Trusting the process and the importance of being delusional with Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski, known to most as Sew Loka, is a textile artist based in Barrio Logan, San Diego. From her studio, she creates one-of-one clothing pieces that honor her Chicana roots, working primarily with recycled, reclaimed, and repurposed fabrics. Claudia splits her time between sewing her distinctive fashion and hosting community workshops, using her hands-on practice as a way to connect with people and share meaningful stories. For her, making things by hand is a next-level feeling that has always fueled her creativity and purpose.

What current projects are you working on?

I just finished creating four start-to-finish jackets for my exhibit inside the Spotlight Gallery at the Visions Museum of Textile Art titled “Mi Sueno Loka” or my krazy dream. The exhibit will be on display until the end of May and features four new Sew Loka jackets that each tell a story about the different dreams and directions we choose to pursue throughout life. I also have a Community Spotlight public installation at the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park that will be up until the end of June. This installation includes two new Virgin of Guadalupe–inspired Sew Loka jackets created in honor of the Mingei Museum’s current Fashioning an Icon exhibition. And I’m currently working on a top-secret collab with a really cool sports team, so stay tuned—it’s going to be a krazy summer. 

What daily practices or habits help you stay connected to your wild and wise self?

I close my eyes every morning and say a silent prayer of gratitude. I say thank you to the universe for all of the great things I have been given and for my family and friends—it really helps me stay connected to the positive energies around me. I also drink a big cup of strong Barrio Logan coffee every morning, and that definitely keeps me wild and wise throughout the day!

What advice would you give to aspiring visionaries?

Talent and vision can both amount to very little if you do not have a genuine ambition, desire, and hustle to back them up. If you want to see your vision come to life, you are going to have to work for it—and work hard. Being creative is fun and sewing fills up my soul with so much love, but in order to do what I love for a living, it requires a lot of my time, focus, and dedication. Living the art life in San Diego is challenging, but doable, and if I can make it happen, then so can you.

What impact do you hope your current work will have on the world?

I want to help people see the connection between generations through textile art and fashion, and I want to create spaces where making things doesn’t feel intimidating or exclusive. And honestly, I want people to question why they buy what they buy. There’s something different about clothing someone has made with intention versus something mass-produced—I want more people to experience that difference and value the human touch. I want people to feel good when they wear my cut-and-sew clothing, and I hope the pieces I create represent my culture in a positive way and inspire the next generation to be curious and to live a creative life!