Kontoor Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

The history, culture and contributions of Hispanic and Latina/Latino Americans are vitally important to this country—and this company. Led by our Diverse Networking Association ERG, Kontoor will be celebrating the impact of Hispanic and Latina/Latino culture at work and in our communities throughout Hispanic Heritage Month. 

To honor the deep influence Hispanic culture has on fashion, two of our brand designers, whose Latina heritage inspires their work, collaborated on a t-shirt design influenced by the Otomi embroidery print that is native to the Otomi people from central Mexico and whose design inspiration can be found in Western heritage fashion today. The t-shirt design also captures influences from an array of Hispanic cultures to make the t-shirt more inclusive. 

Meet the Designers 

Ana Mena, Global Product Specialist, Outdoor and Merchandising, was born in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Her Hispanic heritage comes from both of her parents; her father grew up in Merida, Yucatan and her mother grew up in Mexicali, Baja California. Ana’s family moved to North Carolina in 2004. Ana graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a B.S. in apparel product design. 

Janet Olmedo, Associate Designer, Lee Women’s Design, grew up in the U.S., but her family comes from Oaxaca, Mexico. Growing up, Janet’s parents would always tell her about their traditions and culture because they said, "it is important to know where you come from." Janet loves making clothes. Her inspiration comes from her grandmother's embroideries, and Janet knew she wanted to incorporate her grandmother's intricate designs into the t-shirt.

Proceeds from the t-shirt sales will be donated to a Greensboro-based organization focused on promoting Latina/Latino art and culture in the community that Kontoor calls home.