In 3rd grade I swept the floors at a family friend’s house, and instead of paying me in money, he gave me fake gold chains. The next day at recess, my classmates knew they weren’t real—but that didn’t stop them from buying them. That was the first time I realized I could take something small and turn it into something much bigger.
Looking back, I see I was really just following in my mom’s footsteps. She started her business when she was pregnant with me, and from the very beginning I was by her side. I grew up watching her hustle, listening to how she solved problems, and seeing how passion and hard work could build something real.
By fifth grade, I had made my own little “store” and website. I even created my own custom sneakers called the Cornicelli Ones. Nobody bought them—but I kept going. In my yearbook when everyone else wrote “astronaut” or “baseball player,” I wrote that I wanted to run my own online business.
In middle school, I shifted into sneakers. I bought, restored, and flipped them, building connections with local college basketball players—some of whom went on to the NBA. By 13, I was at every event with my little brother, running a sneaker table and teaching him what I had learned. That’s also when I launched my first version of my clothing brand. At first, it didn’t click. I had the website and the events, but I was treating it too much like a business and not enough like a mission.
That changed when I realized people don’t just buy products—they buy stories. I started creating clothes that represented me—my life, my faith, my perspective—and sharing the behind-the-scenes process. That’s when things took off. Freshman year, I’d come home from school and pack hundreds of orders. It was overwhelming and exciting all at once.
Today, that mission has evolved into Rise&Fall. It’s more than just clothes—it’s storytelling through design. Every piece I release reflects where I’ve been and where I’m going. From experimenting with vintage washes and textures to designing pieces that capture both failure and growth, I’m building something that resonates on a deeper level.
The rebrand isn’t just a new name—it’s a statement: Every rise has its fall. It’s about cycles, growth, and the reality that nothing great comes without setbacks. My goal is to keep pushing boundaries with design, experimenting with fabrics and silhouettes, and building a community that connects with more than just the clothes.
This is only the beginning for Rise&Fall. The story is still being written—through every collection, every drop, every detail.
