Like the dandyish time-traveling protagonists of a adventure novel, RiO fashion week shared themes of lust, passion, tropicalia and style…just like its streets.
Rio is the city where poverty and wealthiness share the same beach and neighborhood. It’s the hot spot for surf and beautiful woman. One day I heard a friend saying “Oh My God, I’ve never seen so many sculptural woman in my life…all at one place..and all looking like Giselle (Bunchen)”. I first taught that was funny, but really…it’s pretty much like that. Just listen to “The Girl from Ipanema” from Jobim and imagine yourself delighted with beauty. It’s unsurprisingly that Fashion Week in RiO is seductive and explore different cultures with accurate eyes.
The runways started June 7th and is ended Thursday June12th (on Valentine’s day in Brazil).
RiO hits the edge, and Sao Paulo Fashion Week comes next in the Calendar!!!! Tomorrow is the first day! Followed with an explosion of brazilian beauty-fashion-trends. Can’t wait to tell you what we most loved!
So, The House is over. Or should I say it’s just the beginning?!….New designers proved to themselves and the international audience that they are here and HOT .
They’re out there and hiting my inner self, and all I wanted to do was to be out there, see what they do…and what it takes.
They had Red Bull Music Academy for the especial guests, forming an arena with indie musicians and Djs. Sweet aham. This academy attends events all over the world, including the famous Best-Party zones like Amsterdam and Barcelona, giving fresh perspectives on music and sound in general.
After 10 years of hard work, upcoming designers have set The House of Creators on the Brazil’s fashion calendar. As they say… pictures ( well video here ) are worth more than words , so ….watch this video from the Project lab featuring six new designers: João Elias, Tony Jr., Márya Nasser, Der Metropol, Clarissa Lorenz and R. Rosner.
Fashion and art meet again at this beautiful rainy day at The HOUSE fashion show.
These were my picks…and I have to tell you, it was difficult to choose amongst all the talent. Their pieces were for those twenty-something girls/boys who wants to go straight to the night/gallery/party …after their work ( how else could they afford these gems?). Enjoy!
P’TIT
P’tit was like writing songs, poetry or taking photographs. Simply a delightful dream. Dresses and skirts with a strong point, patchwork, detailed by hand, and an indie inspiration came along with good spirits. It was not about being cooler, it was about being themselves.
JOAO PIMENTA
Joao did almost the impossible. Transformed men’s wear in something fun, edgy and sophisticated… but not gay. I would say there’s a touch of “My lady, I’m going on a hunt and I’ll meet you at the ball” and it worked!!! The tricolor suit was my favorite piece. Waist bands, reds and caquis were the trendy spots that I’m sure will be around the run-ways to come. They are the kind of wear-with-everything pieces. That will be certainly coveted by vintage collectors. I loved it!
ADD (Attention Deaf Disorder)
ADD showed what’s on the smart/funky/intelectual brazilians wardrobe at the moment. Very casual and comercial they immediately spoke to us. Bands and artists love the look. If you’re lucky enough, one day, you’ll meet one of them. Head bands, loose bags, shorts, tons of dirty looks, tie-dyes and tropicalism.
DIVA
And to finish my Day Two post….DIVA. The divas of our times cannot skip this one. It’s the fusion of vintage with pop art. Is that possible?…yes mi diva. Flowers and more flowers filled the show with harmony and beauty. Very comercial and boldly colored.
Forget what you think you know about fashion world and especially if you associations involve Hollywood-super-star + New-York-street-wear, and prepare for a refreshing look by some of my favorites designers from Day One of “The House”.
A new generation of design setters. Here I present my favorites looks from Day One!
They bring something decidedly funky and fresh. They are making clothing for men and woman who don’t take them too seriously. By doing that life seems like a piece of delicious chocolate.
GUSTAVO SILVESTRE
His mix of hippie-chic timeless, as well as functional basis…creates an ideal backdrop for Sao Paulo’s street wear.
TODI COFUSI
Surrounded by animated figures, Todi Cofusi’s designers played around with colors, compositions, layers and mix cultures. I found myself going to a dream party.
WALERIO ARAUJO
Walerio carnavalesque’s show brought his character live. He moved to Sao Paulo and began his career designing wedding dresses. Now designing for the House and exclusive celebrities, as well for drag queens at night scenes in Sao Paulo capital. Animalesques figures take forms of Goddess’s beauty…a vibe of Phanteism.
Two more days for The House of Creators to end…and I’ll pick our favorites for your delight.
Sao Paulo used to remind me of everything bad about a modern-mega-city ; Up to 20 million people live in its hectic and gridlocked streets! Then, a few years ago something happened…and kept happening, the first boutique hotel opened, Fashion week began to make waves around the world, and don’t forget about the boom in restaurants, shops, nightclubs, galleries and museums. All of a sudden, Sao Paulo was the most culturally exciting place in Brazil. There’s so much to see and taste and share. The streets are as trendy as New York city’s.
Also, Minister of Culture/singer Gilberto Gil announced the government’s new dedication to pushing fashion in Brazil, which will affirm the country’s up and coming designers as bona fide resources.
