Meet GLAUDI designer Johana Hernandez

Ms. Hernandez is renowned as an entrepreneur and fashion designer with more than 17 years of innovation in the clothing industry. Born in Los Angeles along with two brothers, their parents came to the United States to escape the war in El Salvador. As a child, Ms. Hernandez accompanied her parents to see them work in the factories producing garments for global brands, including Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. She thus learned about garment construction and manufacturing processes and began designing her own clothing as a hobby with her mother.

Preternaturally talented, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) alumni became head designer of Bebina Jeans and Cappuccino Jeans in 2004 at the age of 19. Her first collection for Bebina Jeans was featured in the Wall Street Journal, sharing how their fabric was the same quality as Japanese denim at a lower price. She then departed to pursue freelance work for Denim Head and HL Clothing Company.

Ms. Hernandez further flourished as a designer for Fortune Fashions, Jerry Leigh Entertainment Apparel, Seven7 Jeans, and plus-size retailer Lane Bryant. In 2011 Ms. Hernandez established GLAUDI by Johana Hernandez, a bridal and haute couture evening gown line. GLAUDI is named after her mother "Gladis" to share that the brand came from the family's hard work. The GLAUDI Downey, CA store opened in 2016, and the store in Beverly Hills opened in 2019.

Driven by memories of her parents' work in garment factories, Ms. Hernandez wanted to build her company with a family environment and to ensure that all her employee artisans were compensated fairly and treated with respect. Notably, she has utilized her profits from the GLAUDI line to build and supply a school in El Salvador. During Covid 19, GLAUDI made 1,000's of masks for front liners in hospitals, the LAPD, and the public to use her talent to help the community. Operating by her motto, "God is fabulous," Ms. Hernandez also hosts Bible studies for women and mentors youth through the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program in addition to her constant fundraising and advocacy for underserved children throughout Latin America.

A sought-after speaker in her field, Ms. Hernandez served as a designer-judge on the international TV series "The Fashion Hero." Recognized as the FIAT Design Campaign winner, she was notably selected as one of the top 13 designers in the US to participate in the 2013 NBC series Fashion Star. Among other honors, she has been profiled as one of People en Espanol's 25 Most Powerful Women in 2014, Latina Magazine's 30 Under 30 in 2015, and one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Latin America in 2019. Featured for being the youngest Latina business owner in Beverly Hills, in 2020, Ms. Hernandez was the first Latina to grace The Beverly Hills Courier's cover since 1965. She was inducted into Marquis Who's Who directory in 2020.

Ms. Hernandez is proud to be the first Salvadoran American to show during Paris Fashion Week and is emphatic about designing for and representing all bodies in her collections. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Downey High School, her alma mater, one of the country's best schools.