How One Designer is Turning Pain Into Purpose and Fashion Into a Movement

By DANI BANEGAS

From a small village in El Salvador to the vibrant
fashion scene of Los Angeles, Angela Medrano
has walked a path that embodies resilience,
faith, and fearless dreaming. Today, as the founder
and creative force behind Ruthless68, Angela is not
only redefining fashion—she’s redefining success.
Her story begins in San Felipe, a village once without
electricity or running water. In the early 1990s,
Angela’s mother brought her and her brother to the
U.S. in search of a better future. “She wanted us to
have a shot at what’s called ‘The American Dream,’”
Angela shares. And what a shot she’s taken. Growing up in Northern Virginia, Angela’s earliest fashion
experiences came from thrift store trips with her mother. “She
always wore the flyest fits and made sure I did too,” Angela
recalls with a smile. Those childhood memories—rooted in
scarcity but full of creativity—became the seeds of her future
brand. With dress sketches filling her notebooks, Angela
dreamed of one day creating fashion that made people feel
seen, powerful, and deeply valued.
But dreams don’t always follow a straight line. Life took
over, and Angela found herself on a corporate path, thriving
professionally but battling privately. In 2021, at the height
of her career, she reached a breaking point—facing mental
health struggles and suicidal thoughts. “I ran away from my
darkest moments and moved to downtown LA,” she says.
It was there, alone in a hotel room, that she reached out in
desperation and heard the words that would shape the rest
of her life: “Love yourself.”

From that night forward, Ruthless68 was born—not just as a
fashion brand, but as a mission.
Ruthless68 stands on a foundation of faith, self-love, and
social impact. The name itself symbolizes the unwavering
grit required to rise from hardship with hope. Each exclusive
garment is created with intention—to remind wearers that
they belong in every room they walk into, regardless of
background, status, or circumstance.
“The world deserves you,” is more than a tagline. It’s a call
to action.
Angela’s designs speak directly to the “doers, go-getters, and
dream chasers,” those who show up fueled by nothing but
passion and purpose. Ruthless68’s mission is clear: to inspire
humanity to have faith in love again—through fashion, faith,
and a community of purpose-driven individuals.
But Angela’s story isn’t just one of success—it’s deeply
rooted in giving back. Through Ruthless68, she’s creating
partnerships with like-minded brands, championing suicide
awareness and mental health advocacy. Her hope is to build
a global community where people don’t just wear beautiful
clothes—they wear confidence, strength, and healing.
Whether it’s a power blazer, a statement dress, or everyday
athleisure, each piece represents more than style—it
represents survival and a commitment to lead with love.
From humble beginnings in El Salvador to building a brand
from a hotel room in LA, Angela Medrano proves that
success isn’t about how you start—it’s about how boldly you
choose to rise.

To learn more, shop her designs, or support her mission, visit
ruthless68.com and follow @ruthless68_ on Instagram. You’ll
be inspired to dream big, love yourself fiercely, and maybe—
just maybe—become the light for someone else.