Cuba on move brings the story of the King of Guayaberas: Jordi Leal. teleSUR
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 [Music]
00:17 Those who like dressing well and try on either traditional or stylish clothes,
00:22 the following stories with their book, which is the last one of the first season of Cuba on the Moon.
00:29 Let's meet the king of Guayaberas.
00:32 This November, San Cristobal of Havana village celebrates its 504th anniversary.
00:42 Haines' prestigious designer Jordi Leal will present two of his latest collections to commemorate such date.
00:49 Leal exclusively showed a surrealist series, "My Havana and Cuba Beautiful Island" with fashion models.
01:01 A slight representation of my last three collections, one entitled "My Havana",
01:07 which are Guayaberas illustrated with motifs identifying the capital,
01:11 we further showcase a representation of Cuba, beautiful island,
01:15 made of Guayaberas pictured with motifs distinguishing each province,
01:19 and we display Guayaberas of the Americas proposal.
01:22 Many people wonder, why did I name them Guayaberas of the Americas, if garments are Cuban?
01:27 And why is so? I think Guayabera garments are definitely Cuban,
01:31 but somehow they started to be Latin American too,
01:34 as they have been spread across the region, including the United States.
01:41 Leal alias the King of Guayaberas assures dressing on such clothes is like wearing Cuba.
01:47 However, he recognizes that despite Guayaberas are national garments,
01:51 yet Cuban youngsters don't defend them as they should.
01:55 We have been losing ground in Cuba.
01:58 Fortunately, Mexico and Panama defend so much the use of Guayaberas.
02:02 Currently, sometimes people associate them with those countries' culture,
02:06 because of the types of embroidery and weaving.
02:09 Hence, I think we have been losing ground, but we are still on time to recovery.
02:15 That's why Leal is determined to modernize Guayaberas, keeping their essence.
02:21 We modernize Guayaberas by respecting their significant elements.
02:25 Let's say we keep the same rows and saddlebacks, the upper, lower front and back yoke,
02:30 which is where the rows of saddlebacks start and end.
02:33 Let's say we keep the same pockets sometimes, but this one I am wearing has no pockets.
02:38 Anyway, who says it isn't a Guayabera?
02:41 We changed the idea that Guayaberas just ought to have classic color.
02:45 We designed them with a Chinese color like this one, and it looks very pretty, very attractive.
02:51 In this case of designs for women, even with necklines, at the beginning, I remember,
02:56 many designers told me, "How did you dare design a Guayabera with a neckline in the front,
03:01 in the back, with flared sleeves? Where did you see that?"
03:05 Those are just the most popular designs.
03:08 For over 10 years, Leal has been directing and modeling the academy
03:12 with comprehensive preparation for children, adolescent and youngsters.
03:16 Now he is working on the Guayaberas y Leal project, which is in transition
03:21 to a medium-sized company with a future international scope.
03:25 And he is writing a book entitled "Son of Cuba" as well.
03:28 But so far, what obsesses him is a house Guayabera museum in Havana, Cuba.
03:35 Coming up soon, the Guayabera museum will be open here in Havana
03:39 to exhibit designs made to several personalities, as visitors enjoy such collections.
03:44 In addition, attendees will see original Guayaberas illustrated by prominent visual artists.
03:49 Many people think they are replicas, but no.
03:52 So this fact adds an additional value to each Guayabera.
04:01 Lord Leal has been defending the use of Guayaberas for 10 years.
04:05 The first of these garments he designed was for his daughter's mother when she was pregnant.
04:11 Then he made one for his baby, which he says caused a sensation.
04:15 Now he has over 30 collections with the most ingenious design.
04:20 Today his Guayaberas are worn by diplomats, officials, presidents,
04:24 pornographers, artists and painters, but his wish is that they are worn by everyone in Cuba.
04:31 Almost all Guayaberas of these new ambassadors who are being accredited here in Cuba are designed by me.
04:37 Right now, at the 77th PLOS China Summit, which was held here,
04:41 many presidents, ministers, deputy ministers, in all modesty,
04:45 when they speak about Guayaberas, immediately they think of Jordi Leal.
04:50 Guayaberas for me are something I can no longer live without them.
04:53 I can't conceive my life without designing, without working on Guayaberas.
04:58 So far, the King of Guayaberas says his wish is that Cubans acquire a bigger culture of dressing well,
05:06 and that on Cuban streets, the national garment is seen more often with pride, style and distinction.
05:12 Fabiola López, TELESUR, Havana.