A platform designed to empower and support Latin American talent

For years, glossy fashion magazines dictated trends and buyers followed the commands of editors who all too often responded to commercial constraints instead of truly engaging the consumers, but this trend has changed in the digital age. Nowadays, with the arrival and success of bloggers and fashion influencers, the industry is paying attention to the consumer’s voice. These amendments have altered the connection that brands have with their clients and we’ve entered in a new decade- one of dialogue. In the age of open communication it became imperative to listen not only to the customer’s needs but also to the particular necessities of young emerging talents as they need to overcome specific challenges.

In the élite fashion world, few designers manage to become household names and Latin American entrepreneurs have to overcome different difficulties that leave them behind their international competitors who show their collections in the fashion capitals of the world. With the intent of empowering homegrown Latin American talents and promoting their work to a wider scale, the Latin American Fashion Summit was created.

The Summit that will take place in Mayakoba, Riviera Maya on Nov 8-11th has secured a prominent list of speakers, ranging from acclaimed designers, CEOs, fashion and lifestyle editors, fashion financiers, representatives of the blogging community and digital influencers.

Some of the key figures involved in this unique initiative are:

Maria Pacheco– Speaker. Ms. Pacheco is the winner of prestigious awards such as: the Vital Voices Washington Global Economic Development award, the Most Powerful Women by Goldman Sachs and Fortune Magazine, Stephan Schmidheiny award for Innovation in Latin America and the INCAE Challenge Award. She’s also a Founding Member and the President of Wakami Global 

Cloclo Echavarría and Giovanna Campagna Garcés– Advisory Board Members. In 2015, the two women founded CREO Consulting- a platform that finds and promotes the best Latin American talent. Additionally, CREO Consulting endorses projects which focus on building and strengthening relations between Latin America and the global community.

Kelly Talamas– Advisory Board Member & Speaker. Ms. Talamas is the former Editor-in- Chief of the prestigious Vogue Mexico and Latin America. The Miami- born editor has over a decade of experience in the fashion world and is one of the leading figures in the Latin American fashion community. Her active participation and guidance were crucial for discovering and raising the international profile of local Latin American talents. She was also included in the prestigious BoF500 List by The Business of Fashion.

Paola Mendoza– Advisory Board Member & Speaker. The inventory of the Colombian Jewelry designer is found in luxury department stores like: Net-A-Porter, Saks Fifth Avenue, Harvey Nichols and Bergdorf Goodman. Additionally, her designs have been featured in publications like: Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, InStyle and W Magazine. In addition, she actively participates and supports programs with social outreach, constantly finding new ways to give back to her native Colombia.

Amanda Hearst– Advisory Board Member. Ms. Hearst has an impressive resume, being an activist, Contributing Editor to the esteemed Town & Country magazine, co- founder of MAISON-DE-MODE.COM and founder of Friends of Finn.

Hassan Pierre– Speaker. The other half of the luxury ethical fashion retailer MAISON-DE-MODE.COM is also participating in the Summit.  A Parsons School of Design graduate who launched the Way It Should Be brand and who sits on the Advisory Board for the 2018 CFDA + Lexus Fashion* Initiative 2.0.

Latin American Post | Adina Achim 

Copy edited by Susana Cicchetto