BEYOND THE BRAND

 

 

What is your background and how has it influenced your views in fashion?

So I was born and raised in Camden, NJ a poverty driven city. Raised by a single mother who always had a great sense of style  and Neiman Marcus in her closet; which I enthralled in growing up. I was helped raised by my grandparents. My grand father, a man of so much honor, who GUILLÉN is named in honor of. Also my grand mother, a seamstress in her county Nicaragua; it was on her sewing machine I taught myself to sew, making coin purses and clothes for my Barbie dolls. They all set the foundation for me to become who I am in fashion but my views of fashion specifically were influenced by WHO I AM and my experiences in life.

 

What is your first fashion memory?

The first memory would have to be playing in my mothers closet, I really enjoyed dressing up in her high heels and knee-high boots, making dresses out of her scarves.

 

What is fashion to you?

Fashion is ART; an outlet for many, unknowingly. It’s a form of self expression; we dress how we feel, the vibe, or statement we want to give when we enter a room.

 

Why did you choose fashion?

Oh No, the question is completely backwards! Why did fashion choose me? She (fashion) literally won’t let me put her down for good. I can never go long without creating a look I envisioned or trying a new sewing technique I think of. The idea will stay in my head until I just go for it and get it done.

 

As a designer how would you define your role in society?

An influencer; in todays world fashion has been impacting the world just as much as music, if not more.

 

How do you want woman to feel when they wear your clothes?

Confident of course, but in order to be that, I feel you have to be authentic to yourself and who you you truly are. I have so many styles of fashion I plan to give. I just want women to be able to have a statement piece in their closet that can tell the world who she is before she can even introduce herself.