SAN ANTONIO – From his closet of famous statement suits, his impossible-to-miss shoes, and his beloved bigger-than-life hats, Michael Quintanilla, aka Mr. Fiesta, is getting ready for this year's Fiesta celebration.
- Usually designed hats for Fiesta
- Asked to make something smaller more people could wear
- Came up with “Fiestanators”
"It's part of my childhood. I was always making stuff with my mom," Quintanilla said.
From his roots on the city's Southside, to a career covering fashion for the LA Times and writing about fashion weeks in New York, Paris, and Milan— he says that all played a role in his Fiesta inspiration today.
Now he's taking his look step further with creating “Fiestanators”— fascinator hair pieces decked out for Fiesta.
"So it's the same things I use on my hats, but I'm downsizing them now because that was the request - ‘Can you make them so that other people can wear them?’" he said.
To understand his love for San Antonio and Fiesta, you have to understand his journey.
It's constantly moving, but all started with the love of his mother and a job interview with the San Antonio Express News right out of college.
"I took the bus home because I didn't know how to drive," he said.
No license, no problem, because his mom was there to help.
"She'd go “Okay Mijo, I'm on my way!' and she'd come downtown and pick me up and so together my mom and I would cover the police beat. This is how I got my start in journalism. It's the best story of my career," he said.
Now his journey brings him and his newest creations to the Official Fiesta Store.
"Anything that Michael Quintanilla does for Fiesta is wonderful. He is one of the best people in supporting Fiesta. This is new for us this year and there is so much excitement and buzz," said the Executive Director of Fiesta San Antonio Commission Amy Shaw.
It's a buzz that will keep growing from lessons of love taught by his mother.
"As she always would say, to use our head, our heart, and our hands," said Quintanilla.