EDWIN REYES IS TELLING THE PUERTO RICAN STORY THAT FASHION NEVER TOLD

Garments can tell a lot of stories, from the emotions and ongoing conversations; often putting a mirror in front of us and offering the designer a vessel to show the world what they would like to say. In @edwinreyes.nyc case, Puerto Rico remains a core theme in the ever expanding world of the brand, as it strives to showcase stories and core experiences through dedicated, by hand work, in this case, through the 2026 Puerto Rican Diaspora design.

In a true Mercer way, when we sense that there is a much larger story to tell, we don’t settle for a short caption to do it justice; so we talked with Edwin and asked questions to highlight the work behind the designs, exploring what the fashion industry is still getting wrong about the Puerto Rican diaspora, and what being a Nuyorican means through the work.

Scroll through to hear more about the stories that should be highlighted, and learn more about the Puerto Rican culture explored through the lens of a designer championing slow work as dedication in today’s landscape - this time through 150 hours of uncompromised hand stitching, to tell the story clearly to those who choose to look.