ABOUT

Sandra T. Zapata was born in Ambato, Ecuador, and came to the United States when she was seven years old. Growing up, she was inspired by her mother’s creativity. Whether it was a beautiful sketch or an intricately handmade sweater, she was often awed by the art born from her mother’s hands. When arriving to the U.S., hardship became all too familiar, but so did watching her parents’ resilience to overcome. To many, a simple pair of jeans was just another article of clothing, but to Zapata, it was the fruit of parents’ love and sacrifices. Soon came young adulthood, when she would be accepted to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, New York. There, she continued to explore who she was as a designer. Before long, she discovered what it is that moves her as an artist: the feminine and elegant aesthetic. Also adopting the large and boxy silhouettes, her designs draw from unique elements of both menswear and streetwear. Much of her inspiration comes from her own individual expression, an expression that was far too often met with the notion that streetwear and denim are not sufficiently elegant. Zapata did not accept this—did not accept the status quo—and is how her philosophy was born, and what it challenges. Now an esteemed graduate of FIT, her mission is to create a fusion of aesthetics—a fusion of art, love, sacrifice, and ardent originality.