Roots of Style is a rare look into the mind, life, and journey of one of our generation’s most coveted fashion designers, Isabel Toledo. From the nostalgic and permanent influence of her upbringing in Cuba and the serendipitous love that materialized her vision and fueled her conviction, to the timeless mark she continues to make on the fashion industry, Isabel weaves together all of her impressions to express her true inspiration and authenticity.
Isabel’s words—interpreted by artwork from her husband, one of fashion’s most prolific illustrators, Ruben Toledo—tell an eloquent and visually stunning story about how fashion gave a form of communication to a curious girl who was fascinated by design, craftsmanship, and sewing. Through Isabel’s personal and engaging accounts, Roots of Style inspires readers to follow their instincts, trust their individuality, and discover their own personal style signature.
Isabel Toledo was born in Cuba and came to the United States with her family as a political refugee. Hailed as a “designer’s designer,” she developed her own distinct design alphabet that explores such concepts as Liquid Architecture, Organic Geometry, and Origami, among many others. She received the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award for Fashion Design in 2005.
Ruben Toledo is a world-renowned fashion illustrator, as well as a painter, sculptor, reporter, and fashion chronicler. His illustrations can be found in top journals and fashion magazines such as The New Yorker, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, The New York Times, and more and his work sought after for exclusive projects by Nordstrom and Louis Vuitton. He is also the author of Style Dictionary.
Roots of Style is a rare look into the mind, life, and journey of one of our generation’s most coveted fashion designers, Isabel Toledo. From the nostalgic and permanent influence of her upbringing in Cuba and the serendipitous love that materialized her vision and fueled her conviction, to the timeless mark she continues to make on the fashion industry, Isabel weaves together all of her impressions to express her true inspiration and authenticity.
Isabel’s words—interpreted by artwork from her husband, one of fashion’s most prolific illustrators, Ruben Toledo—tell an eloquent and visually stunning story about how fashion gave a form of communication to a curious girl who was fascinated by design, craftsmanship, and sewing. Through Isabel’s personal and engaging accounts, Roots of Style inspires readers to follow their instincts, trust their individuality, and discover their own personal style signature.
Author
Isabel Toledo was born in Cuba and came to the United States with her family as a political refugee. Hailed as a “designer’s designer,” she developed her own distinct design alphabet that explores such concepts as Liquid Architecture, Organic Geometry, and Origami, among many others. She received the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award for Fashion Design in 2005.
Ruben Toledo is a world-renowned fashion illustrator, as well as a painter, sculptor, reporter, and fashion chronicler. His illustrations can be found in top journals and fashion magazines such as The New Yorker, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, The New York Times, and more and his work sought after for exclusive projects by Nordstrom and Louis Vuitton. He is also the author of Style Dictionary.
