.
Kids can tease, but if you persevere and believe in yourself: it’s possible to find what fulfills you personally without taking anyone else’s opinion too seriously. I feel that many of my struggles at a young age came from my own belief that I needed to live up to the ideas of others when I could have just focused on what truly made me passionate. My inability to prioritize myself set me back both creatively and professionally while also making it easier for me to get wrapped up in social pressures and unhealthy habits. I could have loved people more that aren’t with us, I could’ve given more to the passions in my heart, but while the struggles of loss and learning will always exist: they are in no way a reason to regret or to be saddened. The only mistake someone can make is not learning from their experiences.
As an adult, I’ve been reminded of this all too often. The struggles I’ve faced come from the habits I’ve built and give me the opportunity to grow always. I’ve tasked myself with learning more every day in fields of marketing, manufacturing, design, sociology, and even people skills. I may have faced learning curves, but I know these challenges have only made me stronger because they prove anything is possible with personal passion invested into your actions.
I encourage everyone to be honest about their struggles so they can understand who they are realistically; but also because in sharing with others, we can build community while inspiring people who may feel helpless. This world is full of opportunities, and if we viewed our struggles as a chance to learn – we could make this world a better place.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m the co-founder, designer, and marketing director for J.L. Rocha Collections: a leather goods brand in the U.S.A. inspired by my our heritage in Leon, Guanajuato. I work with my father to bring our products to the global market while focusing on showcasing the artistry that our craftsman put into each piece.
While I specialize in digital marketing and brand management – I’m proud of the work I do because I can use my creative spirit while helping to ensure dignified wages for artisans in my dad’s hometown. Whenever my marketing can help others it fills me with joy and knowing that we have a community that wears my designs is a massive honor for me as well.
I believe that what sets me apart is my unique perspective and my belief in positivity. I strive to always push the boundaries of what’s possible – while connecting everything I do to a deeper purpose or value. I love working with my father, honoring my family, and helping others – there is no greater reward than helping good businesses make good products that help good people.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
There are so many great resources in this world – but I think the most important element of seeking help is the intention to implement. It’s easy to follow motivational accounts on social media – but if you’re also surrounded my profiles that make you feel bad, it won’t help as much as it can.
If you’re interested in books that have helped me to grow as a person, there are definitely a few I would recommend:
– For Designing: The Interaction of Color by Josef Albers is a classic art theory book. There’s also the Fashionary and Fashion Business Manual – which are amazing compilations of helpful and practical information for any designer just starting out.
– Creatively: I encourage everyone to engage with art, literature, and music that excites and inspires you. Fuel your need for intellectual creativity every now and then. I’m currently reading: Confabulario by Jose Arreola for Spanish literature, All of the Marvels by Douglas Wolk for a fun read, and I’m re-reading my own book “Rolling Dice” that showcases poems and art I made when I most needed inspiration in life.
– Apps, Blogs, & Resources: Your phone is a computer – use it for productivity; my most frequently used apps are google drive, dropbox, Facebook business suite, and the Elite Suite. I love the blog for Neil Patel, that gives so many helpful marketing tips and strategies, and for resources, I love google skill shop and HubSpot academy: great ways to grow your knowledge.
Pricing:
- J.L. Rocha Jackets: $1,125 – $975
- J.L. Rocha Bags: $1,025 – $525
- J.L. Rocha Shoes: $495 – $455
Contact Info:
- Website: jlrocha.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlrochashoes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jlrochashoes
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jlrochacollections
Image Credits
@cocomxs
Pamela De Regules
Elise DeSomer
Mariano Lemus
