Mi Gente

This is my love letter to my home. Latinoamérica.

Fashion, to me, is art. It’s the way that I see the world and reflect back the parts that are most meaningful to me. It’s the creation of something beautiful. It’s also wearable. Wearable art. That’s why I’m a fashion designer. And while I can’t imagine doing anything else in life, this collection is much larger than my art.

‍What I’m happiest about is that this collection has come to represent much more than what initially inspired it. It tells a story.

That’s why I went back to school. I wanted to learn how to better tell stories. I learned the skills I needed, and then I poured hundreds of hours of handiwork into these pieces. The story had to be precise. The technical skill had to reflect the importance of the message. I know how important it is because it’s my story. The story of migration.

I didn’t fully leave Honduras. I brought it with me. I brought the colors and movements, the textures and sounds, the tastes and feelings. And I live them proudly. There is always a giant pot of red bean soup on my stove. And the homemade tortillas are almost ready. We Latinoamericanos carry our hearts with us. Wherever mi gente go, they take the treasures of Latinoamérica with them.

Why woulnd’t we? We’re so rich, and we have plenty to share.

At a time when the beautiful story of migration is twisted — a time when Latinoamericanos are villainized — this collection tells the story of the culture and heritage we carry with us. Instead of fighting against the darker story about us, I tell the story of who we really are. I tell the story that they can never take away from us.

That’s why this collection is so big to me. It’s more than my art. It’s more than fashion. It’s the story of real people. People just like me.

There’s one more thing.

This collection also launches a business. Along with my husband, Jordan Guillén-Reeves, we are launching Guillén Paz to celebrate the culture and heritage of Latinoamérica. Along the way, we will collaborate with other Latin American and queer artists and craftspeople to create wearable works of art. The pieces we create are part of the story of Latinoamérica. Made by Latin people. I hope that you’ll wear them along with us.

The Barrio is currently available.

You can also check out our Community Impact Collection where proceeds go to support the causes that empower, liberate, and educate Latinoamericanos.

In everything we do at Guillén Paz, we want to make a difference. I’m not sure where Guillén Paz will take us. I just want to support my community and protect what my people have worked so hard to create. I want my life to celebrate the culture of Latinoamerica. And I want my work to preserve its heritage.

Everything I do, I do for mi gente.