When did your sneaker obsession start? Long, long ago I was a misbehaving immigrant kid in Miami who got grounded for an entire summer. I didn’t read much at the time and the only other semi-interesting thing for me to do was play basketball. So that's what I did, and I learned quickly. I totally fell in love with the sport ~ for me, it was basketball 24/7.
I played so much that my sneakers didn’t last longer than six months. But since I grew up poor, every penny I saved went toward a nice pair of kicks.
What drew you to fashion design? I wasn’t the most confident kid growing up, but I found that creating my own unique style helped me feel more comfy in my skin. Realizing that I could put together an avant-garde look, something edgy, no matter what I spent was huge ~ you don't need deep pockets to feel good in what you're wearing. Places like the Goodwill have great stuff, and that's more sustainable, too ~ remixing things that are old and new in fresh ways, and using materials that aren't taking a toll on the planet.
It's funny, you hear about meeting people and making eye contact. Well, I make shoe contact ~ I'm always looking at people's feet!
And knowing that I was wearing the same things as my heroes ~ Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson ~ gave me a feeling of connection and power, a sense that I could dream big and achieve. All of this, unknowingly, is what got me into design, and especially fashion. It's funny, you hear about meeting people and making eye contact. Well, I make shoe contact ~ I'm always looking at people's feet!
How did Guillermo Bravo start? I went to school for creative writing and music ~ never in a million years did I think I’d be putting together my own sneaker and apparel brand! I was just happy waiting tables and digging into the piano.
But about three years ago I was at a friend's house talking about sneakers. He mentioned that we should go to lunch and talk more ~ he explained that maybe this would be a good project for me to take on, and that if it all went well he and some friends might be interested in investing.
I did all the research possible, put together a proposal. The project died three times before they said yes. I sold all my fancy instruments and started hacking the conventional ideas of putting together a brand. It's been a long road, I haven't gotten enough sleep, but here it is. I can't wait to share it with the world.
]]>The moral of the story:
You gotta have grit.
Founder and creative director Luis Velez spent three years building Guillermo Bravo from the ground up.
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Founder and creative director Luis Velez spent three years building Guillermo Bravo from the ground up, with three goals driving every material choice, every hire and partnership, and every design decision:
~ Sustainable Fashion that won't ruin the planet
~ A Living Wage for every person, at every stage of the supply chain
~ Beautiful Sneakers that you love to wear ~ and even be willing to sleep in
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