On the runways of 2007, plaid and flannel were staples. A variety of prints and strategically placed ruffles made everything more interesting too. When it comes to size, trouser pants and other high waisted bottoms, like in the U.S., were responses to the skinny movement, and dresses and skirts took on all lengths.
Next stop is “Casa de Criadores” (House of Creators) that presents upcoming new designers to this world. Most of them still fashion students or first time collections. Some are presented by designers that already established their spots in the fashion world. I’ll be following their runways and select a few categories that I liked best. The House of Creators begins May 28th and goes for three days non-stop. Puma got to pick the music director…for all the runways, followed by a Lounge set to blow minds. The electronic underground scene is all ready to save their sits and enjoy the view. They’ll also have a Lab Project designed to fist-time cat walk designers. Paulo Elias, Marya Nasser, Der Metropol are a few of them. Out of the runways, there will have a space dedicated to music, sort of a mini-festival by upcoming local musicians. I can’t wait to tell you what’s on their minds and bodies, so stay posted and check back as I report on this big event in the next week or 2. All will be located at Shopping Frei Caneca, one the most trendy neighborhoods in the capital and if you’re around…it’s a must see.
Check out this video from when I was a fashion student 2 years ago and attending this event in its infancy. It’s polemic, social conscious and a beautiful event. This years is sure to show Brazil’s growth as a fashion house and I will post videos as soon as I get my hands on some good feeds.
So, check us back to find out more about The House.
We all have our defining moments when one can no longer ignore the world’s larger problems.
Here we focus on fashion designers and artists who are trying other options in textiles and production.
Honestly, I’ve been trying myself to meld my artistic expression with the environmental , but as Philip Lim said “It’s not going to change overnight…but , at least I can try to reduce what I’ve done”.
So here are our picks on going green…designers from this Latin World choosing organics and recycled products.
Nº01
Tee from Mocuin, crafted from Hemp
Hemp – from the cannabis family, hemp can be used instead of cotton to make clothes. Hemp grows easily without heavy use of chemicals and is not as harsh on the soil as cotton. It needs less water than cotton to grow but it does take more energy to process and can involve chemicals. As it’s anti-bacterial, you don’t need to wash hemp clothes as often as cotton ones – better for the environment.
Nº02
Santaconstancia on eco-friendly textiles
This brazilian textile company launches the Take Urucum Care – fabric in bamboo fiber and dyed with “Urucum” .The urucum has long been used by natives to make body paint, especially for the lips, which is the origin of the plant’s nickname, lipstick tree. The inedible fruit is harvested for its seeds. Fashion Designers like Simone Nunes and Erika Ikezili presented their collections based on santaconstancia’s textiles.
Nº03
Argentinian designer Martin Corujo…el Verde
These lamps are made by designer Martín Corujo with recycled material. They are old lamps , re touched and new again … giving old thrown away products a new re incarnated life. Found in Buenos Aires at Puro Diseño fair. The fair is a Must-see in the argentine design world and brings emerging talents in design, arts and culture. It happens from March-April every year. So, if you’re around…run mi amigo! They have more than 200 exhibitions and around 37.000 visitors.
“Os Gemeos”, the Brazilian brothers whose murals and characters have become world famous in the so called street art world are planning on going BIG on a castle in Scotland.
“The twins” are from São Paulo, Brazil. They started to paint in 1987. They do a magazine, called Fiz, that reflects the graffiti and many other art forms from all the South American cities and their next step is put out a website for graffiti artists. They always paint together — the characters, background and letters. Sometimes, on some murals they divide the piece so that one completes what the other one starts. They materialize their thoughts and silence.
At first they were the same as the others, painting b-boys and generally staying close to the themes in hip hop culture. As time passed, naturally things changed. They never forgot the roots, but decided to go their own way.
Something that has been created with no intention of being sold will always be inspiring.
This is just the start. We can’t change the world overnight, but something is better than nothing. There’s no denying that fashion can be fickle. Trends come and go, countless new designers shine for a while before sadly disappearing. What was in favor this Spring may not get through Summer. What we want to exchange with you is South American style. we want you to know how to “Summer-rise” your world. Let’s exchange streets, night life, music, fashion designers. The first time I came to United States was also the first time I left South America. I was traveling with my best friend and we went to great memorizing streets and places, speaking only when necessary to hide our Latin accents. I couldn’t help noticing that the South American passengers looked comfortable in knee-high leather boots and fitted sweaters, while the American travelers decided that the only way to do a red-eye was in their pajamas, or some version of it. Some cultures take fashion more seriously, the Frenches and Brits are winners. But when we talk about style, identity, comfort and beauty OH…and not forgetting beautiful sunshine…South America is a blend of all these.
Most women will admit to having a subversive side. But at the end of the day very few can deny that we love to wear something uncompromisingly pretty. You’ll find out what’s out on streets of São Paulo and Buenos Aires that inspires me so much. And delight yourself with those Latin beats.
We are B’aires…a dynamic collection of South American designers, founded to explore the South through a different perspective and bring to America support and inspiration…and beauty.
Let’s refuse to be boring, chiefly because we are not boring.
