An Interview With Lesly Gutierrez: Up and Coming Sustainably Inclusive High Fashion Designer
By Gracie Simoncic (@graciesimoncic)
I recently interviewed Lesly Gutierrez, the Los Angeles founder and designer of the fashion label Tierrez. Her passion for the artistry of fashion and the pride she holds for this brand and what it stands for was apparent as she described Tierrez’s creation.
She is currently studying fashion in San Francisco and is planning on studying abroad in London to eventually live and work in Paris. She currently works a scout for a PR team, finding new designers to be featured in fashion shows. Simultaneously, she’s building her sustainable and inclusive brand.
GS: How would you describe your personal style?
LG: My personal style is kind of a mixture of a lot of different styles mashed into one. I definitely get most of my inspiration from late 80’s and 90's fashion. I am influenced a lot by my own personality of just wearing what feels right. I admire so many talented designers and even artists outside of the fashion scene that also inspire me.
GS: What made you decide to start designing clothes?
LG: My influence in fashion was introduced to me at home, especially from my mother who was a major fashion fanatic. So growing up I was introduced to the fashion world and always was encouraged to be my own person and have my own style. The earliest memory of when I first started “designing” was in kindergarten, I was about 4 or 5. I remember it was around Christmas time and I had received a doll as a gift. I remember thinking how frustrated I was because the clothes that my doll came with didn't fit her personality. Then somehow the idea of me taking my moms underwear and socks came over me and I cut out tiny shirts and dresses and I began making outfits for my dolls. This opened an entire new world that I didn't know before. I discovered that I can create what I imagined and that was the most amazing feeling ever. After that moment I couldn't stop creating, Next Christmas, I was given a tiny at home sewing machine. I started to develop an immense appreciation for fashion and began sketching and creating. I still have my first sketchbook from when I was seven years old. I look through when I'm stuck in a creative rut or feel overwhelmed to find inspiration and a reaffirmation that this is what I’m meant to do.
GS: What is Tierrez, why and when did you start Tierrez?
LG: I am very proud of my roots and the culture that I was brought up in. Being Mexican is a very important thing to me and I didn't want to lose that in the process of figuring out the name for who I was going to be represented as a designer and as a brand. I wanted to start a new generation that represented my Mexican heritage behind a meaningful artist vision. Tierréz is short for my last name Gutierrez. I knew when I was looking into names that I wanted to keep my last name because I wanted it to be known on billboards and magazine covers that I am a Mexican woman and for those that share the same minority background as me, they know that they are being represented.
GS: What does the name Tierrez mean to you?
LG:Tierréz was born from me and my endless love for the art of fashion but I don't want Tierrez to only represent me. I want it to stand for my culture, for those people that need a daily affirmation that fashion is an art, for those that feel confident and happy when they wear my clothes, for those that radiate positivity when saying the name Tierréz. I want Tierréz to start a new generation of confidence and positivity. I want everyone that is in Tierréz or representing Tierréz to see it as a visual language and to know that they are standing for something that represents more than just clothing.
GS: Who is your main source of inspiration?
LG: My main source of inspiration is my mom. She is the reason I am in fashion and I was able to find myself in this profession. She would always say life is too short to wear boring clothes and that to this day has shaped me and my views on fashion and myself. Being brought in a positive environment where I was encouraged to find myself with clothing also then started to follow behind the footsteps of many brilliant designers like Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, and Yves Saint Laurent, to just name a few.
GS: What are your favorite fashion trends?
LG: Favorite fashion trend for this year has to be the faux leather trench coat.There’s always this strong energy of confidence and boldness that faux leather brings to your outfit that I personally am a huge fan of at the moment. It brings back feelings of nostalgia that has been missed from the era of 90s fashion.
GS:You have a beautiful instagram account, what is the theme you subscribe to and what motifs do you like to keep consistent in your pieces?
LG: The theme for my Instagram I’m striving for Tierréz is inclusivity and ethical sustainability. I want to showcase a sense of ambiguity within clothing and see that it is more than just clothing on a body. I want to encourage you to let yourself be seen and spoken through what you wear to not be afraid to be yourself and to use the clothes as a visual language. I want to open the new perspective of viewing luxury clothing in a sustainable and ethical manner that doesn't limit who gets to wear it or how they wear it.
