Ilbert J Sanchez

Friday night , The People’s Gala by @shopfedu was beyond anything I could have imagined. It takes a lot of vulnerability to put your dreams and passions on display and hope they resonate with people. For nine years I’ve been giving my all to this every single day, trusting that people would believe in me enough to support me, show up for me, and grow with me. From someone hitting a like button, or commenting on one of my designs, to actually making an appointment and letting me design something for them, all of it helps support my dream and means so much to me. If you were there to celebrate Fedú, you were also celebrating me. This brand is my heart, my culture, my journey, and your love and support is something I cherish and never take lightly. You all made my birthday truly beautiful.

Thank you to every single person who took the time to get dressed, who came from near and far, who showed up during a holiday week, and who pushed through whatever you might be dealing with at home or personally. I don’t take any of that for granted.

To the chefs who cooked with love, the bartenders who kept the energy flowing, the vendors who brought the vision to life, the decor team who transformed the space, the sponsors that trusted in our vision and the entire operations staff that held it all together, thank you. I appreciate you more than you know.

And thank you for all of the birthday posts, the calls, and the text messages. My apologies if I haven’t been able to call or text back yet. Bear with me, I feel the love deeply.

This night was for the culture, for the community, and for the people. Thank you for celebrating with me. I’ll never forget it.

Year 10 is next……… 👀