Encouraging the use of the guayabera throughout the archipelago is one of the objectives pursued by designer Jordi Leal with his project, hence the idea of touring Cuba with a sample of his most special garments to be exhibited by local models.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- A broad promotional campaign accompanied his stay here, with a timely explanation of the endeavor, that has been inspiring him for 10 years and that has the support of creators, intellectuals, and several distinguished personalities who have been kind enough to use his modifications of the national wardrobe.

"The Guayaberas project arose within the JLeal in January 2013, and we did not even start designing these pieces, but when we released the first women's collection that surpassed all our expectations and we said: this is the way," explains the young man, who also dabbles in modeling.

Iliana Mulet, Alicia Leal, Flora Fong, Nelson Domínguez, Milton Bernal, Cecilio Avilés, Máikel Herrera, and many others have collaborated by illustrating them, with motifs that identify their work and respecting elements that characterize the garment.

Roberto Chile, Julio Larramendi, and other photographers have captured the professionals who have worn them, snapshots destined for the exhibition Son de Cuba, the same name of the book that is written with the collaboration of Ciro Bianchi and others. Those pages gather the history, curiosities, and interesting aspects around this initiative and those who have been linked, driven by the persistent entrepreneur.

He now brings to several provinces about 10 copies of his designs to awaken the interest of the public from the visual of the innovations he has included, always intending to promote the guayabera, he insists. Which are linked to his intentions to extend such effort with ramifications by way of replicas of the new type of house-museum to be inaugurated in the capital in the coming months.

"We're going to create sub-headquarters in different territories; it won't be necessary to go all the way to Havana to acquire it. That is why we're signing contracts with Caracol Store Chain, the Cuban Fund for Cultural Assets, and other organizations, so they can take it and defend it as it deserves.

"Likewise, the tour has helped us to incorporate other figures of the plastic arts and manifestations, here in Las Tunas, likewise, we value the most distinctive to enrich the concept, something that is difficult for us to do because we are located in the capital."

In conversation with the directors of Provincial Culture, he was able to concretize the intention of returning with a more direct exchange that contributes to the summit event of Las Tunas, the Jornada Cucalambeana (Cucalambeana Fiesta).

The idea is that the Flores de Birama wear their creations during the event, which is precisely an authentic expression of tradition, of those peasants who keep defending their costumes as a genuine representation of their origin.

Likewise, he dreams of a show from and with the artists from Las Tunas to exalt the guayabera, contribute to the preparation of a group of mannequins, and bring here on the occasion the exhibition Son de Cuba.

In the macro, Jordi Leal's project has proposals for children and they are thinking of making pregnant women undertake the challenge of dressing the National Ballet of Cuba with adjustments that make possible the classical movements of the dancers and, in the economic aspect, to achieve a quality-price balance to offer guayaberas to the population with an affordable value.

"We have designed it with a variety of collars, necklines, sleeves, without pockets, fresher and adjusted to these times, which has attracted the attention of young people. One can innovate, but be very respectful with the elements of the garment: the yoke, which is where the lines of saddlebags are born, and end, the pleats, the number of buttons, the pockets, and the types of fabrics such as linen, thread, and cotton.

"Everything we do is based on her, to give her that place that unfortunately has been lost". And he and his team walk along this path, confident of themselves and of the importance of the effort they are carrying out.