SAN ANTONIO – The guayabera shirt has been a San Antonio staple for years. Whether it’s a Fiesta celebration, Day of Dead event or a family get together, the guayabera remains a classic and iconic look.
Javier Trevino, the owner of Divide and Conquer Denim & Leather, founded Guayabera Fest to pay homage to the shirt.
Now in its fifth year, Guayabera Fest was created to honor the rich history and cultural significance of the shirt.
KSAT’s RJ Marquez spoke to Trevino about the roots of the shirt and its meaning throughout the years. Here’s their interview and a detailed look at what makes a guayabera.
Why did you start designing and creating your own guayaberas?
“I started making them because of my grandfather. He’s been wearing them for years and my whole family is from Monterrey, Mexico. When I started doing guayaberas, I really wanted to bring some color, some different designs into the mix. But at the same time, they needed to be in sync.”
What do you want someone to feel when they wear one of your designs?
“We want people to feel good about themselves when they wear the guayabera. We want people feel their family, their grandfather. I think of my uncle, grandfather, growing up at the meat market where they were all butchers. And those are the feelings that kind of resonate with me when I see people wearing them or when I wear mine.”
Where did the front pocket design come from?
“Back in the day, they weren’t at this level. The workers wore a utilitarian shirt also worn by farmers. Their wives are the ones that would sew on extra pieces of fabric to their work shirts, to essentially collect more fruit and get paid more.”
Does the guayabera need to have embroidery, buttons? How is it constructed?
“I think the pleats are what makes the guayabera and certainly the four pockets, two pockets in certain cases, but four pockets are traditional. What we had then and now are not completely different. You still see that foundation, the work wear utility, but now you see the elevated embroidery. You now have the pretty floral. You still see the pretty buttons, not just on the sides or the closure, but you see them on the shoulders. You see them at the bottom of the shirt itself.”
Why did you want to start Guayabera Fest?
“It started because of remembrance of our families, our grandpas, our tíos. I started doing this five years ago in Peacock Alley. It was actually in the store. We had vendors in the store, on the sidewalk and then vendors in the alley.”
“It’s come a long way from picking up kegs and listening to music in the back of the truck! Now we have live music, fantastic vendors and it’s a free event. We encourage you to just bring your families because that’s what it is. It’s for your spouses, for kids, your grandparents, for your aunts and uncles.”
Why do you think this festival has grown so much?
“It’s a celebration of the guayabera, the culture, where it is and where it’s going. The guayabera is like a nice watch. It’s been around for a long time, and it’s not going anywhere. It just gets more higher in value in a sense of the family culture as it goes forward.”
Do you wear more traditional or colorful designs?
“There’s a time and a place for everything. Right now, I’m wearing a nice, timeless and classic white. Yesterday at church, I wore one with pretty lions all over it. So, we encourage you not to get just one solid color, but get crazy. Everybody’s personality has a little bit of spark to it.”
Click here for more information about Guayabera Fest at Travis Park.
This year, the free festival from 1 to 8 p.m. is expanding with more than 40 local food and drink vendors and booths with local handcrafted goods.
There will also be live music and a set by the legendary Miami-based DJ Laz. Attendees are encouraged to wear their own guayabera shirt or purchase one at the event.
