TAILOR PROFILE SERIES VOL. 13 WITH RODRIGO BUNTON NAVARRETE
Style /
June 2022
This series follows Tailors from around the world - highlighting their craft, passions, love for the brand and the impact they have on bettering the planet through extending the life of your garments. For Vol. 13, we interviewed Rodrigo Bunton Navarrete (he/him/his) from Newport Beach, California. In celebration of Pride Month, this volume explores Rodrigo’s dreams for Queer liberation and how it inspires his craft.
MEET RODRIGO BUNTON NAVARRETE
What is your position and how long have you been with Levi’s®?
I am the Lead Tailor at the Levi's® store in Newport Beach and I’ve been with Levi’s® since July 2021.
How do you celebrate Pride month and impact allyship outside the community?
I celebrate Pride every month because it feels good to be celebrated. My husband and I like to support the community by taking an active part in Pride celebrations in our city and being involved with the community in general. In the past, I was part of a non-profit organization dedicated to building a stronger and healthier community for gay men.
How are you an activist for your community in your day-to-day life?
I feel that I am an activist by being myself, not hiding my sexual orientation and taking pride in my relationship with my husband and LGBTQ+ friends. I think it’s important to lead by example so that others can see that it’s ok to love who you want to love and not let anyone tell you otherwise.
Tell us about the piece you created for the Levi’s® archives that celebrates your activism?
I wanted to make pieces that speak to me and how I marry my art to Pride. I’ve never been minimalist; I like colors, sparks and standing out. That’s the reason why I am a fashion designer–I have a lot in my mind and in my craft. Through fashion I can express myself and materialize my ideas.
The piece I designed is symbolized. The image embodies the message that any goal you want to meet, with effort, you can achieve it and speaks to why we fight and will continue to fight for Queer liberation. The crown is the representation of the dedication and work accomplished, as it is important to recognize and honor how far we’ve come as a community.
What is your first memory of a LGBTQ+ artist or designer inspiring you to create?
Elton John. He is a fabulous artist that isn’t afraid of showing off his true colors and an amazing, vocal activist in the community.
If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?
Don’t give up and continue to discover yourself while staying true to yourself. People will try to put you down and categorize you no matter what you do or don’t do…so shake it off and keep dancing! You will find your dance partner one day.
People will try to put you down and categorize you no matter what you do or don’t do…so shake it off and keep dancing!
What are your wildest dreams for the Queer community?
We often see how the LGBTQ+ community is treated in other countries, in some you get sent to jail or even killed for identifying as LGBTQ+. My wildest dream is that one day the negativity and animosity directed towards these labels will be erased, and we can live freely without persecution and be accepted and respected no matter who we choose to love or how we identify ourselves. I am happy to be here and live in a society that is starting to accept us and sees us as any other citizen. There is still work left to do in the USA, but we have gained a lot as a community.
What is the next conversation to be had to be one step closer to Queer liberation?
Continue fortifying equality rights, take action and raise our voices against laws that still stigmatize the LGBTQ+ community like the “Don’t Say Gay” bill that recently passed in Florida, and strive to educate and speak up to those who are determined to undermine the community.