GS: Advice you have for other people looking to break into the fashion industry?
LG: The fashion industry can be intimidating so I understand those that are afraid to make a first move or don't know where to start. I’m still young and I’m slowly learning about the fashion indsutry, and I’m still not where I want to be but that doesn't discourage me . The most critical thing for me so far has been putting myself out there and not being afraid of what others may think. When I see the work of my peers or of those who inspire me, I don't let myself get overwhelmed with the idea that I won't make it or that I am not as talented as them but instead see their work as admiring and encouraging to challenge myself as a person and as a creative. The beauty of art and fashion is that everyone's creativity is uniqueand that's a really refreshing thing to understand especially in such a competitive field. I would also like to encourage the idea of not waiting for the perfect time because nothing is truly guaranteed. So if there is someone who is truly passionate and wants to start working in the fashion industry, the opportunity is there, you just have to continue to work hard and stay motivated.
GS: Describe your design process (mood boarding, sewing, fabrics etc)?
LG: Once I have an idea set of what I'm striving for I usually then move on to a moldboard/collage that provides me with a creative direction into the next phase. From there I start rough sketching silhouettes and shapes of what I am inspired by for my collection/concept. I build a color story and an aesthetic (couture, evening wear, tailoring) with ideas of materials, fabrics, detailing to form a deeper understanding of my vision. Then, I roughly form pattern pieces that then help me build an outfit to see my concept in a three dimensional perspective. If I am satisfied with how the outfit looks and feels, I move on to sourcing the fabrics and finalizing my outfit and concept.
GS: What are your favorite fashion publications (vogue, cosmopolitan etc)?
LG: Vogue was the first fashion publication I was introduced to. Specifically the European Vogues. I have always felt that they take a more diverse and artistic approach to issues and covers and that is something that I can connect with. I’m also a fan of Dazed and i-D magazine for their unique approach of envisioning the artistic vision culture in fashion.
GS: What are your goals for Tierrez?
LG: My goals for Tierrez at the moment is to continue to grow as a designer and as a person expanding my perspectives and creativity. Everything I am doing and working towards is to end up working as a Creative Director in Paris but as time goes by that can change. As of right now, I will continue building the sustainable platform that encourages positivity and diversity with my clothing and photography.
GS: Do you have any future projects in the works?
LG: Yes, I have a couple of projects in the works that I am very excited to put out. These past few years I have taken the time to focus on building Tierrez and have been fortunate enough to meet and work with really amazing creatives that have given me the opportunity to continue to grow and expand as a designer. Since the world is on a halt right now, I have had time to finally work on these projects and it's brought an artist awakening that I deeply needed. I feel more connected to myself and my craft so I am very confident and extremely excited to see where my creativity takes me.
GS: What does sustainability mean to you and how do you incorporate sustainability into your brand?
LG: Sustainability to me means surviving. Realistically we have to understand that fashion is starting to move towards this movement. I honestly wasn’t that educated and aware of the subject before I started studying fashion and like many I fell into the trends and habits of a non sustainable lifestyle, specifically in fashion. I have always been into fashion and being so young I mainly was influenced with fast fashion brands and that fast fashion mentality. A lot of people don't know how to begin to be sustainable in fashion because they're not even aware that they are contributing to the problem that is fast fashion. Fast fashion brands and companies aren’t transparent about who’s making the clothes and where it eventually ends up. The education and personal experience I have with fast fashion has encouraged me to be a contributor to end it. There are so many things wrong with fast fashion not only environmentally but also ethically and it does sit right with me knowing I'm entering this field without being transparent and imperative about this issue. For now, I am working on creating content on my page showing a new perspective on sustainability and how it can be a luxury part of fashion as well. I think that's one of the main reasons that a lot of people don't follow through with it because it doesn't sound that “fabulous” or accessible, when it can be. I am working on providing helpful content showing how you can be sustainable and ethical while being in the realm of fashion. Currently the collections I've worked on have been made from recycled and up-cyled pieces that I have designed. I will continue to broaden my suitability journey being as transparent as I can be.
Gutierrez continues to create and study fashion as the Oneul community is eager to follow her journey and success.