Latin America’s foremost fashion event Colombiamoda kicks off Monday night in Medellin’s Plaza Mayor, promising renewed focus on the country’s native talent.
The three-day event brings together designers, students, businessmen and over 1000 international buyers to increase the global profile of Colombia’s capital of fashion.
The continent’s largest fashion trade-show is now in its 21st year and organizers Proexport have promised that this year’s event will see a return to the country’s wealth of home design talent;
“We’ve learnt from past mistakes and because of this, [Colombiamoda] 2010 will be more mature, more focussed towards business and new markets for Colombian products” said the investment company’s executive director Carlos Eduardo Botero
As such, only one of the 73 designers showcasing their deigns on 23 catwalks throughout the three-day event will be a foreigner, Mexico’s Alejandro Carlin.
Proceedings will be kicked off Monday evening by style ingenue Esteban Cortazar, who was drafted in to head the design team at Emanuel Ungaro aged 23. High fashion favorites like Silvia Tcherassi, Isabel Henao and Beatriz Camachao are also expected to debut their latest collections throughout the three days.
The city’s Mayor, in conjunction with Medellin’s Chamber of Commerce will also be holding a series of business conferences devoted to the theme of “creative transformation” featuring industry names like Vogue’s Latin America editor, Eva Hughes.
In celebration of its 100th birthday, TIME magazine will be sponsoring a special runway show on Wednesday July 28. The TIME-Nivea catwalk will feature creations by young Colombian designers inspired by each decade the magazine has been in operation. The magazine will also launch its limited edition centennial T-shirt, designed by Daniel Hoyos.
Alongside the daily runway shows, visitors will have the chance to check out exhibition showing everything from pret-a-porter to haute couture as well as leather goods, footwear and jewelry. The event lasts until July 30.
For further information about programming see Colombiamoda’s official website.