On Nov. 19, the Latin American Studies Program and the Department of Spanish brought in fashion designer Julieta Zavala to discuss the importance of sustainable fashion. Zavala studied Fashion Design at the Art Institute of Philadelphia and graduated in 2014. From there, she established her clothing brand Julieta Zavala Sewing & Design, which is dedicated to utilizing sustainable materials to create her pieces. 

Since she grew up in Mexico City and moved to Delaware, her intent was to combine her Spanish and English culture into her brand. She accomplished this by creating t-shirts which include Spanglish sayings, such as “Tianguis Time,” meaning “Market Time,” or referring to street markets and “I Love Cumbia,” which is a type of Latin American dance which stems from Columbian origins. 

“I loved getting to buy one of her pieces,” a senior political science and Spanish student said. “It felt really special to be able to wear one of her works and hear her be able to actually speak on its creation.” 

Zavala’s main focus isn’t only to create unique designs, but to do it in a way that positively impacts the Earth. Upcycling fabrics found in the thrift stores and utilizing nontraditional materials such as tablecloth and market bag material were some ways Zavala chose to create her pieces.

“The Pre-Hispanic Seed Dress is made entirely of natural seeds like beans, lentils and maize, representing the indigenous connection to the earth and food cultivation,” Zavala said. “The dress also incorporates jute thread for added texture, which is a reminder of the ancestral practices tied to sustainability.” 

Zavala’s clothing goes beyond just what people wear and rather acts as a powerful medium to express change and display her cultural identity. In the future, Zavala looks forward to expanding her brand to reach a broader audience while still maintaining her commitment to sustainability and making a positive impact on the community. 

Zavala explicitly says that she looks forward to “collaborating with artisans and local creators by giving them a platform to showcase their talent while preserving traditional techniques.” She also intends to implement more contemporary designs into her work to attract a younger audience. 

To learn more about Julieta Zavala’s brand, visit her website, https://www.julietazavala.com