A Few Minutes With Claudia Biezunski-Rodriguez

It was 2013 when Claudia Biezuinski-Rodriguez, a talented seamstress, first opened Sew Loka, her Barrio Logan-based branding and sewing studio.

She went through the usual ups and downs of running a small business, but last year was a challenge like no other.

About a year ago, in the midst of the pandemic, she moved away from basic tailoring and immersed herself into something more daring.

Bravely, she launched her own specially-designed clothing line – edgy, distressed denim T-shirts, shorts, jackets and slacks, hand-crafted and brightly embroidered and aimed at younger, hip women like herself.

After overcoming what she describes as a troubled childhood, she now revels in her culture and labels her work “Chicana Grunge,” applying descriptive names such as “Brown Queen,” “Chicana” and “Sad Girl” to her designs.

A recent recipient of a LISC San Diego small-business grant, Claudia and her studio, which includes her husband and a small staff, have been thriving, giving her a newfound burst of energy and confidence. She’s also organized weekly cultural art showings in Barrio Logan, which have become popular.

These days, she couldn’t be happier about her courageous decision to be true to herself.

What’s been the driving force for your business?

It goes back to my passion for making things, being determined to complete something that I had created, something that I was proud of. When I first got into sewing, I’d start with basically nothing and then I’d create this three-dimensional “thing” that could be worn. 

What about your growing up inspired you?
I’d have to say that my childhood was very rough, so I can truly say that sewing saved my life. I was a runaway when I was young and got into drug abuse. I could’ve gone into a very dark path, but eventually my love of sewing really grounded me. It changed, I’d say even saved, my life.

What barriers did you have to overcome?
One of the biggest barriers I faced was what I call the “legitimacy” barrier. When I first opened up my shop, I didn’t have a portfolio or anything like that. It was difficult to convince people that, hey, I’m really good at sewing! But that was a challenge I was willing to confront because I knew that what I did was genuine and legit.

What inspires you about being in Barrio Logan?
Barrio Logan is such an inspiring place. There are so many artists here who put their heart and soul into their work, because they have to. Just walking around, they’re like my brothers and sisters. I love finding out what drives them. We may have different stories, but we all have the same dreams of success.

How do your designs reflect your personality?
Growing up, I definitely didn’t have a lot of extra fabric to work on. Most of the time, it was old blankets or my mom would take us kids to the thrift store and she’d say, “OK, you can have one thing,” which was a small one-dollar item. So, I got accustomed to working with a lot of different pieces of fabric and trying to be ultra-creative.

How has the LISC grant helped your business?
Oh, my God, in addition to the grant itself, emotionally, just knowing that there’s support out there has been crucial for me as an artist. When the pandemic started, I remember crying for days and thinking, “I’m going to lose my business for something I had no control over.”

Looking back on the pandemic, what are you most proud of?
For me, the past year has been like being on survival mode. I guess I haven’t taken enough time to say, “Wow, I’m really proud that I made it.” Maybe I have a tendency to be too hard on myself. But ultimately, yes, I am very proud of what I’ve accomplished.