THE COLOMBIAMODA DIARIES, DAY TWO: JULY 24TH 2024

JÓVENES CREADORES: RE-EVOLUCIÓN – COLEGIATURA DE MEDELLÍN

All images of this runway show are a courtesy of Inexmoda.

Falling in line with Colombiamoda’s policy of giving students spaces to show their creations, the event’s second day held the collective runway show for the alumni of the Colegiatura de Medellín design school. During the “Re-evolución” (“Re-evolution” in Spanish) fashion design, graphic design and communication professionals formed a team to offer an experience where experimental looks made with techniques and materials that pushed garments to new limits were the norm, rather than the exception.

My personal picks were the works of:

·       Ana Sofía Morales: two dresses made in fabrics dyed with artisanal techniques, stitched in 3D, geometrical patterns and mixed with asymmetrical silhouettes for a soft, feminine yet very contemporary result. They reminded me to the trademarked pleats that Issey Miyake is known for experimenting with.

·       Catira Vargas: two pieces made in raw white and black cotton, nylon and leather strings, woven together in four stranded braids with traditional techniques from Boyacá, in fringed garments that accentuated the natural curves of the female body. I particularly liked the handmade aspect of the pieces to give them an artisanal touch and the minimal hues used in this collection.

·       Camila Duarte: three looks (all dresses: white with short sleeves, grey with asymmetrical sleeves, black with long sleeves) completely made in plastic straps and accessorized only with plastic flat ankle boots. A collection with a certain dystopian, cyberpunk sensibility that put sustainability and the use of materials beyond fabrics to the Forefront of the current fashion conversation. The references to some of Rei Kawakubo’s most risqué designs were as clear as they were refreshing.The references to some of Rei Kawakubo’s most risqué designs were as clear as they were refreshing.

Y DESPERTÉ EN LA HABANA (AND I WOKE UP IN HAVANA) - BRONZINI X BEATRIZ CAMACHO

All images of this runway show are a courtesy of Inexmoda.

The runway show to introduce this collaboration between swimwear and loungewear Bronzini and Cartagena native Beatriz Camacho, who has been a household name in the local fashion industry for decades, had a fun and party-like environment: a decoration made mostly of fake palm trees, chess-patterned tile floors and a purely Cuban soundtrack that brought to mind the Caribbean cities that served as the main inspiration behind this collection.

Matching the tropical setting of the show, the most noticeable motifs throughout the entire collection were pineapples, printed in many of the clothes in different colors, such as burgundy, light blue, khaki green, rosewood and brick red, along with classics such as black, white and different nude shades to match all skin tones. Bralette bikinis, single-strapped one-piece swimsuits, slightly masculine pajamas with short pants and bucket hats were abundantly seen on the runway, as well as maximalist tropical prints and vertical stripes.

HECHOS DE MAÍZ – LA PETITE MORT STUDIO

All images of this exhibition are a courtesy of La Petite Mort Studio's official Instagram (@lapetitemortstudio).

Antioquia based brand La Petite Mort Studio, which specializes in menswear and tailoring, had the exhibition of their AW 2024 collection called “Hechos de Maíz” (“Made out of corn” in Spanish) on the basement floor of Click Clack hotel in El Poblado. This collection is based on the designer duo’s trips all over Colombia and on corn, which is a pillar of Latin American culture and cuisine.

Just like corn cobs are protected by green leaves that must be peeled off to find their grains, the tailored suits of La Petite Mort Studio for this season have multiple layers of blazers, vests and shirts in raw white, light green and sand yellow. Corn grains and stems embroidered in light yellow over black denim and drape, impeccable stitching and straight cuts were displayed in a pitch-dark scenery and surrounded by soft lighting that made the pieces stand out even more. Screens on the exhibition showed videos of diverse Colombian landscapes, and corn cobs in all colors and shapes decorated the place tastefully.

While being out of the official Colombiamoda 2024 schedule, this exhibition was one of the pinnacle moments of this fair, at least for me. It is undeniable that runway shows, workshops, business meetings and similar events are essential to the industry, but they don’t necessarily give the audience a chance to get to know the reasons behind a collection’s concept in depth, nor to see the clothes up close to understand every detail of their making process. Being able to see all this background in the flesh was a priceless, even touching experience, through which the tremendous meaning behind this collection was not only seen, but felt, as well as all the passion, dedication and love that it was made with. Made, just like us, out of corn.