LATINX HERITAGE MONTH
Mi Tierra: An Introduction of Latinx Heritage at Gap Inc.
In honor of Latinx* Heritage Month, and in collaboration with members of HOLA (Honoring Our Latinx Ancestry), Banana Republic celebrates and amplifies the voices of our Latinx community at Gap Inc. Throughout this month, we highlight different Latinx individuals with stories and discussion on culture, family, identity and what it is like living as a Latinx in the United States. Much of Latinx culture is ingrained in connection and community, and we invite you into this space to read and to learn more.
*Latinx: of, relating to, or marked by Latin American heritage —used as a gender-neutral alternative to Latino or Latina.
Latinx. (2007). In Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Latinx
Xiomara Morales | Administrative Assistant & Sr Talent Acquisition Specialist |Gap Inc.
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? My family was all about family traditions, working hard, helping each other, taking leadership and responsibilities of our own actions. My parents and grandparents taught us to be proud of who we are. To have a good heart, think of others and to always do the right thing.
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? I was born and raised in San Francisco, CA. My parents are from Central America – Nicaragua. I remember translating for my grandmother when we would go shopping as young as 5 years old. Our birthday parties were celebrated different than my most of my friends. None of teachers could pronounce my name and it made feel sad as the class would laugh at me. At home it was a safe, loving, caring, warm and fun place to be. I lived with my parents, grandmother, and siblings. The women in the kitchen cooking and the boys waiting to be served.
Q: How is it like being Latinx in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? I don’t see fit/color/style that markets to our culture.
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? I love my high-heals and hoop earrings it’s who I am. I’m always going to wear them – Y que! My mom always said it’s better to be the dressiest person at a party...
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? Too always be 100% you and be proud of it. Be passionate and caring.
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? Stay strong, sweet, caring and to have integrity in all you do.
Ana Avalos | Administrative Assistant | Banana Republic
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? Being a child of immigrants, I was thought that through hard work comes success. That we value the time spent with family, that we need to help each other out and that we should be proud of our heritage. I learned to cook from a young age and it’s something that makes me proud to be able to continue cooking those recipes to my own family. I was thought to be proud of speaking another language. Speaking multiple languages opens another world of understanding and makes us more tolerant with others.
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? I was born in Nicaragua. My family immigrated to the US when I was 9. I was often the translator for my family and felt a lot of responsibility in making decisions for them. It was important for my family that I kept Latino traditions and customs alive, while I also embraced being American.
Q: How is it like being Latinx in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? It’s hard not to see your culture not be represented in the fashion industry. There are few Latinx/Latinos in the corporate structure, especially in leadership positions. It’s exciting to see a push to attract more diverse talent in corporate retail. We need to be able to see ourselves represented in marketing as well as in all the roles that have an impact in making the clothing we wear.
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? I’m Latina and I love color. My style is classic, but with a touch of fun. I love a hoop earring. I was always thought that being put together reflects who you are. I don’t know anyone in my family that doesn’t dress up for an occasion.
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? It means embracing everything that makes us different. We’re a diverse culture with many layers of complexities. We celebrate who we are and that’s the beauty of being inclusive.
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? To believe in myself, and not to let other opinions influence what I thought could be possible. Sometimes you must be your own role model.
Marcie Montano | Technical Designer & 2D/3D Expert | Banana Republic
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? Some unique things about my upbringing are I lost my father when I was seven years old, and that left my mom to be a single parent with five kids. She worked hard to give us a better life; she was a superhero mom, so that made me want to work as hard as she did. I started working when I was 12 years old to buy the things my mom couldn’t afford. Working at such young age taught me to be a hard worker, independent, and value the little moments you get to be with your family. Growing up in Los Angeles was a mix of cultures; the area we lived in was mainly Hispanics. It felt just like it did when we live in Mexico with the addition of speaking a new language. We are very proud of our heritage, and we embraced it by keeping some of the family values, working hard, helping each other, and making sure we never stop speaking our language at home.
