COLOMBIAMODA 2018 – Colombian Fashion Week

“To be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” Coco Chanel.

Colombian Fashion Week 29th edition, and its main goal of making all of us open our eyes and learn all about Colombian’s fashion industry and its DNA, took place in Medellín this past Monday, July 23 till July 26, where the country had the pleasure of witnessing the most recent collections and fashion trends of designers such as Camilo Álvarez, Andrés Pajón and Alexandra Bueno among others. Welcoming designer Custo Barcelona, who inaugurated this year fashion week beside Arkitect, Éxito group’s textile brand, offering both a fashion and home décor collection; type of collaboration which we’ve seen recently between the music and fashion industry like for exampla Diesel & Moroso and the designer Raf Simons & Kvadrat.

Here are some of the most innovative, creative and Colombian representative catwalks and fashion trends.

‘Pan y Canela’, by Alexandra Bueno was the first non-stop fashion catwalk, during Colombiamoda 2018. All looks induced summer fresh vibes to the runway with outfits made out of gingham checks and picnic – type printed fabrics seen in garments, accessories and footwear, denim shrugs and fanny packs worn as main accessories. When it came to bold menswear pieces and striking accessories, Miclott’s collection, ‘Unfold Miclott’ shocked all attendees and press by presenting a Texan – urban inspired runway with cowboy boots – essential Summer 2018 fashion trend – that represented the brand’s DNA: a revolutionary, free and contemporary man.

Using fashion as a spokesperson against female violence, SOY, María Luisa Ortiz and Diego Guarnizo’s fashion brand returned to Colombiamoda with their collection, Purificación. Alongside Colombian singer, Andrés Cepeda and the AVON foundation, the catwalk presented current fashion trends, feminine empowerment messages, a colorful styling that highlighted the differentiating features of each model and graphic prints. One clear purpose that the fashion industry has had in mind throughout time is that fashion show’s main goal is to convey a clear message that reaches everyone.

During Colombia’s Fashion Week, ALADO used human exile as his own personal message by telling the stories of those involved in this worldwide issue through the medium of a collection that praised artisans and farmer’s handmade abilities in the fashion industry, seen in weaved fabrics, natural based supplies and spectacular earthy tones.

Fashion week’s first day ended with Andrea Landa’s splendid collection based on the latest leather fashion trends and techniques during the Chevrolet Fashion Night, plus the collaboration of artist and singer J Balvin with fashion brand Gef in an sportswear collection. As we have seen on international stages, artists from the musical industry have joined forces with fashion as Beyonce & Topshop, Gwen Stefani & L.A.M.B, and Pharell Williams & G-STAR, among others did.

One of  Colombian’s fashion week main characteristic this year was the immersive growth of brands and designers presenting Colombian – made fashion trends products. Cubel sustained this by using extraordinary handmade jewels as main accessory which complemented the almost all – leather looks ; as seen in the autumn – winter18/19 Prada and Beluti runways,  where their leather pieces had an effortless, delicate language instead of a strong affirmation.

The Colegiatura University catwalk has always been one of the all – time most anticipated ones during the fair and this year wasn’t the exception for sure. This time, 16 creative designers and students presented their collections based on recent fashion trends and their ‘Original Profile’ as main topic. Among those who stood out, Alejandro Jaramillo, Lina Gómez and Paula Arias presented fabulous fashion forward outfits based on the latest, most innovative weaving techniques, illustration as a main textile and sportswear proposals.

Having Épica: the Ministry of Economic Development of Medellin’s Mayor’s Office paired with Inexmoda program – which consolidates more structured, innovative, competitive and profitable companies – present this year in Colombiamoda, Lugó Lugó’s catwalk, which used Juan Santiago Gallego’s gastronomy as one of their main inspiration, presented the most current fashion trends in suits.

Having both men and female looks for the first time, the twins showed a fun, colorful and modern collection that included printed animal linings suits as well as beachwear & kids wear clothes. One of the pioneers in the ‘fashion inspired by food’ industry was the designer Elsa Schiapparelli with her iconic “Lobster Dress” in her 1937summer collection.

“Humanity does not need more chefs with Michelin stars. The voids and vanities of this world are reflected in chefs and dishes that take advantage of concepts without contributing anything. On the contrary, he needs chefs who, through their kitchens, change ways of thinking, who dare to work with social and environmental problems “Juan Santiago Gallego.

Andres Pajón bedazzled everyone with his magical ‘Creatures’, catwalk in the city of Medellin with which he closed fashion week’s second day, where beside colorful and fluid prêt-à-porter looks, wedding handmade – detailed dresses where also included in the runway with the elegance that has always characterized the designer.

During Colombiamoda’s 2018 last day, we had the pleasure of seeing  Bahía María Swimwear feminine, beachwear fashion trends – inspired swimsuits during the Non Stop catwalk, in addition to, Inés Bellorez latest bag proposals which they all included graphic elements. Fashion and lifestyle magazine FUCSIA annual ‘Wanted designer’ competition in collaboration with Finesse, presented its exceptional talented winner Manuela Peña’s collection ÜIO, of her brand Religare. Inspired by the anaconda, nature itself  and an earthy autumnal color palette she presented a variety of organic supplies, unstructured silhouettes looks and hand – woven accessories through which she demonstrated how Colombian’s fashion industry can be a sustainable one.

“There is no better designer than nature”, Alexander McQueen.

One of the most current worldwide fashion trends is the use of comics or animated characters in fashion collections. Isabel Caviedes demonstrated to be synchronized with this influence by presenting her neon – colored collection, EDES next to ‘Mickey The True Original’. By means of loose sports clothes and graphic prints she reinvented and brought Disney’s main figure to the actual fashion industry. This catwalk reminded us of some fashion projects such as Converse Chuck Taylor model annexed to the superheroes of DC Comics, Superga with the iconic Colette store, Tom Ford in his collection Fall / Winter 2013 and Jeremy Scott in 2014.

During Colombiamoda’s 2018 third and last day , Chevrolet’s Fashion Night gave us the opportunity of being part of designer Camilo Álvarez creative reinvention beside his collection ‘Fortuna’. After having seen so much creativity in clothes, accessories, leather goods and footwear during these days in which Colombia proved to be a strong fashion pillar, we daydreamed during the last fashion show of Colombia’s fashion week alongside Isabel Henao. She’s known as one of the strongest designers in terms of elegance, always presenting runway shows with perfect composition between music and scenario, the importance of highlighting and empowering women through femininity and always displaying the best wedding dresses designs; the ‘Sound of the Wind’ opened our eyes to Colombia’s talented, fashion forward industry.

Accessories seen during Colombiamoda 2018 catwalks