Juan Carlos Pereira and Andrés Jordan Soliz created DAB (Bolivian Design and Authors)- an initiative through which local Bolivian talents are promoted and supported in their quest to create original sustainable collections

Leer en español: Bolivia pisa fuerte en la escena de la moda latinoamericana

Innovation, a strong identity and originality are putting DAB, Bolivian Design and Authors,  ahead of the competition, and in a world where fast fashion is destroying the landscape of developing countries, a sustainable, fresh view on fashion is the new way ahead. As chaos has become a synonym of the fashion world and the accelerating product cycle is burning out even the most acclaimed designers and fashion houses, new players are embracing a more sustainable view of the industry, prioritizing quality over quantity, and legacy over fading trends.

Thanks to local designers and initiatives like DAB, #HechoenBolivia is no longer a simple social media hashtag but rather a cultural identity with a strong backbone which puts Latin American talents on the forefront. Indigenous fashion has crossed borders, evolving from a regional style that was originally stigmatized into a high- end trend which has gained popularity, becoming a favorite among international elites.
Wide layered skirts, bowler hats, extravagant golden jewelry, exuberant dresses and colorfully embroidered alpaca shawls are key elements of the “chola” style, which is now widely reclaimed by younger, wealthier and more successful Bolivian women who are found of the style even because of the history that’s behind this fashion phenomenon, and even though the aesthetic is still not a fashion powerhouse, it’s only a matter of time until it hits the upscale department stores in London, Paris or New York.

Latin America is pushing every day more the limits when it comes to design and creative endeavors. Young, talented designers are emerging from the already well known and very fashionable cities like Bogota, Buenos Aires and Mexico City but lately, less famous fashion destinations are surfacing and impressing with their aesthetic and knowledge of cultural trends. Bolivia is one of the new fashion destinations and surprisingly not just La Paz but also Santa Cruz de la Sierra is positioning itself as a trendy place for international jet setters and fashion lovers. 
Since 2014 when Ventura Mall was inaugurated, 5.5 million shoppers visited the retail space, proving that Bolivia’s upper and middle class have a strong passion for fashion and style.

As the love for the retail sector doesn’t seem to be a fading trend, in 2013 Juan Carlos Pereira and Andrés Jordan Soliz created DAB (Diseño y autores bolivianos)- an initiative through which local Bolivian talents are promoted and supported in their quest to create original sustainable collections.The project became very successful and nowadays DAB is featured in major lifestyle publications like Elle Mexico and Vogue Mexico.

This year the two- day event took place in Santa Cruz on April 28- April 29 and it featured collections from national designers together with a special foreign guest- Peruvian designer Diego Labrín. DAB also showcased the Three Generations in Fashion exhibit (Tres Generaciones En La Moda) which was a beautiful tribute to the Weise family and their five decade legacy in the Latin American fashion world. The exhibit opened in the newly inaugurated museum of Altillo Benni.

Latin American Post | Adina Achim 

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