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; we immigrated to the united states after my father’s passing when I was seven years old. Both my parents were also born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Growing up in a country where I had to learn a new language was a bit hard. I loved the new environment and the sense of being in a new place; it didn’t feel as different. I grew up in a community where most of the people were also Latinos. The moment I started working at my first “real” job, I started feeling different, and I soon realized I was a minority in this country. Nobody looked like me. All my coworkers were mainly white, and the ones that weren’t acted like they were, so I had to learn to simulate their behavior to fit in. I started having two voices, one that I used at home and the other one I used at work. I had to become more “American” I did not notice I was doing that until a couple of months ago. I was asked why my voice changed when I was having a work meeting. I question it, how? So, I was talking more American and less regular. Through my industry journey, I realized that I was hiding, and I was not authentic of who I was. I feel that many Hispanic/Latinx people can relate to this; I can say I have been changing my behavior, and I have been embracing my true self and where I come from, and I can say I will continue to do so until I find my true self again.
Q: How is it like being Latinx in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? Being a Latina in the fashion industry has been challenging; One I feel like I must hide my true self and not be too authentic, and on the other hand, I feel like I'm creating beautiful fitting clothing and not be able to see it on anyone who looks like myself. In the Fashion industry, we have no representation for the Latinx community. I don't see many Job opportunities in the higher roles for the Latinx people, or when It comes to marketing. Latinx people come in all sorts of shapes and shades. We have a big range; we must work harder to get seen. On the rewarding part, I would say we are finally learning how to speak up, and if we all do it and unite, we will finally get noticed.
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? My style is very LA, like; I love dressing up and wearing heels. As a Latina, we are taught to dress up for every occasion, lately not so much since quarantine. I would say I do love changing my style. I don't look the same all the time; sometimes, I can be more hip-hop, and sometimes I can look more elegant. I love playing around with my style. I do keep the colors mostly neutral, but I do have some colorful pieces. My favorite piece is my Denim! I can wear Denim with everything; I can dress it up or make it casual, depending on the mood. My style defines me, and what defines me is my heritage; That's how I stand out.
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? Being a Latinx American means, I will learn to speak up and not apologize for who I am. I will also vote for those who can’t vote; I will also embrace and celebrate my heritage. I would love to inspire other Latinx people to get out of their shell and speak up. I will fight for equality, fight for Immigration, and fight for us to get noticed.
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? Ignore what you see on social media, be your authentic self, and don’t let anyone tell you to change anything about yourself. Speak up because if you don’t, you will never get noticed. Keep your family values and embrace your heritage.
Pepsi Cordova | Administrative Assistant | Gap Inc.
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? I joke that I am like Heinz 57…a mix of many cultures. Having said that, my Latin background is most dominant. Growing up in NM, it’s a great mix of cultures. Our upbringing predominantly encompassed the traditions of being Hispanic. Yet, being exposed to other cultures also allowed me to embrace diversity. This has given me a foundation to not only accept our differences but to celebrate them.
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? My grandmother’s family came from Mexico, my grandfather’s family came from Ireland and Mexico (mom’s side). I never knew my dad’s parents as they died when my dad was a child. My grandmother came from Mexico. My grandfather was Jewish having left due to the unrest with the Nazis.
I feel very blessed to have grown up on New Mexico where much of the population was Hispanic. My family followed the traditions of our ancestors. We were all very close so had lots of family around growing up. Family supported family. I had my aunts, my uncles, my primos were my best friends. But it was my grandparents who were my second parents. My family worked hard instilling a strong work ethic in me.
Q: How is it like being Latinx in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? As I was growing up, there were not many Latinas in fashion. Although, I have learned later that there were more than I thought. Many used “American” names.
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? My personal style is a blend of modern and Santa Fe. I love our New Mexican styles which are influenced by the Native American and Mexican fashions.
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? Being a Latinx American is a celebration of our past, present and future. It’s a celebration of inclusion of our ancestry. Regardless of where you come from, whatever you sex, whatever your religion…we are strong, we are proud and we are one.
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? Celebrate being you! You have value in who you are and who you will become. Life is precious, don’t take one moment for granted.
Denise Rodriguez | Executive Assistant to EVP of GS NA | Gap Inc.
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? Being raised by a single mother I viewed her strength and hard work as an example of who I would become as a woman. She raised me with the help of my family which was a big contributor in molding me to who I am today. Traditionally we’d gather weekly as an extended family surrounded by Salas music and delicious Puerto Rican food! The orgullo (pride) in our heritage was present in everything we did together.
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? I was born in Brooklyn NY to parents who were both born in Puerto Rico. Coming from a bilingual family in close-knit Puerto Rican communities in Brooklyn NY, I didn’t have views of the outside world being that much different then myself. I didn’t view speaking Spanish as something unique, it was part of my everyday life. I didn’t see brown ppl as being anything different, because NY is this beautiful mixture of so many ppl. In some respects, I had been sheltered. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I realized that I was a “Latina” living in the United States, were our language and culture are viewed differently than how I was raised.
