Pastry cook Paola Velez Unveils Workwear-Inspired Collection At Urban Outfitters

In bistro kitchens, workwear is more than simply screen dressing—it’s about function, longevity, and high quality.

For decades, Paola Velez has actually used flexible work coats, also referred to as task applications, important parts inside her home outfit. These applications act as safety levels against home crashes and a way to obtain heat during numerous travels inside and out of walk-in fridges.

For Hispanic history Month, the pastry that is award-winning and activist teamed up with Urban Outfitters to launch a capsule collection, available now. The lifestyle retailer brought together eight creatives fashion that is spanning artwork, songs, and cooking professions, including Velez, to inform their own tales through a capsule collection found in over 2000 stores an internet-based.

Velez, An pastry that is award-winning has released a heartfelt tribute to her Hispanic heritage and the often unseen workers in the restaurant industry. “My line is an ode to the working-class community—the porters, dishwashers, servers, busboys, and cooks,” she explains.

Alongside her culinary pursuits, Velez co-founded Bakers Against Racism, a global bake that is virtual that lifted over $2 million for social fairness triggers. Created to Dominican moms and dads and lifted inside the Bronx, Velez has actually repurposed valued home outfit into an assortment that symbolizes celebration that is cultural dedication.

Paola Velez’s collection emerges as a heartfelt tribute to heritage that is hispanic specifically dedicated … [+] into the typically unseen heroes in the bistro market.

Metropolitan Outfitters

A Tapestry of Tribute

In developing the collection, durability requires precedence. Green components tend to be repurposed into practical outfit. “The idea of giving new life to something, especially in the context of the Latino workforce seeking better opportunities here, resonates with me,” Velez reflects. “Latinos are known for reusing and repurposing things, so choosing to use materials that might otherwise be discarded was deliberate. This choice lends character and uniqueness to the collection.”

Pastry cook Paola Velez created a kitchen that is 4-piece collection created for Urban Renewal, … [+] UO’s in-house brand of repurposed, remade, one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, inspired by restaurant life with a focus on sustainably made apparel.

Urban Outfitters

At the center of her capsule collection is the chore coat, which stands as a nod to workers’ heritage and functionality that is practical. Originating because the ‘bleu de travail’ coat donned by French laborers inside the 1800s, this practical button-up discovered the means into large style, partially as a result of the effect of legendary ny instances street-style professional photographer, Bill Cunningham.

Much more than a garment in Velez’s collection, the task layer is actually a nod to history and functionality that is practical. Behind her preference for this staple is a wealth of kitchen experiences, “Experiencing varying temperatures during my work day, moving in and out of freezers, a chore jacket serves me well in keeping me warm,” she explains.

Embracing Heritage & Sustainability

Along with the chore coat, Velez’s collection includes meticulously curated pieces — T-shirts, … [+] utility jackets, and pants —that are adorned with intricate embroidery resonating with the history that is rich of fabrics in Hispanic tradition.

Metropolitan Outfitters

The secret inside the Details

Her collection has curated pieces — a t-shirt, power coats, and pants — decorated with complicated embroidery that resonates making use of history that is rich of textiles in Hispanic culture. Infused with symbolism, the collection thoughtfully incorporates phrases such as “ojos que no ven corazón que no siente” (out of sight, out of mind), and details peeking out from pockets alluding to the often overlooked but roles that are crucial staff members perform.

Velez ingeniously included a discreetly positioned inverted sunshine on a single in the purse regarding the jeans. This sun that is upside-down as a symbol, acknowledging and raising those often overlooked but fundamentally vital to driving the industry forward.

Each piece is one of a kind, and sweet details like Food iconography on the collar add cheerful touches that transform classic kitchen silhouettes into an expression of pride in one’s heritage and dedication to the culinary world.

Crafted for comfort, Velez’s workwear promises resilience against the rigors of kitchen life. “It’s supposed to be something that you can feel comfortable working in, and it’s lightweight. It’s not heavy,” Velez clarifies. “It’s not supposed to be something that you only say for special occasions. It’s like you are representing yourself. Having the ‘te quiero mucho’ on the pocket. It’s saying, “Hey, I love you,” Velez adds.

Beyond the Kitchen

Velez’s collection initiates conversations about the dignity and recognition of restaurant industry workers, reaching beyond the kitchen doors. “The food industry includes migrant farmers, street vendors, and everyone involved,” Velez insists. “The industry isn’t just restaurants or restaurant workers. It’s important to honor everyone who has come to our country, documented or undocumented. It’s much bigger than what we can ever imagine.”

Supporting La Liga del Barrio

Part of the collection’s proceeds will fund the program that is philadelphia-based La Liga del Barrio. Attracting from her encounters of community and growth building, Velez felt elated to learn that proceeds from her collection would fund this initiative.

The program resonates deeply with the importance to her familiarity of after-School products. “I used to be part of activities like slam poetry, chess club, urban dance, and comedy,” Velez zooms into her last, “These programs provided a safe haven for us while our parents were at work. Yet, when funding was cut, I recall the jarring switch from having these spaces to being a latchkey kid.”

She dreams for Los Angeles Liga del Barrio’s programs to own exact same feeling of protection and inspiration to young children today for her.“It’s so much bigger than what we can ever imagine. That does not only include the Hispanic undocumented workforce, as that’s heritage—the same lineage and roots, but I’m also doing this for all the immigrants that make our culinary industry what it is,”Celebrating the Immigrant Experience

Velez’s collection sparks thoughtful conversations about the dignity and recognition extended to restaurant industry workers as her childhood clubs did.

she underscores.The Broad Landscape of Hispanic Heritage in the U.S.Amidst the mosaic of

America’s demographic landscape, the collection gains significance against the backdrop of a burgeoning Hispanic population.Velez’s workwear line is sparking conversations that come at a time that is pivotal. Current information launched from the “out of sight, out of mind.”

U.S. Census“If we didn’t have immigrants, everything would come to a halt. It’s huge, and I hope this collection gets people thinking.”

stresses the growth that is significant diversity of the Hispanic population, with an increase of over 11.6 million since 2010, culminating in a total of 62.1 million. These statistics vividly underscore the expansion and diversity of the community that is hispanic. Velez reminds you through this collection that their own efforts tend to be not even close to getting Velez concludes, To check out Paola Velez’s complete collection additionally the work of various other famous Hispanic creatives, check out