Fe De Mi Tierra
To remember and connect.
#1: Zero Waste
Inspiration and Memory
This design is inspired by my childhood memories and the 2000s era I experienced through my older brother. I remember sitting in the back of our family van while picking him up from school, watching him step in wearing baggy, heavily starched khakis, a crisp white T-shirt, and listening to MC Magic play through the speakers. These moments became symbols of style, culture, and identity, shaping the visual language and inspiration behind this design.
The look pays homage to the early-2000s Mexican American aesthetic—the starch, the khaki, the pride, and the artistry. Using laser etching and cutting techniques, I created custom patches featuring street-inspired typography, illustrations of men and women in oversized silhouettes, and the iconic “S” symbol found on notebooks, walls, and personal expressions throughout that era.
To honor our heritage, I incorporated an etched image of the Virgen de Guadalupe, representing the spiritual heart of Mexican culture, and featured El Ángel de la Guardia on the shoulder of the jacket as a symbol of faith, protection, and guidance.
The pants follow a zero-waste design approach, utilizing nearly all available fabric while minimizing excess scraps. The freestyle jacket completes the look, bringing together the collection’s themes of memory, culture, and sustainability. This project remains one of my favorites—a piece that reflects my personal connection to heritage while showcasing thoughtful design practices.
La Virgen in the Chaos
This jacket began as a digital creation in CLO 3D, where I designed and visualized the garment in a virtual space before bringing it to life through a muslin fitting and, ultimately, in fashion fabric. Seeing a 3D concept transform into a tangible garment was one of the most rewarding parts of the design process.
The design features structured pleats that represent the complexities and challenges Chicanos continue to face in the United States. At the center of the piece is La Virgen Mary, symbolizing faith, protection, and the enduring spirit of the Mexican people. She remains calm within the chaos, reflecting her place at the heart of Mexican culture, religion, and identity.
This piece pays homage to resilience and history by intertwining digital innovation with cultural representation, creating a garment that honors the past while exploring the future of fashion design.
#2: The Clo 3D Suit Project
From Memory to Urban: A Cultural Fusion
I combined the pleated jacket from La Virgen in the Chaos with the zero-waste khaki pants from The Starch, The Khaki, The Culture to create a unified look that bridges personal memory, cultural identity, and craftsmanship. Together, these pieces tell two interconnected stories—one representing the faith and resilience of the Mexican people, and the other honoring the 2000s Mexican American experience that shaped my own memories and perspective.
During my study abroad experience in Urbania, Italy (Summer 2025), I had the opportunity to model this look and share my culture and design perspective on an international stage. This experience reinforced the power of fashion as a medium for connecting heritage, sustainability, and innovation across cultures.