Q: How is it like being Latinx in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? It's unfortunate that there is still a lack of representation in the fashion industry, from ppl in leadership roles, to marketing ads that represent us to the world. The whitewashing of Latinx in advertising doesn’t represent the many colors of our culture. Size inclusivity has started to become more prevalent within in the fashion industry which has always been a need for black and brown communities.
What is rewarding to see (if you dig enough) are small fashion businesses making their way into social media platforms lead by Latinx. Some of these small but mighty companies are producing some amazing and uplifting products that showcase the many beautiful touches of Latinx cultures. I’m a believer is supporting the small businesses led and owned by Latinx! Money well spent 🙂
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? My personal style is a mix of NY streetwear with a feminine touch and you never leave the house without your gold hoop earning. I infuse my culture in my everyday life, from educating myself on the Puerto Rican history, to volunteering and giving back to my communities here and on the island, to speaking Spanish, to cooking traditional Puerto Rican meals regularly, blasting old school Salas music from my car speakers, to waving my flag outside for all to see!
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? To me it means unapologetically loving and displaying our cultures in all that we do! We are taught to be kind and respectful but also to love who we are and where we’ve come from and to appreciate the differences within our Latinx cultures.
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? Never be ashamed of who you are and where you come from!
Nena Shepherd | Senior Tax Manager | Gap Inc.
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? I was born and raised in the border city of El Paso, TX. El Paso is also home to the army base Fort Bliss. I was lucky enough grow-up around multiple cultures and have friends from different backgrounds. I also learned the importance of family and community.
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? My parents were also born and raised in El Paso, TX. They instilled in us to work hard and to never rely on anyone but yourself and your family. My parents were very strict, and I had very different chores than my brother. The roles of girls and boys in our household was clearly defined. This is probably where I found my love of cooking and “small” sense of rebellion.
My parents grew up in a time where speaking Spanish in school was not acceptable and, if caught, would potentially get them punished. They raised us to speak English and we would only hear them speak Spanish to each other. My vocabulary consists of Spanglish and slang so I’m very hesitant to try and have a conversation with someone in Spanish. Looking back, I wish they had taught us to speak the language.
Q: How is it like being Latinx in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? The only struggle I have experienced is that most designers don’t understand Latin women are curvy women!
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? I would say my style is casual chic but lately it has been loungewear chic! I’m all about a good pair of jeans with a simple t-shirt and my favorite tennis shoes or dressing them up with a bright-colored blazer and some booties. My grandmother always used to say, “never leave the house without lipstick”. In pre-covid no mask-wearing days, I did my best to live up to her advice.
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? To me, being a Latinx American means we do everything fiercely, passionately, and with a sense of pride.
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? Your voice is important so speak up and don’t feel guilty for saying “No”.
Jorge Ocasio | Planning Analyst – Franchise | Gap Inc.
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? I was born and raised in an USA colony. Growing up in Puerto Rico definitely makes me being a proud Boricua but you also grow with a sense of not belonging. We are not part of the states but are we really latinx if we are owned by the USA? Having that mindset and challenging ideas and getting into my own terms has definitely made me who I am today.
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? My nuclear family is in Puerto Rico. I moved to the US in 2017 and it was not a choice, my circumstances of work and career advancement really pushed me out of the island. Being in the USA now is difficult sometime to just not be connected to your family and seeing your countries history from apart.
Q: How is it like being Latinx in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? This type of work that I’m doing is not something that was created for people like me. My friends and I are amazed in where I’m at because we did not see this as a possibility. Is a challenge to make your way into a place that did not have me when it was build. Rewards is that in the future I want to have that influence and visibility for people to explore careers like mine.
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? I say this all the time. I’m unapologetically a queer latinx, that is my brand and card of presentation. By watching me people assume my sexuality immediately, when they hear me speak, they know English is not my first language. I never try to hide it; this is me and I’m confident what I bring to the table.
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? We have the flavor and we bring the fun, that is a given, also we are passionate for what we believe and we’ve seen so many injustices in all the latinx countries so when we see something we will bring it up
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? Be proud of who you are and read more to educate yourself.
Mi Tierra: An Introduction of Latinx Heritage at Gap Inc.
