On Cinco de Mayo, 7 Mexican Fashion Brands to Shop Now
This Cinco de Mayo consider ditching cliches of Mexican culture and instead investing in exciting new brands that are emerging south of the border. In the last few seasons, Mexican designers have come into their own, creating chic, modern pieces that also retain the artisanal flair that the culture is known for. “I think in Mexico we are all about the color, rich textures, super feminine,” says Kris Goyri, one of the more well-known of the designers on the rise. While Americans sometimes shy away from a bright hue, with the rise of pink for spring and red for fall, there’s never been a better time to try something new. For those of us who can’t make it to Mexico City to shop the latest styles, head to Cooperativashop.com, a well-curated offering of ready-to-wear and jewelry that specializes in Latin American designers. Shop seven on-the-rise Mexican fashion designers, now.
1
Kris Goyri
What style does your customer love?
My client generally likes to mix a very feminine, romantic style with a bit of a neutral and clean vibe. I think it’s all about the shoulders, either bare shoulders or big volumes cascading from the shoulder—it is what every women craves.
What is the main difference between Mexican and American clients?
I really think Americans are very loyal to well established brands—they like easy, simple, clean, classic and to have fun with some alternative pieces. I think in Mexico we are all about the color, rich textures, super feminine. Me in particular, I love to offer beautiful color contrasts, amazing materials, easy-to-mix pieces and a mix of sexy, classy and super feminine.
Has there been a favorite moment since you launched?
I always shout with happiness when I see girls like Olivia Palermo, Miranda Kerr, Hillary Rhoda, Coco Rocha, Alessandra Ambrosio and Candice Swanepoel wearing my dresses.
Photo courtesy Kris Goyri.
2
__Designers Angelica Tovar and Daniela Garza of Les Filles Du Nord
Why did you decide to go into designing RTW?__
Daniela, who loves beachwear and Angelica, who is fond of casual wear, decided to combine both things in a 100 percent made-in-México line. We saw a gap in Mexican design, which hardly offers beach and loungewear.
When did you feel the label was on the right track?
When we launched Les Filles du Nord we were focusing mainly on exports. We didn’t expect such a good response from Latin clients by offering beachwear with Mexican details. Also, we noticed we were on the right track when all of our fabrics and production were made in Mexico and our clothes could be sold at accessible prices even though our country has been dealing with currency fluctuations.
Has there been a favorite moment since you launched?
Our brand is young, so still many small moments are special for us. One in particular has been when we got invited to sell on an American website, cooperativashop.com, along with well-known designers.
Photo courtesy Les Filles Du Nord.
3
__Lorena Saravia
How did you get your start in fashion?__
Since early on in my childhood, I was exposed to the art of sewing. Not only did my grandmother used to make me dresses, but also I was fortunate enough to have five aunts who taught me to use a sewing machine at a very young age. Later on in high school I had to do an internship, and luckily I secured a spot in Macario Jimenez’s company (one of the best Mexican designers of the time), who quickly became a mentor that influenced my decision to study fashion abroad in Barcelona.
What style do you find is still popular with your customer?
Dresses and skirts that are short in the front, and long at the back are becoming a trademark. Customers are finding my designs sophisticated and simplistic which is a combination not so easy to find in Mexico.
What is the main difference between Mexican and American clients?
Sometimes American clients think of Mexican brands as always being ethnical and are not used to contemporary apparel fashion labels based in Mexico. Our brand offers silk and leather goods with very innovative, clean designs that others outside of Mexico may be surprised by.
Photo courtesy Lorena Saravia.
4
__Sandra Weil
How did you get your start in fashion?__
I grew up at my grandma’s atelier among beautiful luxe fabrics, and amazing, creative women, so fashion was very familiar to me. After getting my degree in fine arts and graphic design, I discovered that fashion was actually the way I wanted to express myself. I found that I could connect a woman with her femininity through the clothes she wears, and empower her in a very beautiful yet delicate way, so she can share her essence with everyone and everything around her.
What style do you find is still popular with your customer?
Women love to look beautiful, to feel feminine, but our clients also appreciate the edgy twist we give to all our pieces. We are making versatile evening looks, so you can have a skirt that matches a bustier for a very elegant occasion (and it looks like one piece), but then mix it with a cool tee and there you have a whole new look to a whole different occasion.
What is the main difference between Mexican and American clients?
There is less and less of a difference these days. We design clothes for a type of woman who can be found in every cosmopolitan city in the world—chic, independent, modern women who appreciate design and who want to look feminine and cool at the same time.
Photo courtesy Sandra Weil.
5
__Jose Alfredo Silva of Trista
How did you get your start in fashion?__
I remember when I was a kid I was really into comic books and even would draw my own. When I was creating any character, I discovered that the clothes defined their whole personality, and that was my first fashion memory. I then went on to study at IES Moda Casa de Francia, and graduated in 2006.
What were the main pieces you began with?
We started with gowns and dresses that had a deep pattern experimentation as well as artisan processes such as using natural dyes or mixing different materials.
What style do you find is still popular with your customer?
Our customers look for pieces that tell a story, dresses that have unique details such as handmade embroidery or artisan details, pieces that make them feel confident and accentuate a woman’s body.
Photo courtesy Trista.
6
__Julia Franco and Renata Franco of Julia y Renata
How did you get your start in fashion?__
Julia used to be [Renata’s] teacher at the fashion school in Guadalajara, when I graduated we decided to create a line in which we could explore with our own selection of materials and cutting techniques. That’s how we started to sell in independent boutiques and doing fashion shows, first in Mexico and then abroad.
Why did you decide to go into designing RTW?
When we started, we use to work with recycled materials, old fabric pieces and remade garments on which we experimented over a mannequin. Very laborious work, all tailored by hand that often ended up as very unique pieces. This led us to producing limited edition collections. As we began to present during fashion weeks and the market developed, we intentionally simplified our lines according to our client’s demands and the functionality of our pieces.
What style do you find is still popular with your customer?
Oversized tunics, rectangle-shaped dresses and Tibetan-style trousers.
Photo courtesy Julia y Renata.
7
__Natalia Ferriz and Jose Alfredo Silva of Children of Our Town
What were the main pieces you began with?__
Children of our Town began by exploring the knitwear universe and found a solid base in it. For our first pieces, we focused on strong outerwear options, all knit in fine yarns like alpaca capes and ponchos, punto di roma sweatshirts and jacquard oversized dresses. The main focus for these pieces was not only the versatility but the utility of the garment in everyday life.
What style do you find is still popular with your customer?
We’ve always had two strong-selling pieces. Our array of sweatshirts (we work on reinterpreting it every season according to the neighborhood we are influenced by) has always been a good seller with our customer, both for men and women. Also, our poplin oversized dresses and wide shirts are always popular for their practicality.
Let’s talk fall. Where did you get started, and what did you want to communicate?
Fall 2016 was inspired the Coyoacán neighborhood. We wanted to convey the feeling of this traditional area and it’s historic character through the specific vision of the brand. Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Leon Trotsky were the starting points for the research and the main inspiration for our silhouettes. The typical walls of Coyoacán inspired the prints which were knitted in our well known jacquard options.
Photo courtesy Children of Our Town.
