Fashion is universal. The desire and ability to express our creativity and inner worlds with the clothing we flaunt knows no geographic or cultural barriers.
The width and breadth of decorative clothing worn worldwide attests to our human desire to take pride in our appearances.
Guatemalan, Isabella Springmuhl Tejada, one of the first professional fashion designers with Down Syndrome, is proving that fashion transcends all barriers and borders, Supreme Muse reports.
Born to design
Tejada discovered her passion early on, in childhood. In an interview with Aleteia, Tejada explained, “I think that fashion design is in my veins.”
After all, her grandmother had a studio where she produced Guatemalan-style clothing. And, when she was young, Tejada's mother gave her fashion magazines to read. Tejada spent hours of her childhood flipping through the magazines and designing paper dresses for her dolls, which she attached to them with pins.
By the time she reached high school, Tejada had identified her passion for design and her aspirations to enter the world of fashion. On her journey to realizing this dream, Tejada called upon her inner qualities of persistence and determination.
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According to Supreme Muse, after being rejected from several fashion schools, because of her Down Syndrome, Tejada forged her own path. She enrolled on a sewing course, where she jumped right into designing clothing for life-sized dolls that she sewed by herself as well.
The BBC reports that, during her sewing course, Tejada was assigned to sew clothing for “worry dolls,” finger-sized traditional Guatemalan dolls. Tejada responded with the same willfulness that had helped her persist beyond past rejections.
"Isabella didn't want to design clothes for...finger-sized dolls," her mother told the BBC. "She created life-sized dolls and dressed them in the colorful embroidered jackets and ponchos that she's now famous for."
A fresh approach to traditional fashion
This design experience helped Tejada find her niche. According to Supreme Muse, she fell in love with traditional Guatemalan patterns, colors, and textures.
Tejada explained to Supreme Muse, “In Guatemala I’m lucky to work with traditional textiles, inspired by our culture and representing our country.”
Tejada also pioneered fashion design for people with Down Syndrome. In her words, “It is difficult for me to find suitable clothes. We can be shorter or weaker. That’s why my mom always has to fix my clothes for me. That’s why I decided to design clothes that would be perfect for people with Down syndrome.”
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Tejada has launched her brand, Down To Xjabelle. In an interview with Metro she explained the meaning behind the name. “Down, because I have Down syndrome. Xjabelle was the name of my granny’s atelier.”
Down to Xjabelle goes global
The new brand took off right away. According to Supreme Muse, it made it all the way to London Fashion Week. Tejada also showcased her collection, which she titled “Love and Peace,” in countries worldwide, spreading the message that “our disabilities do not limit us.”
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And the determined designer has plans for the future as well. In an interview with the BBC, she shared, “I want to export my brand, Down to Xjabelle, all over the world. I want people to know my designs and to know that people with Down Syndrome can do what they set out to do. I want to be able to live on my own and be 100 percent self-sufficient.”
Her biggest goal? “I want people to know me for my work, and what is inside my heart."
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