In honor of Latinx* Heritage Month, and in collaboration with members of HOLA (Honoring Our Latinx Ancestry), Banana Republic celebrates and amplifies the voices of our Latinx community at Gap Inc. Throughout this month, we highlight different Latinx individuals with stories and discussion on culture, family, identity and what it is like living as a Latinx in the United States. Much of Latinx culture is ingrained in connection and community, and we invite you into this space to read and to learn more.
*Latinx: of, relating to, or marked by Latin American heritage —used as a gender-neutral alternative to Latino or Latina.
Latinx. (2007). In Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Latinx
Xiomara Morales | Administrative Assistant & Sr Talent Acquisition Specialist |Gap Inc.
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? My family was all about family traditions, working hard, helping each other, taking leadership and responsibilities of our own actions. My parents and grandparents taught us to be proud of who we are. To have a good heart, think of others and to always do the right thing.
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? I was born and raised in San Francisco, CA. My parents are from Central America – Nicaragua. I remember translating for my grandmother when we would go shopping as young as 5 years old. Our birthday parties were celebrated different than my most of my friends. None of teachers could pronounce my name and it made feel sad as the class would laugh at me. At home it was a safe, loving, caring, warm and fun place to be. I lived with my parents, grandmother, and siblings. The women in the kitchen cooking and the boys waiting to be served.
Q: How is it like being Latinx in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? I don’t see fit/color/style that markets to our culture.
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? I love my high-heals and hoop earrings it’s who I am. I’m always going to wear them – Y que! My mom always said it’s better to be the dressiest person at a party...
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? Too always be 100% you and be proud of it. Be passionate and caring.
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? Stay strong, sweet, caring and to have integrity in all you do.
Ana Avalos | Administrative Assistant | Banana Republic
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? Being a child of immigrants, I was thought that through hard work comes success. That we value the time spent with family, that we need to help each other out and that we should be proud of our heritage. I learned to cook from a young age and it’s something that makes me proud to be able to continue cooking those recipes to my own family. I was thought to be proud of speaking another language. Speaking multiple languages opens another world of understanding and makes us more tolerant with others.
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? I was born in Nicaragua. My family immigrated to the US when I was 9. I was often the translator for my family and felt a lot of responsibility in making decisions for them. It was important for my family that I kept Latino traditions and customs alive, while I also embraced being American.
Q: How is it like being Latinx in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? It’s hard not to see your culture not be represented in the fashion industry. There are few Latinx/Latinos in the corporate structure, especially in leadership positions. It’s exciting to see a push to attract more diverse talent in corporate retail. We need to be able to see ourselves represented in marketing as well as in all the roles that have an impact in making the clothing we wear.
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? I’m Latina and I love color. My style is classic, but with a touch of fun. I love a hoop earring. I was always thought that being put together reflects who you are. I don’t know anyone in my family that doesn’t dress up for an occasion.
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? It means embracing everything that makes us different. We’re a diverse culture with many layers of complexities. We celebrate who we are and that’s the beauty of being inclusive.
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? To believe in myself, and not to let other opinions influence what I thought could be possible. Sometimes you must be your own role model.
Marcie Montano | Technical Designer & 2D/3D Expert | Banana Republic
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? Some unique things about my upbringing are I lost my father when I was seven years old, and that left my mom to be a single parent with five kids. She worked hard to give us a better life; she was a superhero mom, so that made me want to work as hard as she did. I started working when I was 12 years old to buy the things my mom couldn’t afford. Working at such young age taught me to be a hard worker, independent, and value the little moments you get to be with your family. Growing up in Los Angeles was a mix of cultures; the area we lived in was mainly Hispanics. It felt just like it did when we live in Mexico with the addition of speaking a new language. We are very proud of our heritage, and we embraced it by keeping some of the family values, working hard, helping each other, and making sure we never stop speaking our language at home.
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; we immigrated to the united states after my father’s passing when I was seven years old. Both my parents were also born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Growing up in a country where I had to learn a new language was a bit hard. I loved the new environment and the sense of being in a new place; it didn’t feel as different. I grew up in a community where most of the people were also Latinos. The moment I started working at my first “real” job, I started feeling different, and I soon realized I was a minority in this country. Nobody looked like me. All my coworkers were mainly white, and the ones that weren’t acted like they were, so I had to learn to simulate their behavior to fit in. I started having two voices, one that I used at home and the other one I used at work. I had to become more “American” I did not notice I was doing that until a couple of months ago. I was asked why my voice changed when I was having a work meeting. I question it, how? So, I was talking more American and less regular. Through my industry journey, I realized that I was hiding, and I was not authentic of who I was. I feel that many Hispanic/Latinx people can relate to this; I can say I have been changing my behavior, and I have been embracing my true self and where I come from, and I can say I will continue to do so until I find my true self again.
