Legend has it that the origin of the Guayabera goes back to three hundred years ago, when a farmer’s wife sewed four large pockets onto the front of one of his shirts. When he went to pick guavas from a tree with a group of other young men, he was able to carry more fruit home than anyone else.

Since then, Guayaberas have embodied traditional Caribbean formalwear, replacing suits and ties due to the region's tropical climate.

The Guayabera has been a source of controversy as several countries claim the origin of this tropical piece, especially Cuba, where it is believed to have been invented in the early eighteenth century and even its Government declared it in 2010 as an official garment for diplomatic ceremonies and Heads of State.

Nonetheless, according to local historians, this garment was taken to Cuba by the Dominican Generalissimo, Máximo Gómez —a native of Baní, a hero of Cuban independence and one of the founders of the Honduran Army– who in turn took it to Cuba, thus contributing to its notoriety in the rest of the Caribbean.

The Guayabera gained worldwide recognition when the renowned Colombian novelist, Gabriel García Márquez, wore a model while receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature from King Carl Gustaf of Sweden in 1982.

This iconic garment has continued to win a cult following around the globe since, over the years, designers like Hippólito, have made their mission to promote the Guayabera as a distinguishing trademark of the Dominican Republic, on both a national and international scale.

The Dominican Guayabera has charmed the hearts of men around the world because it features the unique artistry and craftsmanship of our country, displaying unique embroidery patterns and designs that reflect our rich cultural heritage.

What started as a humble work shirt turned into a staple of Dominican fashion, worn for both casual and formal occasions such as weddings, festivals and other cultural special celebrations; therefore becoming a true symbol of Latin American culture and heritage.