2 Phoenix friends started an LGBTQ clothing brand in 2019. Now they're partnering with Walmart
In January 2019, former Phoenix residents Sergio Aragon and Jesus Gutierrez began Gay Pride Apparel, a business that provides clothing and other items to members of the LGBTQ community.
According to their website, their business has shipped items to places worldwide. Now, their New York-based company will extend their reach to more people across the United States and Puerto Rico thanks to a partnership with Walmart.
The two received a message from the retailer for a potential collaboration centered around Pride Month. Their products are expected to appear at more than 1,300 locations between April and June.
The men, who used to live in Maryvale, said their products take influence from customer feedback and notable events, like the Stonewall uprising. Gutierrez also said items are reflections of topical culture.
“We get inspiration from everywhere, right? I think, you know, pop culture, and Internet culture, like Internet memes, new slang the queer community comes up with," he said.
Aragon reacted to the collaboration.
"It’s honestly been a dream come true, like, this is what we’ve always wanted to do. We started Gay Pride Apparel to reach everyone, to reach the masses, to reach people that are in small towns that want to be seen and want to be heard and really don’t get the validation of their surroundings."
According to Aragon, Gay Pride Apparel is one of the four brands that Walmart is partnering with for pride season.
Both Gutierrez and Aragon navigated their business coming from low-income backgrounds. Gutierrez said he and Aragon want to have a presence in places where LGBTQ apparel may not be readily available.