Q: How is it like being Latinx in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? Being a Latina in the fashion industry has been challenging; One I feel like I must hide my true self and not be too authentic, and on the other hand, I feel like I'm creating beautiful fitting clothing and not be able to see it on anyone who looks like myself. In the Fashion industry, we have no representation for the Latinx community. I don't see many Job opportunities in the higher roles for the Latinx people, or when It comes to marketing. Latinx people come in all sorts of shapes and shades. We have a big range; we must work harder to get seen. On the rewarding part, I would say we are finally learning how to speak up, and if we all do it and unite, we will finally get noticed.
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? My style is very LA, like; I love dressing up and wearing heels. As a Latina, we are taught to dress up for every occasion, lately not so much since quarantine. I would say I do love changing my style. I don't look the same all the time; sometimes, I can be more hip-hop, and sometimes I can look more elegant. I love playing around with my style. I do keep the colors mostly neutral, but I do have some colorful pieces. My favorite piece is my Denim! I can wear Denim with everything; I can dress it up or make it casual, depending on the mood. My style defines me, and what defines me is my heritage; That's how I stand out.
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? Being a Latinx American means, I will learn to speak up and not apologize for who I am. I will also vote for those who can’t vote; I will also embrace and celebrate my heritage. I would love to inspire other Latinx people to get out of their shell and speak up. I will fight for equality, fight for Immigration, and fight for us to get noticed.
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? Ignore what you see on social media, be your authentic self, and don’t let anyone tell you to change anything about yourself. Speak up because if you don’t, you will never get noticed. Keep your family values and embrace your heritage.
Pepsi Cordova | Administrative Assistant | Gap Inc.
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? I joke that I am like Heinz 57…a mix of many cultures. Having said that, my Latin background is most dominant. Growing up in NM, it’s a great mix of cultures. Our upbringing predominantly encompassed the traditions of being Hispanic. Yet, being exposed to other cultures also allowed me to embrace diversity. This has given me a foundation to not only accept our differences but to celebrate them.
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? My grandmother’s family came from Mexico, my grandfather’s family came from Ireland and Mexico (mom’s side). I never knew my dad’s parents as they died when my dad was a child. My grandmother came from Mexico. My grandfather was Jewish having left due to the unrest with the Nazis.
I feel very blessed to have grown up on New Mexico where much of the population was Hispanic. My family followed the traditions of our ancestors. We were all very close so had lots of family around growing up. Family supported family. I had my aunts, my uncles, my primos were my best friends. But it was my grandparents who were my second parents. My family worked hard instilling a strong work ethic in me.
Q: How is it like being Latinx in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? As I was growing up, there were not many Latinas in fashion. Although, I have learned later that there were more than I thought. Many used “American” names.
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? My personal style is a blend of modern and Santa Fe. I love our New Mexican styles which are influenced by the Native American and Mexican fashions.
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? Being a Latinx American is a celebration of our past, present and future. It’s a celebration of inclusion of our ancestry. Regardless of where you come from, whatever you sex, whatever your religion…we are strong, we are proud and we are one.
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? Celebrate being you! You have value in who you are and who you will become. Life is precious, don’t take one moment for granted.
Denise Rodriguez | Executive Assistant to EVP of GS NA | Gap Inc.
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? Being raised by a single mother I viewed her strength and hard work as an example of who I would become as a woman. She raised me with the help of my family which was a big contributor in molding me to who I am today. Traditionally we’d gather weekly as an extended family surrounded by Salas music and delicious Puerto Rican food! The orgullo (pride) in our heritage was present in everything we did together.
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? I was born in Brooklyn NY to parents who were both born in Puerto Rico. Coming from a bilingual family in close-knit Puerto Rican communities in Brooklyn NY, I didn’t have views of the outside world being that much different then myself. I didn’t view speaking Spanish as something unique, it was part of my everyday life. I didn’t see brown ppl as being anything different, because NY is this beautiful mixture of so many ppl. In some respects, I had been sheltered. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I realized that I was a “Latina” living in the United States, were our language and culture are viewed differently than how I was raised.
