THE COLOMBIAMODA DIARIES, DAY 3: JULY 25TH, 2024

All images used in this article are courtesy of Inexmoda.

COLECTIVO VALLECAUCANO – MAR DE GEA AND ZORRO GRIS

The Colectivo Vallecaucano (“Valle del Cauca’s Collective” in Spanish), formed by four independent brands from the Valle del Cauca department in south west Colombia, held their runway show on the last day of Colombiamoda with different collections, ranging from streetwear to swimwear and avant garde from a local point of view. This time, i was lucky to watch the show from the backstage and see all clothes up close and in person, with a level of detail that is rarely available from the public’s position. To me, the brands that stood out the most in this show were Mar de Gea and Zorro Gris.

Swimwear brand Mar de Gea (“Gea’s sea” in Spanish) is a sustainable and socially conscious fashion project: all fabrics used in its manufacturing process are made out of recycled nylon and plastics, sizing is inclusive of all body types, concepts in every collection are based on different aspects of the local cultura, and the founder and designer of this brand is an Afrocolombian woman named Kelly.

Mar de Gea’s collection for this show was called “Silleteras” and was inspired by florist women from the region of Antioquia. However, flowery hues were rather rare in this collection, instead there was an abundance of earth tones and prints in primary colors (copper red, yellow, blue, black and white) that depicted local mountains, trees and animals. High waisted bikinis and loungewear, asymmetrical robes and XXL gold jewelry were the key items of the collection, that in just a few outfits perfectly showcased the brand’s ability to think outside of the box and a tremendous potential to become a trendsetter in the swimwear market.

Next, Zorro Gris (“Grey Fox” in Spanish) showcased their latest collection, after critical and commercial success in other national fashion events such as Distrito Moda and Bogotá Fashion Week. In line with their DNA as a brand (with inclusive sizing and completely genderless concepts), what was presented in Colombiamoda was a collection in a minimal set of hues (pastel yellow, grey, black and white with some monochrome prints of pictures of models wearing past collections) and reinterpretations of classic silhouettes, such as traditionally cut shirts, jackets and trench coats in oversized proportions.

The accesories for this show were also minimal: some black necklaces with wood pendants and headscarves, bringing all the attention to the clothes on the runway. The collection was masterfully executed and is a sample of the latest avant garde trends in the local industry, which has been getting more traction in last seasons with more creators and enthusiasts alike, and that recreates this way of making fashion for tropical settings. It’s not an easy task to wear full black while it’s 30 degrees outside, but Zorro Gris makes it possible and undeniably cool.

MIA MULATTA – CATEDRALES DE ARENA

Mia Mulatta, a brand of casual wear for women based in Cúcuta, presented the runway show of their latest collection “Catedrales de Arenas” (“Sand cathedrals” in Spanish), inspired by the desert areas of North Santander. Therefore, earthy hues were abundant in these works, along with sky blue, raw white and black, in light fabrics such as linen and silk. Makeup and hairstyles worn by the models followed the very popular and subtle clean girl aesthetic popularized by TikTok, and accessories were also minimal, with just a few XXL belts and bracelets, and low heeled or flat sandals.

This was a simple, discreet and minimalistic collection with excellent attention to detail like deep v-cut necklines, high and tight waistlines, and mostly monochrome outfits except for a few looks that combined colors in the same palette. A very high quality range of looks with impeccable finishings that works perfectly for both spring-summer and cruise seasons.

GUZO ATELIER – PANAGUÁ

Last but not least, my personal favorite out of all the runway shows that I was fortunate to watch during Colombiamoda 2024: “Panaguá”, Bogotá-based Guzo Atelier’s release for spring-summer 2025. This collection was inspired by the aesthetics of the indigenous tribes located on the shores of the Sinú river, one of the main water sources of northern Colombia. The soundtrack to this show was a mix of vallenato and cumbia that are quintessential to the region’s culture, made by Bogotá dj Dziv, which not only matched the clothes perfectly but was very well received by the audience. In other words, the place almost turned into a party and multiple people were dancing on their seats (myself included).

Guzo Atelier used iconic elements of northern Colombian culture, such as hammocks, vueltiao hats and cave paintings by the Zenú tribe, and added them with outstanding originality and intelligence to the collection. Shirts, blouses and pants in light rose with prints of indigenous iconography in sky blue and copper orange, skirts made of wicker that mimicked the vueltiao hat, tops and details in other garments that looked like the nets used by fishermen on the Sinú river, hammocks and baskets used as hats and bags: in a few words, the cosmovision of the people of the watersheds modernized and turned into the most sophisticated fashion, perfectly adapted to contemporary users, that works for multiple settings in warm climates.

The Zenú people placed capital importance to their wicker handicrafts, as they thought the universe was a huge basket in this fiber than contained all living creatures inside of itself. In the same manner, Guzo Atelier has created its own refined universe, full of small but meaningful details, as authentic as the wicker universe on the shores of the Sinú river.