Peruvian entrepreneur wins legal battle to Tommy Hilfiger and reveals what he will do if the brand demands it again

Iitanel Espinaldo, 42 -year -old Cajamarquino businessman, has consolidated its brand Sualik Peru In the textile sector, which stands out for its creativity and effort. From his childhood in Tostén, Cajamarca, he faced economic difficulties that drove him to develop his own entrepreneurial vision.

After completing his secondary studies, he sought new opportunities in the clothing industry, motivated by the desire to create his own business. Despite the challenges, such as the lack of initial capital and competition in the market, the businessman has managed to consolidate his presence in Gamarra.

“He entrepreneur We are everything. In truth that the entrepreneur is a boss, the entrepreneur is the one who in charge of the data all, is that we do everything, because as I say, we do not have a strong capital to have a logistics, because if we had money or a strong capital, As I say, we would have how many people, but the idea is to continue growing and gradually continue giving work to more people, ”said Espinal.

Recently, Espinal was involved in a legal dispute with the multinational Tommy Hilfiger, who objected to the registration of his brand against Indecopi and accused him of bad faith. However, the Peruvian entity failed in its favor, which allows it to maintain the property of its brand.

In the midst of this confrontation, representatives of Tommy Hilfiger offered Espinal the sum of S/20,000 to buy their brand, a proposal that was rejected by the entrepreneur. In an interview with the Republic, Espinal shared details about the process.

—Sualik Peru: What does the name mean?

–Sualik Peru comes from the name of my children, from their initials: Sugey, Alberth and Iker. It is easy that, when something is already done, some consider it simple or simple, but it is not. Nothing is as easy as it may seem. Everything requires a process, effort, time invested, nightlife and sacrifice nights.

—It is peculiar the combination of colors: how do you decide to merge all those elements?

“Since the beginning, I was clear that our Peru is recognized for the quality of your cotton.” Therefore, I decided to incorporate the word “Peru” in the name of my brand, and so it was born Sualik Peru. Then, when creating the logo, I based on the flag of my country: I visualized its structure and analyzed the colors. I didn’t want to choose them at random, so I investigated their meanings. I concluded that blue represented security, because at that time I was already sure of the name I had chosen. To confirm its authenticity, I investigated if any other company had the same name before registering it.

After defining the name, I worked on the logo, always inspired by the flag of Peru. I chose blue because it symbolizes confidence in what I was doing. Then, I added red, a color that represents the effort and sacrifice of those who work in preparation. In Gamarra, for example, many entrepreneurs have gone through difficult times, have even suffered accidents with sewing machines and cutters. However, this commercial emporium is a blessing, since it offers opportunities for all, from the most humble to the most prosperous. No other shopping center in Peru generates both employment and Gamarra.

Each element of the logo has a special meaning. In the center there is a triangle that symbolizes security. Anyway where there is a risk, a triangle is placed as a warning to avoid accidents. For me, it represents stability and protection on my entrepreneurial path. Finally, the white color expresses peace, the tranquility that I hope to achieve as my business grows and provides more opportunities to others.

“On Tommy Hilfiger: Did you know this brand?”

–Yes, I knew, of course. And I against that brand Tommy (Hilfiger) I have nothing to do, I don’t have a bad intention, because it is a large company, a giant brand. I really, for them, I am a minimum. They are very powerful. In truth, I had no intention of harming them, or way of harming them.

“How to face this process from the legal point of view?”

–It is that when I begin to do my things, that is, my logo, I already had everything, and I began to have my production, to sell to the public, that is, without patenting my brand. I like to continue doing things in order. You know, we always lack one, out there that you can grab my logo and make it patent to your name. And the long time that I have done, the sacrifice I have had, can be used.

So that’s where my brand patents. That is, my patent project was, my project I had was for three months, five maximum months, because it is the date that INDECOPI does all the procedures. And I had my projects, I already sent my labels, everything, and I had already made my labels, all those things. But in the course of that process, I got a notification here.

And well, for me it was surprising. Surprising and worrying, because you have everything done, your sacrifice of years, and a great, you know? That comes and tells you, this is happening. That you are hurting me. And really it was cold. So, but I said, this is the fight. I have fought so many years, and for that easy, that is, to stay at all, it is not so. All I did is pray to God, and I said, I put it to God first and I said, you will know what you do for me. And in the passing of the days, a friend visited me and I tell him my problem, and that friend tells me, I have a lawyer.

—At the root of that, did you decided to start the process with legal advice?

“Sure, for me, for me it was surprising, because one that I did not have silver, we did not count on money.” He goes out to pay, keep us, the entrepreneur is like that. You leave, you sell today, and tomorrow you are already paying maintenance, rentals, the service you have sewed, the garment, all that. And there was no money, then, I have no money.

Then, my friend tells him, a little sad, for the whole situation, because he even helped me with my page, and I say, this is happening, I am sad. But well, I say, God will know, then, right? And he tells me, calm, tells me, I have a lawyer. He tells him and that man, his friend, helped me. And with him I have fought until the last, until the end.

“What did you feel when you receive the proposal to buy your brand for 20,000 soles?” What happened to your mind at that time?

—When they make me that proposal, the first thing I thought is the humiliation that they want to do to a little one. The fact that you are great, this is here, when one goes to the beyond it does not take it. That’s why you can never do the damage to a little one. Someone shake hands, help me. And, with that moment, humiliate one, of so much effort that we have, in truth that, instead of discouraging me, that gave me more strength. So, I said in mind, if you offer me 20,000 soles, I know what it costs, and cost more than I am going to ask you.

“Then, can we say that if this brand (Tommy Hilfiger) now came to look for it and make a much higher proposal, wouldn’t you accept it?”

“I’m not going to sell it.” I am not going to sell my brand, at all. That is my effort, my life is my future. It may be able to understand it, those who have their brand can understand it, but some people may not. They can say, no, I give you a million. But I tell you, the money leaves, the silver ends. Instead, my brand is eternal. My brand is eternal, for my family, for all the offspring.

“What would you do or how would you keep the situation if I received a lawsuit again?”

—I always really, there is no way that I, that I have not intended to hurt anyone I do not hate anyone, I do not want to hurt anyone, I work freely, in orderly I do not hurt him to Nobody, I do not ask anyone, support me in one way and another thanks.

– After this news, which was very transcendent on social networks, what has been the support you have received from your relatives, colleagues and, as you mention, of the communities in the streets?

“I really thank everyone, all in general, all Peruvians.” (…) The message I want to tell you is Sualik Peru, not only mine. Sualik Peru is from all Peruvians, this triumph we have had in Indecopi, that we have won it, I give this to all Peruvians because in truth that Peru is beautiful, our Peru is rich, it is our national cotton, we have the best Cotton, why let us humiliate or think that we can’t get ahead with ours? We have many things. We have the best food, we have the best cotton, our Peruvians are very intelligent, we have capacities to do many things.

—A last message for all Peruvian entrepreneurs

“All my entrepreneurial colleagues and all children: what happened to me.” (…) I don’t want to be famous, I’m still the same as always, the same Tostén boy who came out of there. In life, nothing is impossible. If you set something, you will achieve it, provided you do things as they should do, without harming anyone and putting God in the first place. Do not be discouraged, everything can be in life.