A Journey Through Colombian Biodiversity
When I first started conceptualizing andi, I was deeply moved by the beauty and diversity of the natural world around me. Growing up in Colombia, one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, I was constantly surrounded by nature’s abundance, yet I hadn’t noticed the queer potential it held until I began researching for andi.
This realization became vivid in my childhood backyard in Barranquilla, on the Caribbean coast, where a soursop tree grew. Its spiky, bold fruit revealed an unconventional and striking beauty that was impossible to overlook. Its flowers shift from female to male over time, expressing duality and adaptability, refusing to be confined to a single form. I didn't know it at the time, but through this tree I first glimpsed the queerness that would later guide my approach to andi.
As I explored further, I discovered that other Colombian symbols also embody queer identity, such as the wax palm, where some individuals can be trans, and the orchid, with intersex flowers. Living among this natural queerness became the foundation of my brand, inspiring me to celebrate diversity and affirm queer identities in every design. Queerness is not an anomaly — it is natural, abundant, and resilient.
This understanding shaped the philosophy of andi. I wanted a brand that honored authenticity, sustainability, and empowerment. Each choice, from silhouettes to colors, reflects the adaptability and vitality I observed in the soursop tree and the wider natural world around me. Through andi, I aim to create spaces where everyone feels seen and free to express themselves without compromise.
Reflecting on these encounters, I realized that andi’s story is inseparable from the story of nature itself. Celebrating queer identity is celebrating life in all its richness, complexity, and beauty. Just as ecosystems thrive through diversity, so do our human expressions. Queer identity is not separate from nature; it is a natural, essential, and beautiful part of it.
Ultimately, this is more than a brand story. It is a manifesto, a reminder, and an invitation: to feel seen, embrace fluidity, and recognize that the spectrum of identities we inhabit is mirrored in the world around us. andi exists because nature is queer, and because queer identity is natural.
— Andy