There’s something powerful about looking back at the person you wanted to become when you were 13 and realizing you’re starting to look a lot like her.

For West Hills-based celebrity fashion stylist and clothing designer Raina, that realization has become one of the things she’s most proud of.

“I’ve become the girl in all the Tumblr and Pinterest photos I’d repost or save. Everything I’ve wanted to be so far I’ve become, and the 13-year-old version of me would be so excited.”

Today, Raina works in fashion as a stylist while building a clothing brand centered around custom, one of one pieces.

Making Something No One Else Has

Raina’s approach to clothing is personal.

Rather than creating pieces meant to look the same on everyone, she makes one of one garments specifically for her clients, incorporating tagging and her own artistic touches into the finished work.

“I make one of one pieces that are custom to my client. I incorporate the art of tagging and adding my own touch to a custom timeless piece my client can keep forever.”

The goal isn’t simply to make another piece of clothing. It’s to create something individual enough that the person wearing it can hold onto it.

Her inspiration for creating came from watching other artists translate their own perspectives into their work.

“Seeing other creatives show their view of the world through their eyes in their art.”

Raina points to Virgil Abloh, Kanye West, Tyler, the Creator, and Takashi Murakami as some of her biggest creative influences.

Realizing the Vision Is Actually Possible

One of the biggest shifts in Raina’s creative career wasn’t discovering a new idea.

It was realizing that the ideas already in her head were attainable.

“I think what was the most challenging but a huge crossroad was realizing how actually attainable it is to bring my creative visions to life with the resources that I have.”

That realization changes things.

The distance between imagining something and actually making it can feel enormous. For Raina, recognizing what she could create with the resources already available to her became an important turning point.

Now, she’s putting that energy into developing her clothing brand and continuing to bring those creative visions into the real world.

Becoming Her Own Inspiration

Raina’s story is still being written, but there’s something worth recognizing about reaching a point where your younger self would recognize the life you’re building.

The Tumblr posts. The Pinterest saves. The images representing the person you hoped you might become someday.

For Raina, some of those aspirations aren't sitting on a mood board anymore.

She's living them.

“Everything I’ve wanted to be so far I’ve become.”

And she’s still creating what comes next.

Along the way, Raina gives a special shoutout to her homegirl Nadiyah, Kyle Lester, and Ashley Samia  people she wanted to recognize as part of her community.

Raina + Milk Room

When we asked Raina what Milk Room means to her, her answer captured exactly what we hope to continue building.

“Milk Room is a community where you bring local creatives together, showcase their talent and also get to shop for some dope resell pieces.”

Community. Creativity. Fashion. Discovery.

Raina exists right at that intersection — a stylist and designer taking inspiration from the creative world around her and turning it into something distinctly her own.

Follow Raina on Instagram and TikTok at @Raaaaiina.