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 the design and craftsmanship of 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.

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.

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.

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. He broadened his learning through garment alterations, hand-stitched repairs transformed into decorative details, and daily work alongside his father. Developing a deep understanding of trouser construction. He displayed his pieces across the workshop, allowing client curiosity to evolve into genuine interest and, in time, into sales.

At eighteen, Tom decided to leave home to forge his own path, guided by the dream of one day repaying his family for their mentorship. He initially intended to study journalism, but unable to support himself while studying, he decided to look for a job. At the time, Peru was going through a deep economic crisis; still, this didn't stop him from pursuing new opportunities. Eventually, he found a place that pushed him to look beyond menswear, joining the women’s fashion house Creaciones León in Cusco.

At 21, his entrepreneurial journey took shape when he proposed a strategic alliance with two partners, one of them the owner of Creaciones León. The project faced sustainability challenges that limited his income to only covering basic living expenses, so Tom decided to move on after two years. Upon leaving the partnership, he made a key decision, he sold his first sewing machine to invest in twelve fabric cuts, a small collection destined to fund his next step, traveling to Lima for the first time.

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.

Tom had already expanded regionally and established a presence in renowned department stores in Lima, while his workshop continued to operate in Cusco. The definitive move of the workshop to Lima, long under consideration, became a strategic decision, the initial goal was not to grow in the local market but to lay the foundations for reaching international clients.

In the early years in Lima, the company completed its first export of a diverse line of alpaca products. By 2003, it had formed alliances with other Peruvian brands to meet growing manufacturing demands, while also beginning relationships with select boutiques in the United States. This marked the beginning of an international presence that would steadily strengthen.

Tom continued to refine his expertise in alpaca design and laying the foundation for his independent label.  At the time, clients showed some hesitation toward coats due to sizing concerns. He began with capes and jackets, a natural step toward more structured garments.

When he finally introduced coats with greater intention, he discovered a space to showcase his knowledge, explore new forms, and define his own style. The structure of the coat offered him a creative universe where he could experiment, play with collars, and refine every detail. In time, coats became the centerpiece of his collections.

This journey led to the formal establishment of Tom Gutie brand in 2004.

Original Brand Logo

Tom was already presenting collections annually at Perú Moda, the leading international trade show organized by PROMPERÚ, aiming to expand into new markets.

By 2006, the company’s rapid expansion made it necessary to relocate the workshop to a larger facility, where annual collections were developed for international clients.

Tom Gutie was no longer just a name, it had become a voice demanding recognition. The path toward consolidation required more than talent, it called for structure, vision, and the courage to present itself to the world under its own standards. In 2017, Tom took a strategic step that marked a turning point, with a clear objective to structure and define the universe of the brand according to international standards. This evolution culminated in 2018 with the relaunch of Tom Gutie as an independent label, making its debut on the runway during 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 with the integration of Tom’s daughter, Brenda Sota. She leads the global expansion and direct-to-consumer strategy from the Flagship Boutique, ensuring the brand’s legacy while guiding its growth and consolidation. The brand welcomed clients at its showroom and served international customers through e-commerce, strengthening local visibility and building a strong social media presence.

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.