Back in 2021 we received an email from our now friend Venus (Carla) about an order that was never received. We were embarrassed about the error and did everything we could to make up for it. Fortunately, Venus was very forgiving and this hiccup opened up the opportunity for us to get to know her more and make her some amazing statement pieces.
The poetic ode she shares with us is about how we all have a choice on how we want to represent ourselves in the world.
The sum of diversity is equal parts expression, individuality, having strong foundations of self and appreciation of your roots. My earliest memories consist of having an instinct to protect and embrace who I am, what I love and where I come from. The neat definition of Salvadoreañx-American as my nationality was never a clear definition for me. I concluded, like many first-generation American born children, that I am from here and from there, de aquí y de allá. I embrace this in between as this realization is at the crux of my identity. I continue to add to myself all the variety that life has to offer. The inevitability of me being an artist comes with it, a mercurial style; a style that I believe to be dramatic and elegant. You can feel the flair in my artwork, in my dancing, my writing and in my clothing. I proudly and humbly embrace my culture and creativity as both attributes contribute to how I choose to represent myself to the world.
I am a born and raised San Franciscan by courageous immigrant parents. I have been fortunate enough to have been exposed to many different people from all walks of life. My own personal life is as colorful as the murals that line the alleyways of the Mission District (the cultural Latinx district of San Francisco). The murals there always seem to magically appear overnight and like most beautiful things, there is often a pair of immigrant hands that are behind it. I would watch people of color in my neighborhood wear all kinds of different clothes for different occasions.
I WEAR MY CLOTHES AS A HOMAGE TO MY BIRTHPLACE
In elementary school, I was encouraged to join a West African dance group and little did I know how much of an impact this would have on me. The time came for a performance and I was dressed in a gorgeous Dashiki kaftan with a gigantic bow to match. As the African drums kept the rhythm and I danced with the women around me, I felt the spiritual significance of wearing the Dashiki dress and I have since adored all forms of dress. I wear my clothes as an homage to my birthplace and with Descalza’s scintillating designs, I finally feel as if I have a direct line to my heritage and I take these clothes and these feelings with me.
My sister is the one who originally sent me an unforgettable post from an account that she was following on social media. This post led me to Descalza’s website. My eyes sparkled! I told myself that I wanted that Lucero Voluminous High-Low Skirt and I never looked back. The rest of the clothing collection continued to fill my imagination (and my closet). I feel as if Caro and her team and her vendors are as magical as the threads that I don with the utmost love.
I CARRY THE SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO THRIVE THROUGH CREATIVITY
No matter what the occasion: a party, a ceremony, concert, performance, vacation—I choose to be seen in these clothes. These occasions are where I feel as if I could add to the diversity in the room. I have an opportunity to have conversations with people that could potentially enrich and embellish someone’s understanding of the rest of the world. Too often are most Latinx people lumped into categories that abridges entire histories, heritages and cultures. As an artist, my work transcends the mediums and they are the embodiment of my living individual self. I feel as if I carry the spirit of a people that continue to thrive through creativity. It is through living that I know that I will be seen and most likely in the Sussoni Kimono Cardigan dancing the night away.
If you're interested in a custom Lucero skirt please visit this link or email us at hola@descalza.co.
