Leonor Aispuro, designer and owner of Leonor Aispuro Private Collection, will be there.
Aispuro is a Mexico-born, New York-trained, Phoenix-based fashion designer. She’s been up to a lot since she was named a New Times Big Brain Award winner in 2015 for design, and listed as one of our 2016 Creatives.
In 2017, Aispuro is still designing her own fashion line. She also has a day job involving some pattern-making and styling, continues to volunteer as a wardrobe stylist at Rising Youth Theatre, and helps with Phoenix-based art projects like Margarita Cabrera’s "Space in Between" exhibition at Desert Botanical Gardens and an unveiling with Betsabeé Romero and the Arizona Commission on the Arts.
She still works on the Leonor Aispuro Private Collection while volunteering, working a day job, and collaborating on art projects in metro Phoenix.
Lauren Cusimano
She’s never been before, but has had friends like Nostra Style House owner Angelica Gonzalez and dancer and choreographer Liliana Gomez who have attended. “From what I hear, it’s just a really good experience. It's all about being in the moment and enjoying the art, the music,” she says. “That's what I'm all about – trying to be in the moment and enjoy what’s happening at the time.”
There’s another reason the festival appeals to her: “Now, more festivals are coming to Phoenix, it’s really amazing.” She’s referring to the fact that touring musicians have skipped Arizona in the past. “I feel like with SB 1070, a lot of people boycotted coming to Arizona,” she says, “and I feel and I hope that maybe now that's kind of died down. “
Aispuro says she’s also excited about the festival's remote location. From what she’s heard, “it’s really beautiful there,” she says. “It has a certain connection to nature and the Earth and so, that's what I'm looking forward to.” She also wants to disconnect herself from city living and everyday life, even if it’s just for three days. She’s also there to support friends who are showing art, because for her, it’s all about “trying to be at one with nature and enjoying the moment with friends.”
And to do that, she’s planning to bring these five essentials.
Fort Materials
“I'm also looking forward to getting to camp out and build my little fort and have this little home for the weekend,” Aispuro says. She spent most of last summer building forts, and is more than prepared to bring her honed skills to Arcosanti.
“I was thinking it’d be awesome to be there and have this really cool space that I can retreat to,” she says. “It's important to have a little cocoon.” Aispuro is bringing the usual tent, sleeping bags, and toiletries,but also some solar powered lights and vintage fabrics she’s been saving for a special occasion.
REI Cooler Backpack
“This is another essential that I take with me everywhere when I go camping and on adventures,” she says. Aispuro props up a vertical cooler fashioned as a backpack that she got from REI. She plans to pack lots of fruit and water, and ingredients to make burritos.
Mexican Sandals and Purse
“So my Mexican sandals are obviously coming. That's like a staple,” she says. “Oh, and I do have a little Mexican purse, too.”
A Knife
“I got this cool switchblade that I'm definitely bringing,” she says, showing off her iridescent folding knife. This knife is a replacement for one her father gave her that she innocently kept in her makeup bag. But it was eventually discovered by TSA and tossed. “I don't know if I'll really be needing it,” she says of the new blade, “but I thought I’ll be going camping, so I might be cutting some string…”
Sleeveless Ts
“For some reason, I cut the sleeves off my T-shirts, so these are definitely coming with me,” she says. “I think I'll be pretty casual.” Her Deradoorian and tie-dye dolphin T-shirts are part of her weekend wardrobe, which also includes the aforementioned Mexican sandals and some cutoffs. She’ll maybe bring some yoga clothes in case she wants to participate in any of the group classes.
“Of course I want to look cute,” she says laughing, “but it's more about being comfortable and being prepared.”
Essential – But Not Coming
Her pup, Nosferatu. “Unfortunately, they don’t allow dogs, or he would definitely be going,” she says. “He usually does come with me everywhere.”