Q: How is it like being Latinx in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? It's unfortunate that there is still a lack of representation in the fashion industry, from ppl in leadership roles, to marketing ads that represent us to the world. The whitewashing of Latinx in advertising doesn’t represent the many colors of our culture. Size inclusivity has started to become more prevalent within in the fashion industry which has always been a need for black and brown communities.
What is rewarding to see (if you dig enough) are small fashion businesses making their way into social media platforms lead by Latinx. Some of these small but mighty companies are producing some amazing and uplifting products that showcase the many beautiful touches of Latinx cultures. I’m a believer is supporting the small businesses led and owned by Latinx! Money well spent 🙂
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? My personal style is a mix of NY streetwear with a feminine touch and you never leave the house without your gold hoop earning. I infuse my culture in my everyday life, from educating myself on the Puerto Rican history, to volunteering and giving back to my communities here and on the island, to speaking Spanish, to cooking traditional Puerto Rican meals regularly, blasting old school Salas music from my car speakers, to waving my flag outside for all to see!
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? To me it means unapologetically loving and displaying our cultures in all that we do! We are taught to be kind and respectful but also to love who we are and where we’ve come from and to appreciate the differences within our Latinx cultures.
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? Never be ashamed of who you are and where you come from!
Nena Shepherd | Senior Tax Manager | Gap Inc.
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? I was born and raised in the border city of El Paso, TX. El Paso is also home to the army base Fort Bliss. I was lucky enough grow-up around multiple cultures and have friends from different backgrounds. I also learned the importance of family and community.
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? My parents were also born and raised in El Paso, TX. They instilled in us to work hard and to never rely on anyone but yourself and your family. My parents were very strict, and I had very different chores than my brother. The roles of girls and boys in our household was clearly defined. This is probably where I found my love of cooking and “small” sense of rebellion.
My parents grew up in a time where speaking Spanish in school was not acceptable and, if caught, would potentially get them punished. They raised us to speak English and we would only hear them speak Spanish to each other. My vocabulary consists of Spanglish and slang so I’m very hesitant to try and have a conversation with someone in Spanish. Looking back, I wish they had taught us to speak the language.
Q: How is it like being Latinx in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? The only struggle I have experienced is that most designers don’t understand Latin women are curvy women!
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? I would say my style is casual chic but lately it has been loungewear chic! I’m all about a good pair of jeans with a simple t-shirt and my favorite tennis shoes or dressing them up with a bright-colored blazer and some booties. My grandmother always used to say, “never leave the house without lipstick”. In pre-covid no mask-wearing days, I did my best to live up to her advice.
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? To me, being a Latinx American means we do everything fiercely, passionately, and with a sense of pride.
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? Your voice is important so speak up and don’t feel guilty for saying “No”.
Jorge Ocasio | Planning Analyst – Franchise | Gap Inc.
Q: What are some unique things about your upbringing and heritage that make you who you are today? I was born and raised in an USA colony. Growing up in Puerto Rico definitely makes me being a proud Boricua but you also grow with a sense of not belonging. We are not part of the states but are we really latinx if we are owned by the USA? Having that mindset and challenging ideas and getting into my own terms has definitely made me who I am today.
Q: Tell me about how it was growing up in the United States as a Latina? Where are your parents from? My nuclear family is in Puerto Rico. I moved to the US in 2017 and it was not a choice, my circumstances of work and career advancement really pushed me out of the island. Being in the USA now is difficult sometime to just not be connected to your family and seeing your countries history from apart.
Q: How is it like being Latinx in the fashion industry? What are the challenges and rewards? This type of work that I’m doing is not something that was created for people like me. My friends and I are amazed in where I’m at because we did not see this as a possibility. Is a challenge to make your way into a place that did not have me when it was build. Rewards is that in the future I want to have that influence and visibility for people to explore careers like mine.
Q: How would you describe your personal style? How do you infuse your culture in your daily life and into your style? I say this all the time. I’m unapologetically a queer latinx, that is my brand and card of presentation. By watching me people assume my sexuality immediately, when they hear me speak, they know English is not my first language. I never try to hide it; this is me and I’m confident what I bring to the table.
Q: What does it mean being a Latinx American? We have the flavor and we bring the fun, that is a given, also we are passionate for what we believe and we’ve seen so many injustices in all the latinx countries so when we see something we will bring it up
Q: If you give your 14-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be? Be proud of who you are and read more to educate yourself.
