Earnest Diaz D. F. A. (h. c.) shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Earnest, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
As a native Houstonian who started sewing at age 5 and designing at age 12, I pause to reflect on my journey—from those early days as a kid sketching dreams to creating costumes for reality TV shows. It’s a path that led me from fashion to songwriting, where I earned awards and became a seven-time honorary doctorate recipient. And now an award winning screenplay writer.
My work has traveled the world, landing in places as incredible as the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas, and as prestigious as the Louvre – Paris (during the infamous jewelry heist), with exhibitions spanning into Dubai, Spain, and Miami.
In those quiet moments, I catch myself beaming with pride for that determined little boy who never gave up on himself. This year alone, my pieces have graced those same Oz Museum halls as hollywoods greats that created the Wizard of Oz. Three of my images/artworks were on the walls of the greatest artist of the world, at the Louvre. Adding to the magic, the screenplay I developed—drawn from the backstory of my award-winning coffee table book “Thankful”, the source of those very images/artworks—has attained 273 decorations and edges ever closer to the silver screen as a Houston-Galveston production.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Earnest House of Diaz – Originally started as a small brand that focused mainly on bespoke fashion design. Teaching myself sewing as a child and studying fashion via various forms of media and schooling. I look at fashion design through the old school lens. In order to claim the title of designer you must also know how to create what you sketch.
The brand includes fashion design, merchandise, music, writing/author/screenplay writer, composer, music videos, director, producer, Unity creator/coordinator.
Future endeavors – there are various endeavors on the chalk board, from fashion lines, composing, production, and possibly two stories seeing the light of day in 2026.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
I would have to say, I taught myself most about work. Even as a child, once I am focused on a project, no matter if it takes me 20 hours or 20 years. Or if I have to work 18 hours days to get the work (creativity) completed. The work was and is priority number one.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
Great Segway!
My first book “Thankful” available on I believe all online platforms.
At the time, I was personally going through some tough times as well as the upswing of my fashion career.
I was dating someone that told me we needed time apart. From this breakup I took a deep dive into finding myself. I confronted a love I kept silent for years only to get turned down. And slowly one by one friends and family members began passing away. This all started happening right as I was in the middle of bring to life a fashion show that was being advertised in various magazines. All before Christmas 2004.
Inside, I was walking a tightrope trying to balance work, love, and loss. Outside I wore a smile and did my best to be there for people. Silently depression began to set in. I heard horror stories people had faced and I didn’t have time to stop anything. So I began writing questions to myself. Between sewing, searching for models, gorilla marketing, and everything else, I would write down questions to myself in my mobile phone.
Through the months of pushing and questioning I had dinner with a friend that I hadn’t seen in a while. I mentioned everything going on and about writing my way through the process of it all and he asked if he could read what I had written thus far. After a few yes no yes no… I agreed to share over dinner.
Once at dinner, after he read everything he asked what I was going to do with it. I said, “Nothing, it’s just away of helping me focus on working and not fall into full blown depression.”
He replied: you should get this published. He called over the waitress. I thought he was going to ask for more drinks, but… he handed her the papers and asked her to read it between tables. I was stunned, because we had agreed no one else needed to see it.
The waitress came back with a stunned look, she walked over and asked who wrote this? My friend pointed at me. Long story short, I moved forward with having the writings published. The titled Thankful went on to win IPAs Best Inspirational of 2016. Before winning the IPA award, I had decided to write the backstory that brought the book to life. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted it to be a stage play or screenplay. Ultimately I wrote the screenplay titled “Thankful” which itself has gone on to win 272 awards across 6 continents.
Earlier this year an art curator contacted me and mentioned that she would like to feature one of the pieces from the book for exhibition in Switzerland at an art expo. I agreed, and from there three of the images from Thankful have been making the rounds at various galleries and art expositions globally. Last month the three pieces were on exhibition at the Louvre – Paris, during the jewelry heist. This December they make their way to Palma Spain, Miami Florida, and Dubai UAE.
At times I reflect back and think about the night the waitress read my work and said you should get this published it could help a lot of people.
I truly take pride in knowing those questions I wrote to myself have turned into something that expands beyond questions. It’s opened doors to audiences across multiple platforms of writing, reading, art, and possibly an upcoming movie.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I would say depending on what public I’m in hahaha.
Of course, at premieres, on red carpets, or during public appearances, there’s the polished persona—impeccably dressed and camera-ready. But the real me never steps out the front door in sleepwear or anything meant only for the privacy of home. I always dress appropriately for the occasion. At my core, I’m simply a creative soul trying to express a message through different artistic forms.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I would say yes. I’ve always heard people say some were born to do what they are doing. I have had a number of people look at me and say: “ You are one of those lucky few that knew what you wanted to do from the beginning.”
I hear that a lot after fashions shows. Especially once people find out I’ve been sewing since the age of five.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Earnestdiaz.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/earnest_diaz
- Twitter: https://x.com/Earnest_Diaz
- Facebook: https.//facebook,com/earnest.diaz
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@earnestdiaz?si=LPwCorTt4dB6j45a
- Other: https://merchbyearnest.etsy.com/
Image Credits
Louvre –
Artboxy curator
OZtoberfest –
Beth Day – The Times (Yellow Brick road collage, seated Speakers & Lion viewing King’s Cape)
OZtoberfest –
Personal Photographer (Earnest and Toto, Case 15 King’s Cape, King’s Cape Plaque)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
