Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaime Canela.
Jaime, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up I was diagnosed with ADHD and my focus only went into things that truly sparked my interest. Skateboarding is one of them, I did it every single day after school and during any free time I had. With time, I got older and suffered an injury in my knee and my dreams of being a pro skateboarder demoted to just skateboarding for the fun which ultimately is the best and only way to go about it. After the fun was up, I worked for corporate America and had to figure out a plan b for the future and started brainstorming the possibility of a new career. When everything else seemed like a bust, I had what I wanted to do in my lap the whole time, barbering. After a friend called me telling me he wrecked his hair, I called him over to fix the problem (with a mustache trimmer) and when it clicked to me that I actually liked it enough to go through with it, I jumped on it and enrolled in barber school a few days later. Once I completed school, I took my test and failed, I was a little discouraged for a bit and took a hiatus from it but still did it on the side outside of my regular job. With getting busier, I decided to give the test another shot and drove out a day before and studied in my hotel room till I couldn’t anymore and passed the next day. Since then, I’ve had a driving force in my heart for barbering and continue to learn and embrace the roots of barbering and incorporated the things I learned along the way in corporate America all the way to skateboarding as well. The divine theory is a beautiful idea and I get to incorporate all of the things I find in my mind to be a beautiful idea, to life!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
With being in the industry of barbering for just over a year (full time), I’ve seen a lot of challenges in front of me from switching places and things also falling through but I’ve learned that it goes with anything that it will happen from time to time but ultimately, everything always works out. Growing up skateboarding, I would skate contest, I made a rule to myself that idea have my runs mapped out and with practice a day before I could really have it down for success but that’s not always the case, right? So, if and when I made errors, I would keep the run moving and if time allowed it I would revisit the trick and land it. That’s my aspect on life and when things get tough, I pick myself right back up!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Divine Theory – what should we know?
Divine theory had initially started as a skateboarding clothing brand. I and some friends were brainstorming one day about ideas and I had some terrible names lined up! But when I came across divine theory it just clicked, divine being something beautiful or god sent and theory is more of an idea of something. This was my way of bringing my ideas to life on clothing. Being younger, things got in the way like work and relationships, so I would always revisit the idea from time to time. When I passed my barbers exam, I realized that divine theory meshed so well with the idea of barbering due to the fact that it’s an art that you bring to life with your tools. It’s literally your beautiful idea brought to life and it doesn’t stop there, any idea you have in your mind that you bring to fruition is a beautiful thing, never sell yourself short.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My girlfriend Victoria for believing in me and supporting my vision ultimately and loving me unconditionally. My parents for putting up with me and never giving up on me and also all the barbers who have continued to inspire me and motivate me to keep it moving! My friends that have had my back through it all as well, they know who they are! I’m never good with these things! But also everyone I met when I worked at the bank, those people all taught me a lot and ultimately helped me grow into the man I am today with my work ethic and customer service skills!
Contact Info:
- Address: 3930 Oregon St STE 245
San Diego, CA 92104 - Website: www.divine-theory.com
- Phone: 619-384-6198
- Email: info@divine-theory.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Divine.theory
- Facebook: Facebook.com/divinetheory90
Image Credit:
Victoria Cartagena, Andrew Amon
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