Crystal and Ivette Gonzáles-Alé are quite possibly the trendiest couple in all of Brooklyn. They’re so fashion-forward that last year they opened Marimacho, an LGBTQ fashion company that focuses on masculine styles. And in just over a year, Marimacho has seen off-the-charts success.
Through the frustration that Crystal experienced in trying to find masculine clothes that properly fit her body, Marimacho was born. The word is Spanish in origin, meaning tomboy or butch. Ivette says that she and Crystal opened the store not only to help women find the right clothes, but also to help the gay community.
Stylishly queer swim tops and briefs, perfect for the honeymoon!
“Creating visibility for the LGBTQ community through our business is extremely important to us,” Ivette says. “When you consider all the ways we demonstrate our identities in our daily lives, there are few things more visible than the clothes you choose to wear. We want to empower gender non-conforming people with clothing that reflects who they are without compromising style or fit. I like to say that if the clothes don’t fit, you’re not the problem—the clothes are the problem.”
The company features three different collections that include tops, bottoms, outerwear and accessories. To stay locally and socially conscious, Marimacho produces their products from women-owned, sweat-free factories from New York City’s Garment District. They also source their materials from American- and European-owned mills.
Crystal and Ivette Gonzáles-Alé, the stylish couple behind Marimacho.
Looking on the website, the popularity of Marimacho’s products is obvious as numerous items are already sold out. Ivette and Crystal are striving to keep up with the high demand that their products are receiving.
“There is a huge market for what we do and our biggest challenge right now is being able to keep up with demand and grow in a sustainable way,” Ivette says. “Our goal is to reach two collections a year. Right now we are focusing on our made-to-measure suits, so we won’t have a new ready-to-wear collection this winter season.”
Since the site’s launch in May 2011, Marimacho has been flooded with made-to-measure suit orders specifically for weddings. Because of the popularity, the company is launching a made-to-measure suit service at the end of this year which will feature classic suits and tuxedos.
The custom suit project is not the only plan in the works. Crystal and Ivette are also working on more pop-up store locations, international collaborations and expanding collection offerings to items such as shoes.
Although Marimacho is currently only an online store, their collections are in pop-up stores across the nation. While there is not a physical store location, Crystal and Ivette have plans to open a store in New York in the near future.
