Gilded Union: My Debut Collection
Guilded Union is my debut collection, created for the Advanced category of the African American Textile Association Annual Fashion Show. Rooted in my mixed heritage of Colombian, Irish American, Lebanese, and Nicaraguan, my collection explores identity through connection, bringing together different cultures into a unified design language.
Inspired by Colombia’s history with gold, I combined metallic textures and ornate fabrics with softer elements like pastels, florals, and fluid silhouettes. Each look is intentionally connected through color, fabric, or form, while still reflecting the individuality of the wearer.
The collection reflects how I see identity, layered, evolving, and shaped by the coming together of different influences.
The Process
For this nine-piece collection, I began with original pattern making and draping, using iterative fittings to refine proportions across the collection. Corsetry became a central technical focus, I designed and constructed each corset by hand, creating structure through boning and paneling. Rather than sourcing new textiles, I intentionally worked with discontinued fabrics as a sustainable approach, challenging myself to design within limited quantities and existing constraints. I selected jacquard weaves and incorporated silk dupioni for its natural texture and vibrant patterns.
Each piece was handcrafted with attention to both construction and presentation, ensuring cohesion across the collection. Designed with inclusivity in mind, the garments were developed in sizes XXS–L with careful adjustments for fit across different bodies.
Video Introduction
