Full Text

Colombia is fast becoming Latin America’s newest player on the global fashion scene. Leading the couture revolution is the Medellín-based fashion house InexModa and its annual Colombia Moda fashion show. The two-day event, held in July, features 23 runway shows, where over 70 designers showcase their work with 90 Colombian models. Colombia Moda was first held in the early 1990s, but with increasing international attention on Colombian designers, this year’s show is expected to generate record sales of $75 million from foreign and domestic buyers, according to Colombia’s national export promotion agency, which sponsors and promotes the event. Some 9,000 designers, models, buyers, and aspiring design students will attend. InexModa executive director Carlos Botero, who oversees the show, touts it as “a way to showcase the best brands and brightest designers Colombia has to offer.” This year’s theme, Consciencia Moda (Fashion Conscience) reflects rising interest in environmental and social issues, and the emergence of corporate social responsibility in the industry. Botero says “the show will include seminars on ethical labor, fair trade and environmental sustainability.” The 2011 show will spotlight some of Colombia’s cutting-edge designers, such as Bogotá-born Amelia Toro, whose distinctive styles and use of traditionally embroidered fabrics have garnered global acclaim; Pepa Pombo, known for her use of hand-embroidered silk; and Agua Bendita, whose bathing-suit line is inspired by traditional indigenous designs.