PHOENIX DESIGNERS: Amanda Litzinger of Stickybaby is working on a collaboration with Foot Locker 'Acceptance and equality for all'Īt Gay Pride Apparel, Aragon and Gutierrez say they seek ethically sourced clothing and accessories to “promote acceptance and equality for all.” They’re “not artists or designers,” according to Gutierrez, and their ability to create the illustrations featured on T-shirts, tote bags and mugs is self-taught. That's what makes us, I think, a little bit special is that we are both LGBT-owned and minority-owned.” “We're in the community, and it's two of us. “We stick to our roots, and we … no matter what platform we have, whatever happens, we want to make sure that we speak up,” Aragon said. In New York, Aragon and Gutierrez were inspired by the 50th anniversary in 2019 of the Stonewall uprising and learning about the history of the modern gay rights movement. “A lot of the companies would come out with seasonal products, and we kind of felt that our community deserves better,” Gutierrez said. But the duo doesn’t see Pride as something to be celebrated for only a month. When June 31 arrives, he said, clean-up is already underway. “Seeing the shift from May to June and seeing every single storefront put a rainbow and plaster rainbows everywhere was very, like, ‘Wait, where were you, like, two weeks ago?’" Gutierrez said. The couple’s vision to “build a community of empowered, authentic and proud humans” was born out of seeing New York City transform for LGBT Pride month in June. Gay Pride Apparel began as a “creative outlet and also as a way to kind of take back the Pride merchandise,” Gutierrez said. Making Pride year-round: ‘Our community deserves better’ Though they’d gone their separate ways after high school - Gutierrez to Arizona State University and Aragon to the University of Arizona - they maintained their friendship, which "slowly blossomed into a beautiful relationship both as a couple and now as business partners," according to a press release. Together, they moved to New York City and worked for major retail brands. And it always stemmed from growing up in west Phoenix.” “I think my dream was always to do something greater for the community.
“For me, growing up (in west Phoenix) really gave me this thirst and drive to do better and make sure that I can provide for my family,” Gutierrez said. Their similarities are uncanny: Both are first-generation Americans - their parents are from northern Mexico - with three younger siblings each. They met at Frank Borman School in sixth grade, and their friendship “really started to flourish” at Maryvale High School, Aragon said. It wasn’t until after they’d graduated from college that they realized they were in love. Gutierrez and Aragon, both 25, lived “blocks from each other” growing up in west Phoenix. Gay Pride Apparel was born from a Phoenix love story “Out of all gay brands out there, she picked (us),” Aragon said. “It was … a very reassuring moment of like, ‘OK, maybe we're on to something,’” he said. This happened just days after Gutierrez quit his full-time job creating marketing campaigns at Tiffany & Co., he said. 16, Reinhart, who’d recently come out as bisexual on Instagram, wore a Gay Pride Apparel sweatshirt with the logo “Sounds gay I’m in.” No, their crowning moment was an unexpected celebrity shout-out from “Riverdale” and “Hustlers” actress Lili Reinhart. “I'm like, go tell her it's us! We're Gay Pride Apparel!” Aragon said.īut that wasn’t “the coolest thing that’s ever happened” to the co-owners since they launched their online apparel brand in January 2019. On June 28, the west Phoenix couple was at the Queer Liberation March in New York City when they saw “not one but three different people wearing one of our shirts.” Sergio Aragon and Jesus Gutierrez had been operating Gay Pride Apparel for a year and a half when they saw their creations out “in the wild.” View Gallery: 2020 holiday gifts: Shop local with metro Phoenix makers, artists