Fashion weeks in Latin America are back in person and Costa Rica Fashion Week just closed its 20th edition . Karina Díaz, its director, has summarized the event as "a platform for designers to make themselves known not only locally, but internationally", while Claudia Dobles, the First Lady of Costa Rica, commented that "The CRFW has seemed spectacular and above all the waste of talent from this country and Latin America with the designers present”. They both got it right, and to confirm it, here are the top five things you need to know about the event.

the catwalks

Presentations included Mario Barboza, with a proposal that highlighted garments made with recyclable materials and scrap leather, predominant in his work. Linda Liz, presented versatile pieces made with ecological fabrics. Marianela Sandí, from Sastrería Triana, went sartorial with an accent on colour.

The second day saw Paula Cerdas on the catwalk with her brand Pertimento and an excellent collection made of reused denim.

For the closing day, Amag by Nolys was included, which also emphasized sustainability and floral prints for the "Resilience" collection.

The showstopper was Mauricio Cruz, with a conceptually very structured proposal to celebrate the LGBTQI community : “Queerness”. His expressive resources encompassed materials, color, shapes and, above all, theatricality, but all in a coherent way.

 

popup design

An important space was dedicated to design students. The Marangoni Institute put 6 designers on the catwalk with mini capsules of three looks each. Young people from the Creative University of Costa Rica also participated , with inspiring samples of the way in which they are shaping their creative personality.

International Guests

In the Latin American fashion weeks, a space is always reserved for international guests, who come to show their most recent work to the public that attends physically. After the 2020 “break”, this section of Costa Rica Fashion Week was especially well received this time . Pepa Pombo, Lina Cantillo, Beatriz Camacho, Carlo Carrizosa, from Colombia; the brand Isla & White and Giannina Azzar, from the Dominican Republic; the firm Maison Mesa. Angel Schlesser and Duly Romero, from Spain; Chilean Loraine Holmes and Jessica Butrich, from Peru; they were the international designers who showed up during the CRFW days.

A venue with history

The architectural complex known as La Antigua Aduana de San José, with structures built between 1883 and 1891, was the site of Costa Rica Fashion Week . This super special space and Cultural Heritage, is the first time that it hosts an event of this type. The production work, from the use of space to the lighting, was memorable, and everyone in attendance felt they were part of a new chapter in the city's history, told by its architecture, its art and, above all, its fashion.

January 25, 2023 — LINDA DIAZ