Vocero Latino- DULCE

What inspired you to create Dulce

Clothing? Did you feel there is a void in

Cleveland or the industry?

I would say that F.U.B.U would be a

part of my inspiration. They saw a void

in the market as we do. I feel the Latino

people don’t have a voice in the fashion

industry here in the U.S. we understand

the urban market, and how people feel

when they can wear something that represents

their lifestyle and identity.

We took it a step further by introducing

the charity part of Dulce. We give back

to the very community that supports us.

So, in the same sense the Latino community

is also our inspiration.

Dulce Clothing itself evolved from “cool”

T-Shirt designs to an entire movement.

We have created a lifestyle brand for a

culture that needed one. We have created

an identity for Latinos to connect to.

What is your demographic?

Currently, our women’s brand has an

age group attracting women ages 16-35.

98% of our consumer is female, we do

carry a few sunglasses that are unisex

and they are really popular with guys.

A QUE TE GUSTA is the female only

line in the umbrella of Dulce clothing.

We have men’s line and infant coming

very soon.

What can Latinos expect when it comes

to the Cleveland Fashion Industry? Give

personal account experiences good and

bad.

Latino expect the same as every other

minority in this county, they buy the major

urban brands that are available to

them. There is nothing wrong with that I

still buy major labels too.

Now when we talk about the talent pool

in the fashion/entertainment in Cleveland?

We have some of the most brilliant

and creative minds on the planet.

There is so much talent in our ( Cleveland

) area. There needs to be more emphasis

put on this market because there

are fashion trend-setters here; and a lot

of them!

What makes your style different than

other designers?

With my design style I like to really explore

the curves of the Latino woman, I

like to play shapes and really show this

Latin “heat” the woman are known for.

We manufacture in really comfortable

materials because that’s important to feel

good to look good. Displaying confidence

is my number one goal when creating

looks, every woman should feel proud

and beautiful in dulce clothing.

Our connection to the community is another

difference forms other designers.

Dulce, meaning sweet in Spanish, describes

our intentions, encompasses our

candy logo & holds our company acronym

of ‘D’eveloping ‘U’nderprivileged

‘L’atino ‘C’hildren’s ‘E’ducation.

Where do you see Cleveland Latino

Fashion going? What would you like to

see change or stay the same?

Fashion in Cleveland and the surrounding

areas are amazing. There are very

talented artists and designers in our area

from Kent State Universities well know

fashion school to freelance designers

working on their own. There are a lot of

great things in this area going on.

I really see Cleveland being a home for

young designers. Why not? A great a vibrant

city with a lot of young hip areas

like Ohio City and Tremont. We live in a

city the really embraces individuals ideas,

and talents. But the one thing we are lacking

in this market, as well as nationally, is

an affordable lifestyle brand Latinos can

call their own. Dulce Clothing Company

is actively creating this segment with our

innovative product and purpose connecting

us directly to the community with

identifiable fashion.

Main focus of Cleveland Latino Fashion.

If an outsider were to come to this area

from, say Houston, what would they expect?

When people who are not in this market

come to shop and experience Cleveland

Fashion, they will be pleasantly surprised

with what they find. Cleveland’s fashion

is highly under rated. There needs to be

more attention on this market as the talent

is saturated. *