Explain how you balance staying connected to your Peruvian roots while creating fashion for an increasingly diverse and global audience.
I don’t think I have ever had to choose between my Peruvian roots and designing for a global audience. The two naturally coexist in my work.
I use many Peruvian wool and alpaca fabrics, which my clients in the United States and especially in Chicago love because they are beautiful, luxurious, and perfect for our cold winters. In that way, something that comes from Peru becomes perfectly suited to life here.
But my connection to Peru goes beyond the fabrics. I continue to work closely with my team there, with whom I have shared many years of work and creativity. They understand my aesthetic, my standards, and the way I envision a garment. So even as my work continues to grow in Chicago, there is always a part of Peru woven into every piece I create.