MINNEAPOLIS — As Minnesota’s Latino community grows, a rising demand for fashion that blends cultural influence with modern style is being met by a new generation of designers. Among them is Ivan Martinez, one of the few Latino clothiers in the Twin Cities, whose passion for fashion began unexpectedly during his deployment with the Minnesota Army National Guard.
Martinez, a former infantry soldier, was stationed in Kuwait, where security and vigilance were his main duties. He recalls spending hours in a tower on border patrol, when boredom led him to explore something new.
“I picked up a copy of GQ magazine out of curiosity,” Martinez said. “I’d always had an interest in style, but I had never really focused on classic menswear until that moment. It sparked something inside me.”
Soon after, he began purchasing clothes while still deployed. However, finding off-the-rack suits that fit him properly proved difficult.
“Once I had the suits, the problem was that nothing fit quite right,” he explained. The expense of tailoring was high, and it pushed him to think about designing his own suits—garments that were both stylish and functional.
After returning to Minnesota and enrolling at Minnesota State University in Mankato, Martinez began building his fashion brand. He started a blog and gained followers on Instagram, where he quickly noticed that his content resonated with other Latinos in the community.
“Latino people really gravitated toward what I was doing,” he said. “It helped me realize that there was a need for fashion that not only looked good but also reflected our culture.”
Self-taught in design, Martinez has grown his brand from the ground up. He takes pride in the close relationships he builds with his clients, many of whom are local celebrities. His workshop, located in the North Loop of Minneapolis, continues to attract those looking for high-quality, custom-made pieces.
“For me, it’s all about building a personal connection with my clients,” Martinez said. “At the end of the day, I want people to look and feel their best.”
As his reputation grows, Martinez hopes to make stylish, well-crafted fashion accessible to everyone who wants to feel confident and proud of what they wear.
Related topics:
