JILL PILLOT
When I came to America in 1989 I had a dream. I wanted to have a business that would make a difference in our community. In March of 1996, I was a single mom and pregnant with my second child. I did not really want to work for anyone, and I wanted to be home with my children. So I went searching for a storefront, thinking I would start a small consignment store. Amazingly, I was driving on El Camino Real and saw this small storefront I thought I could afford, somehow, and to top it off, there was a living space above...what more could I have wished for? I could be a stay-at-home mom and have my own business at the same time!
The next step was finding a name. I turned to the dictionary and, word by word, looked for something that would suit the store perfectly until I reached the letter R, and found Ricochet. Thinking back, I grew up ricocheting from one country to another; the name was perfect.
I thought I would stay here for about five or six years, while the children were small; I could be at home with them and work at the same time. Before I knew it, years had gone by and Ricochet is still standing -- but not without, I would say, changes, and growth...and I am loving it.
Throughout the years, I started creating clothes and costumes here and there, and I had really found a passion for it. But, feeling I lacked some technical skills, I decided to go to college full time. Four years later, I received my degree in Costume and Fashion Design and my General Education, while running Ricochet and being a mom.... Not easy, but fulfilling my dreams, step by step.
Around 2006 I finally created my own line of clothes for children and women, all step by step....
For the last 10 years I have been working toward one of my ultimate goals: to provide an open door for students as young as 8 years old, high school students and young professionals to develop their skills for success in today's demanding and often times disheartening fashion industry. Through Ricochet Wearable Art Academy Internship Program, I foster a collaborative learning environment that helps students grow their ideas while expanding their skill set and building their confidence. The Academy's Internship Program is a personalized learning experience that is open to students of any background or skill set.
In 2014 I relocated Ricochet to a 1700 sq. feet store front, two doors down from original Ricochet, opening doors for our local designers and artist to display their work.
I look back to the day that this was all just a thought, a dream, a goal, and now 20 years later it is standing, and still growing...step by step....
I hope to be an inspiration to others through my designs, my classes, and explore our sense of creativity with the environment in mind.
"Follow your passion for a better world"
The next step was finding a name. I turned to the dictionary and, word by word, looked for something that would suit the store perfectly until I reached the letter R, and found Ricochet. Thinking back, I grew up ricocheting from one country to another; the name was perfect.
I thought I would stay here for about five or six years, while the children were small; I could be at home with them and work at the same time. Before I knew it, years had gone by and Ricochet is still standing -- but not without, I would say, changes, and growth...and I am loving it.
Throughout the years, I started creating clothes and costumes here and there, and I had really found a passion for it. But, feeling I lacked some technical skills, I decided to go to college full time. Four years later, I received my degree in Costume and Fashion Design and my General Education, while running Ricochet and being a mom.... Not easy, but fulfilling my dreams, step by step.
Around 2006 I finally created my own line of clothes for children and women, all step by step....
For the last 10 years I have been working toward one of my ultimate goals: to provide an open door for students as young as 8 years old, high school students and young professionals to develop their skills for success in today's demanding and often times disheartening fashion industry. Through Ricochet Wearable Art Academy Internship Program, I foster a collaborative learning environment that helps students grow their ideas while expanding their skill set and building their confidence. The Academy's Internship Program is a personalized learning experience that is open to students of any background or skill set.
In 2014 I relocated Ricochet to a 1700 sq. feet store front, two doors down from original Ricochet, opening doors for our local designers and artist to display their work.
I look back to the day that this was all just a thought, a dream, a goal, and now 20 years later it is standing, and still growing...step by step....
I hope to be an inspiration to others through my designs, my classes, and explore our sense of creativity with the environment in mind.
"Follow your passion for a better world"
-Jill Pillot
