Rulli Torres

What if democracy was something we made together?

Join designer Rulli Torres in the Craft Village as he creates The People’s Quinceañera Dress, a living work of art celebrating the 15th anniversary of our partners at Arkansas United and the countless families, stories, and communities they have helped empower across Arkansas.

For many families, a quinceañera marks a young person’s transition into a new stage of life: a moment that honors heritage while looking toward the future. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, this collaborative dress asks a larger question: what kind of future do we want to create together?

Throughout the festival, visitors are invited to contribute their hopes, dreams, and wishes for the next 250 years of our nation by adorning the dress themselves. Like democracy, the garment will evolve through many hands, perspectives, and acts of participation. Stitch by stitch and story by story, it becomes a reminder that our shared future is not something we inherit fully formed, but something we build together.

The activation also celebrates the extraordinary civic engagement work of Arkansas United, whose mission has strengthened pathways for participation, belonging, and leadership within Arkansas’s Hispanic and immigrant communities. Their work reminds us that democracy is strongest when every voice has an opportunity to be heard and every community can see itself reflected in the larger American story.

Rulli Torres carries forward a rich family and community tradition through fashion design, creating garments that honor memory, identity, and celebration. His work demonstrates how clothing can become both an artistic expression and a vessel for cultural storytelling, preserving traditions while inspiring future generations.

On Saturday at noon, Rulli will also present a five-look Quinceañera Fashion Show featuring original dresses he has designed, showcasing the artistry, symbolism, and evolving traditions surrounding one of the most cherished celebrations in Latinx communities. Providing the soundtrack for the runway experience will be Carolina Mendoza, the beloved “Songbird of the Ozarks,” whose soaring, flute-like vocals beautifully weave together her Mexican family traditions, Mountain View folk roots, and contemporary Arkansas musical experiences.

Together, fashion, music, and collective participation become a celebration of who we are, and who we hope to become.