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Hector Estrada, Founder and
Creative Director
Street Wear Designer Hector EstradaThe clothes you wear speak volumes about your personality, your independence, and how much enjoyment you put into and get out of life. For Hector Estrada, 33, designing clothing that proclaims urban edge, creativity, and self-awareness are all the more part of the story. As Founder and Creative Director of Triko, Hector has established a pioneering line of street wear fusing city vitality with global tranquility. When he first founded Triko in 2001, Hector wanted to ensure that his clothes would be anything but mainstream and everything unconventional. With an undeniable synergy bursting at the seams (no pun intended), Triko formed as clothing that can be worn by anyone wanting to make an ultimate statement of individualism and imagination. Learn more about Hector, his designs, and how his business now operates across three continents in this week’s Young and Professional Profile.
Company
Triko
Founded
2001
Website
www.triko.com
name, title
Hector Estrada, Founder and Creative Director
Age
33
Hometown
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Current residence
New Jersey
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts from New Jersey City University
Work Experience
Triko, Founder & Creative Director (2001-present);
International News [brands: mecca, at, transfer], Creative Director / 1998-2003;
Ecko, Art Director / 1996-1998.
Ethnicity
Puerto Rican
About the company
Triko is a premium alternative street-wear collection for progressive and eclectic individuals: beautiful, innovative, and functional; for those in pursuit of mastering the Art of Life.
Triko designs, sells, markets and distributes the brand for its audience in the United States, Europe, Hong Kong, and Japan.
About the Company Name
Tri: For having three elements. For most religions and philosophies completion comes in three. For example: sun, moon and stars / father, son and Holy Spirit / earth, wind and fire, etc.
K: Is the dominant letter in the word Arawak, the natives of the Caribbean, and it means good person.
O: For the number one (1) which symbolizes unity.
Most notable milestones
Being a lion in a world full of wolves.
What's the niche?
Triko's eclectic and worldly identity sets it apart from others. Triko's ability to fuse different styles evokes balance through substance and diversity.
The brand's efforts alone make it a rare commodity. Working for the environment with Defenders of the Wildlife and The Coral Reef Alliance. Supporting children in developing countries with organizations such as Uplift Jamaica.
The products reflect this philosophy in its use of organic cotton, tagua, coconut and recycled soda can buttons.
The brand's philosophy permeates through its aesthetics. With a Zen-like approach to fabric, cut, finish, color and graphics, our product sets itself apart from the rest. From original graphics and patterns to progressive color use.
What's the biggest challenge?
Getting the message past industry executives and directly to the consumer.
What's in store for the future?
We are working on toys, shoes, and expanding our list of sustainable materials.
Who would you like to be contacted by?
Anyone.
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Best way to keep a competitive edge
You are your best friend and worst enemy. Know yourself.
Guiding principle in life
"Surrender yourself humbly, then you can be trusted to care for all things. Love the world as your own self, then you can truly care for all things." - Lao Tzu
Yardstick of success
Success is measured by the quality of your life.
Goal yet to be achieved
A world without wars and pollution.
Best practical advice
Take calculated risk, but take risk.
Supportive words from a family member or friend on your venture
"You are my inspiration." - My wife
What motivated you to get started?
I was doing work for some of the big "urban" brands back in 2001 and became frustrated with the market. Most of these brands were more concerned with marketing than with product and to top it off, they all wanted to look like each other. It wasn't a healthy market for a creative person. And none of them said anything, it was a dead end.
I feel that my job is more than to create products; my main job is to inspire! So I set out to do just that with Triko as my main vehicle. I wanted to design for people who felt like I did, people withappreciation for change, inspiration, truth seekers, and cultural creatives. Whatever you want to call us, we are not afraid of being ourselves, regardless of what the current popular trends are.
Like best about what you do?
The connection with like-minded individuals all over the world.
Like least about what you do?
Haters, posers, and scavengers.
At age 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A gangster. They were the only people in my neighborhood who seemed
to be respected and well. Fortunately, later in life I was exposed to other ways of achieving success.
What was your first job?
My first job was selling newspaper subscriptions door to door at age ten.
Biggest pastime outside of work
Training my children for life.
Person most interested in meeting
Jesus. I'd like him to help me start a revolution.
Leader in business most interested in meeting
George Bush, Sr. I'd like to appeal to his better nature and convince him to stop using his influence to promote junk science about global warming in order to benefit him and his big oil friends.
Three interesting facts about yourself
1) I like fixing things such as furniture and houses.
2) Occasionally, I will hold a stranger's hand, just to get a reaction.
3) I enjoy mixed martial arts as well as visual arts.
Three characteristics that describe you
1) Driven
2) Compassionate
3) Inpatient
Three greatest passions
1) Family
2) Art
3) A healthy planet
Favorite book
The Alchemist by Pablo Coelho
Favorite cause
Defenders of Wildlife – www.defenders.org.
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