Tomás Sota, founder and designer of Tom Gutie, was born in Cusco, immersed in the tailoring tradition inherited from his father. From an early age, he learned to imagine and create garments, refining his skills over the years until he developed a distinctive personal style.
His journey evolved from tailoring to design, combining precision with creative vision. Today, under the Tom Gutie brand, he has consolidated a unique expertise in Baby Alpaca coats.
At the age of four, Tom was introduced to the tools of tailoring in his father’s workshop through simple tasks. He became familiar with the craft by taking on small responsibilities, such as carefully cleaning the sewing machines with two cloths: a finer one for the exterior and a thicker one for the wooden furniture. His constant desire to explore and natural curiosity were essential during this early stage. Recognizing this, his father introduced each process step by step, adapting the learning to every stage of Tom’s growth while encouraging initiative, observation, and hands-on involvement.
Image recreated using artificial intelligence to visually interpret a moment from Tom’s story.
At the age of six, his world revolved around the needle, thread, and fabric. He learned freehand techniques such as zigzag stitching, buttonhole work, and pant hems. Spending long hours immersed in this routine, he began to understand the precision required for each type of garment. He still remembers pressing part of his pants between his legs while sewing by hand.
Image recreated using artificial intelligence to visually interpret a moment from Tom’s story.
By the age of eight, he remembers that frustration became his motivation to learn how to handle the iron and sew hems. As a result, he refined the techniques he had learned at a young age.
Image recreated using artificial intelligence to visually interpret a moment from Tom’s story.
At the age of thirteen, Tom created his first look, light blue tartan trousers, a striped Nehru collar shirt, and a jacket. This design became a space for trial, error, and observation. His next defining piece was a vagabond pant, an iconic style of the 1980s.
From then on, he broadened his learning through garment alterations, hand-stitched repairs transformed into decorative details, and daily work alongside his father. He displayed his pieces across the workshop, allowing client curiosity to evolve into genuine interest and, in time, into sales. At the same time, he assumed administrative, commercial, and logistical responsibilities, developing a deep understanding of trouser construction.
Image recreated using artificial intelligence to visually interpret a moment from Tom’s story.
At the age of 18, fresh out of high school, Tom decided to leave home and follow his own path, not as an act of rebellion, but as a quest for independence, with the intention to eventually return and repay his family for their mentorship. At the time, Peru was facing a deep economic crisis, including hyperinflation and unemployment. However, that did not stop Tom. His friends spontaneously asked him for designs, allowing him to support himself for a period while he searched for new opportunities. Eventually, he found a place that encouraged him to explore beyond men’s tailoring, joining the women’s fashion house Creaciones León in Cusco.
Image recreated using artificial intelligence to visually interpret a moment from Tom’s story.
At the age of 21, his entrepreneurial path took shape when he proposed a strategic partnership with two associates, one of whom came from Creaciones León. Built on shared goals and a strong friendship, this collaboration led to his first retail venture, named Creaciones Suiza. After two years, the project became unsustainable, and his compensation was limited to basic living expenses. During this period, Tom acquired his first sewing machine, which he later sold to invest in twelve pieces of fabric, these were developed into a small collection that supported his next step, relocating to Lima in search of new opportunities.
Image recreated using artificial intelligence to visually interpret a moment from Tom’s story.
At 24, Tom opened his first store through a business partnership. As the business evolved across different locations, he gradually pivoted his focus toward wholesale production. During this period, he established his first workshop. A year later, at 25, Tom took a decisive step by founding his first independent company, Atelier 478, marking the consolidation of his personal vision and brand identity.
By 26, on his first trip to Lima, Tom joined Lima Fashion, producing uniforms while simultaneously initiating the next phase of his retail journey, positioning himself within a broader, more competitive market.
Image courtesy of Tom Gutie.
After operating across several locations, Tom established his final boutique on Maruri Street before moving to Lima. From this space, he personally showcased and sold his designs to both the local community and international visitors. Tom managed the boutique until 2001, when he handed over the business to his brother. His brother continued to run the store independently, maintaining direct relationships with clients. Today, the boutique is no longer held by the family.
Image courtesy of Tom Gutie.
Through a strategic partnership, his first sales reached department stores, paving the way to wholesale. However, an unusually mild winter caused by El Niño phenomenon slowed sales and increased product returns. While bank support provided a temporary lifeline, growing debts eventually forced a decisive move, relocating his business to Lima.
His first workshop was established in La Victoria, where he focused on childrenswear and working with raw materials. This became a vital space for learning. By the third year, he returned to working with alpaca, achieving his first export of a diverse range of products.
Image recreated using artificial intelligence to visually interpret a moment from Tom’s story.
In 2003, Tom Gutie established key partnerships with other Peruvian brands to meet manufacturing demands, while building relationships with retail boutiques in the United States. This marked the beginning of steady growth in international exports. At this early stage, his priority was to sustain his workshop, which led him to produce his designs as white-label collections for other brands
While continuing to produce alpaca garments, Tom began laying the foundation for his independent label. This journey led to the formal establishment of Tom Gutie brand in 2004.
Original Brand Logo
Starting in 2005, the brand began its annual participation in Perú Moda, the leading international trade show organized by PROMPERÚ, aiming to expand into new markets.
In 2006, reflecting the company’s growth and export ambition, the workshop was relocated to a larger facility in the Chorrillos district. There, the brand developed annual collections specifically for international wholesale clients.
In 2017, Tom collaborated with a UK-based fashion consultant specializing in the luxury sector to structure and define the brand’s universe. By 2018, this evolution culminated in the launch of Tom Gutie as a consolidated independent label, making its debut on the runway at the 21st edition of Perú Moda.
In 2019, Tom Gutie acquired a weaving company, enabling the launch of a new knitwear line. This collection became available aboard Peru Rail trains and was simultaneously introduced to wholesale clients.
Since 2021, the brand has entered a new era of development with the integration of Tom’s daughter, Brenda Sota. Currently, she leads the global expansion and direct-to-consumer strategy from the Flagship Boutique, ensuring that the brand’s legacy remains alive, while the team continues a process of growth and consolidation.
The brand began welcoming local clients at the Chorrillos showroom, while serving international customers through its e-commerce channel, with the aim of strengthening the brand’s visibility in the local market and building a strong presence on social media.
In 2022, Tom Gutie participated in international trade fairs through Perú Moda Europe, with showcases in Madrid and Amsterdam.
In 2023, Tom Gutie collaborated with Barrington to create the Anniversary Edition collection, celebrating the brand's 70th anniversary. This line featured 12 pieces, including the signature Anniversary Coat. That year, the brand participated in the Peruvian Sustainable Fashion Association’s runway show in Lima, alongside international trade fairs such as Coterie New York, CIFF Copenhagen, and Perú Moda Madrid. Marking a new milestone, Tom Gutie unveiled its first international photo campaign in New York, showcasing a special collection created for Coterie.
In 2024, the brand was officially registered in the United States and opened its flagship boutique in San Isidro, Lima. Conceived as a gallery-boutique, the space invites visitors into the brand’s universe, where every detail holds a purpose and a story.
In early 2025, Tom’s daughter joined the brand full-time, focusing on retail and direct-to-consumer sales to drive continued growth. In March, the brand participated in Paris Fashion Week, launching two campaigns and earning a feature in COSAS, one of Peru’s leading lifestyle magazines. Back to Lima, the San Isidro flagship boutique welcomed more than 160 clients. To close the year, Tom Gutie pioneered Lima’s first shopping and fashion experience in collaboration with Airbnb.
