From Architecture to Active Wear: A Conversation with Ramón Torres-Guillemard on Designing for Bodies in Motion
Photo Caption:
Ramón Torres-Guillemard, Design Lead, Ralph Lauren
When the Blueprint Becomes the Body
There's something poetic about Ramón Torres-Guillemard's career trajectory, from designing still structures in Puerto Rico to creating garments that move with the human body at Ralph Lauren. "I just changed sites," Torres-Guillemard said. "I used to design on something that was static, and now I'm doing something that flows."
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Torres-Guillemard studied architecture at Tulane University and worked in the field for six years. But one college project changed everything: designing a fashion house for Jean Paul Gaultier in Paris.
Today, Torres-Guillemard is a Design Lead at Ralph Lauren, where he has worked for 16 of his 19 years in fashion. He focuses on menswear and sustainable product development, making him an important voice in an industry trying to balance style with environmental responsibility.
The Pivot: When Passion Outweighs the Plan
"It was a hard decision to change from architecture because I had wanted to be an architect my entire life," Torres-Guillemard admitted. But endless paperwork and building codes pushed him toward something more creative. Puerto Rico's fashion scene pulled him in, he had friends in the fashion industry, went to fashion weeks, and started sewing. The change meant leaving his family for New York and Parsons School of Design. A friend connected him with Kenneth Cole Productions, where Torres-Guillemard worked in graphic design before moving to homeware and accessories. "Accessories and home relate closer to architecture than apparel," he explained.
The 2008 financial crisis led to layoffs at Kenneth Cole, pushing him to Ralph Lauren as a freelancer before going full-time on Black Label and Purple Label lines. When his creative director left to start Greyson Clothiers, Torres-Guillemard followed, only to discover start-up culture was not his calling. "I was more meant to work at a corporation where the resources and teams are much larger," he said. After the realization, he was recruited by the PVH Corporation, but they laid off 500 people, including Torres-Guillemard, eight months later.
That same day, his old Ralph Lauren position opened. "The person who took your job when you left quit today," his former boss said. Within a week, Torres-Guillemard was back at his old desk. "It was just meant to be," he said.
Leading with Purpose
As Design Lead at Ralph Lauren, Torres-Guillemard manages teams, oversees significant stock keeping unit (SKU) counts, and ensures products meet growth targets. But what sets him apart is leading sustainability efforts at Ralph Lauren. "All of our goals for sustainability are met truly, transparently, and accurately. But actually doing that is really hard," Torres-Guillemard said. The challenge is meeting aggressive growth targets while reducing environmental impact. "Even if we are making more products, it's made in a responsible way," he explained. The key is quality and longevity; Ralph Lauren's consumers expect products that last. Torres-Guillemard’s role shifted from hands-on design to guiding his team. "The designer is really the cook in the kitchen. You're telling them what the customer wants, but the cook is the one who's actually going to make it."
The Industry's Crossroads
Fast fashion has fundamentally altered the industry landscape. "There's a lot of really bad products out there," Torres-Guillemard said. Growing consumer purchasing power has created enormous appetite for cheap, disposable clothing. "Even though forces are trying to make things more sustainable, the consumer power is just too large. I don't honestly know how it's going to be stopped," said Torres-Guillemard. Despite Ralph Lauren's targets to reduce synthetic fibers, industry-wide polyester consumption keeps climbing.
Then there's artificial intelligence (AI). "AI has become really part of everything people do. I think in the next couple of years, it's going to have a gigantic effect, even getting rid of some designers," he said.
Words of Wisdom
Guillemard emphasized finding a brand that you genuinely believe in. "Look for a corporation you believe in outside of just having a job. Somebody you love what they're doing, what they stand for, what their goals are beyond fashion," Torres-Guillemard advised. Investigate companies' philanthropic efforts, factory conditions, and worker treatment. "Look for the team, the environment, the attitude of the workspace, because that'll ensure that you're happy. I know that sounds cheesy, but it's important to be happy." Stay somewhere at least three years – building real skills and relationships takes time.
The Big Takeaway
Torres-Guillemard did not waste his background in architecture; he repurposed it as skills from designing buildings translated perfectly to designing clothes. He asserted the themes of being flexible, finding purpose, thinking long term, and that people matter most. There's no one "right" path. The "right" job is where you can do your best work with people who support you. Commitment to quality and slow career building stands out in an industry focused on trends.
The real lesson: be willing to flow. Plans matter and so does flexibility to change when something isn't working. For Torres-Guillemard, that flexibility led him exactly where he needed to be, combining creativity with corporate responsibility, and architecture with fashion. Sometimes the best careers are the ones never planned.
This interview was conducted as part of a Fashion Industry Professional Interview project exploring diverse career paths and perspectives within the fashion industry.
The views and/or opinions in this article are those of the individuals interviewed. The academic achievements and/or employment outcomes described in this article are specific to each individual and are not a guarantee of similar results for past or current students. For up-to-date and detailed information, please visit BerkeleyCollege.edu and view our catalogs at BerkeleyCollege.edu/publications.
