10 Latin American Fashion Designers You Must Know

In 2022, the terms ‘Latin American’ and ‘Latino’ is less a statement about where you live and more about Latin heritage, the DNA of your upbringing. Indeed, the term ‘Latinx’ from the LGBTQ sphere has been championed as a more inclusive term encompassing individuals in the international diaspora of Latin American descent as well as Latin American people, and both the cultural and ethnic nuances of the heritage. At the helm of Hispanic clothing design are individuals like Manolo Blahnik, Carolina Herrera, and Oscar de la Renta – who paved the way for Latino designers in America to share their culture. Here are 10 up-and-coming Latinx fashion designers of Latin America and the diaspora making their mark in their own home countries in South America, Mexico, and around the world.

Bahía María Swimwear

 Bahía María comes from the word ‘bay’ and the founder’s name, representing a mingling of elements highlighted in the idea that their luxe swimwear pieces are meant to be transitional looks that take a woman from day to night, beach to city. Designed and manufactured locally in Colombia, the versatile bikini tops, bikini bottoms, and dreamy resort wear collection have strong art deco influence and take inspiration from nature for their design and materials: think seashell bra cups, glossy sea pearls, and gauzy, shimmery tops and skirts that emulate the liquid look of wet seaweed embracing your curves. Hello, mermaid vibes?

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La Garzetta

La Garzetta is another fashion brand focused on swimwear formed in Colombia, which is bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, a country understandably rife with beaches and resorts. Founded by Bogotá natives and female duo Chantal Sefair and Isabella Moreno, the goal is minimalist bikinis and vacation wear crafted to make you feel like you’re wearing almost nothing so you can move freely. This is embodied in the words that drive all their designs: ‘classy’ and ‘sexy’, with high quality materials that move with every woman’s body and silhouettes cut to leave minimal awkward tan lines. La Garzetta is truly for the sun babies who spend more time on the beach than off it.

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AzulSelva

 Hispanic clothing designer Catherine Padilla is the soul behind Azul Selva, a Latinx clothing brand with pieces that are meant to act as the closet for your wanderlust summer exploring the streets of South America. Her collections range from dresses and beach cover-ups to swimsuits and matching sets of bikini tops and ruffled skirts, all inspired by the hues and textures of nature: ocean water jewel blue, white sand beaches, palm leaves, the rolling green hills of Venezuela (where Padilla hails from). Azul Selva (meaning “blue jungle”) is also effecting change in Colombia where its garments are made, by hiring hands from the community to boost the local economy and using the best ethically sourced fabrics.

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Oropendola

Named after the yellow-breasted blackbird found in South and Central America that is called a ‘master weaver’ species for their woven, teardrop-shaped nests that hover tens of meters from the ground, Oropendola is a Latinx designer brand that specializes in avant-garde handwoven knitwear and accessories. Oropendola employs local weavers from Medellín, Colombia who are trained in ancestral macramé and knotting techniques. This heritage identity of the local culture, combined with Creative Director Carolina Vélez’s contemporary designs, uplift the craftsmen and tell the story of their handiwork. The macramé dresses, necklaces, and tops can be summed up in the words ‘futuristic’ and ‘elevated’.

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Aquamanile

Latin American luxury swimwear brand Aquamanile uses heat sealing technology to fabricate their seamless swimsuit collection, which seem to just effortlessly hug the body without budging in the face of strong waves. The aquamanile was a medieval water vessel (often shaped into a lion or other fantastical beast shape) that priests would use to wash their hands in the process of performing the Eucharist; the name is taken from the Latin words aqua (water) and manus (hand). Indeed, Aquamanile’s neoclassical-inspired swimsuits and holiday-ready pieces embody the best of strength and fluidity with their bold colours and sensual silhouettes that celebrate the female body.

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