René Thompson shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi René, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Honestly, a normal day for me is a mix of chaos and creativity , balancing my job, my fashion business, and what’s left of my social life (which is basically on life support at this point laughs). I’ll go to work during the day, then come home and dive straight into designer mode,sketching new ideas, sewing samples, sourcing fabrics, or planning content for RenRose Boutique.
Most nights end with me surrounded by fabric, music playing, and a million tabs open half work, half inspiration. It can be exhausting, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m happiest when I’m creating, and even on the busiest days, I remind myself that this is all part of building something beautiful one late night and one coffee at a time.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
my name’s René, and I’m the designer and founder of RenroseBoutique a fashion brand that blends old Hollywood glamour with the vibrant soul of my Jamaican heritage. I create elegant, wearable pieces that make women feel confident, sexy, and empowered, whether they’re walking into an event or just through everyday life like it’s their own runway.
What makes my brand special is that it’s built from the ground up self-funded, self-taught, and driven by pure passion. Coming from a low-income background, I’ve had to create opportunities for myself, and fashion became my way of healing, storytelling, and self-expression. Every piece I design reflects part of that journey turning my experiences and culture into something beautiful and timeless.
Right now, I’m focused on growing RenroseBoutique, expanding into a ready-to-wear line, and continuing to design statement pieces that celebrate strength, femininity, and individuality. My mission has always been to prove that no matter where you start, your vision can still take you anywhere.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that lived in survival mode, the version that constantly felt like she had to prove her worth, fight for love, or earn her place in every room. She carried me through some of my hardest seasons, but she was born from pain, fear, and self-doubt. I’ve realised she doesn’t need to protect me anymore, because God’s already doing that.
Now, I’m learning to move with peace instead of pressure to create from love, not fear. I trust that what’s meant for me will always align in God’s timing. I don’t have to chase or force what’s already written for me. I’m stepping into a softer, freer version of myself one that knows she’s covered, guided, and already enough through Him.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I think the shift happened when I realised God never intended for my pain to silence me it was meant to shape me. For a long time, I carried everything quietly, pretending I was okay because being strong felt safer than being honest. But eventually, I got tired of surviving and wanted to start living.
That’s when I began turning my pain into purpose through my designs, my story, and my faith. Fashion became my outlet, the space where I could express everything I didn’t have the words for. Instead of hiding what broke me, I started creating from it. Every stitch, every collection, every piece is a reflection of that transformation proof that beauty can come from the deepest healing, and that with God, even broken things can bloom again.
One of my favourite examples is the seashell dress I created after my first heartbreak, it represented protection, softness, and healing. Just like a shell, it symbolised how I learned to guard my heart, but still let light and beauty shine through the cracks.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I admire my mum, the strongest woman I know and my best-friend and my whole world.She’s carried so much throughout her life, things I don’t even know if I could have handled myself. Despite her own trauma, she never gave up. She lived for her kids and did her absolute best with what she had.
Her dream was to be a designer in the UK, but being born in Jamaica meant that door was never fully open for her. Instead, she poured her creativity, strength, and love into raising us and giving us the best life possible. I’ll forever be grateful for her sacrifices and sometimes I feel like my love for fashion, this gift I’ve been blessed with, is her second chance living through me.
Her love is the closest thing to the love of Jesus pure, unconditional, and endless. Everything I am, and everything I’m becoming, is because she never stopped believing that even without power, faith and love could still move mountains.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. The love I have for fashion is out of this world it’s something I’d do even if no one ever noticed. I think that’s when your true character shows, when you give your all simply because it’s what you were created to do. For me, it’s never really been about validation; it’s about purpose. I know that what’s meant for me will never miss me, and that God sees everything I pour into my work, even when the world doesn’t.
Contact Info:
- Website: Renroseboutique
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renrose.boutique?igsh=a3d1ODBoZDlhcDhl&utm_source=qr
- Other: Tiktok : Renroseboutique
Image Credits
Image credits to my beautiful sister @karacare and Joe the photographer
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
