LAFS

This week I asked on Instagram what topic you'd like me to talk about on the blog, and the most frequent answer was TRAVEL. The truth is, during these endless days of confinement, my mind also wanders dreamily to wonderful destinations, tropical climates, and paradisiacal beaches… So I'm going to take this opportunity to tell you about one of my most recent, beautiful, and inspiring trips; LAFS 2019 .

Last November, I traveled with my friend María Ignacia Carrasco ( @pasiondemaria ) to Cartagena de Indias to attend the Latin American Fashion Summit (LAFS), an annual conference event whose objective is to bring together industry leaders and enrich regional fashion through various educational platforms.

I traveled as a Chilean designer and ambassador for Istituto Marangoni in Latin America, and María Ignacia as a fashion influencer and editor. The event also brought together a large number of fellow designers, influencers, buyers, editors, and investors. A total of 700 attendees, mostly women, represented more than 20 countries, primarily from Latin America.

The journey actually began for me a week before the flight, because I had the meticulous challenge of putting together my looks for countless events, with a rebellious climate (average 30º degrees day and night) and making them fit decently into a single suitcase.

We decided to go away for seven days to relax and explore the city (it was my first time in Cartagena and in Colombia), because we knew, and we weren't wrong, that the LAFS days would be very intense. On our first free day, we decided to go on a trip to Isla Coralina, where we could read, sunbathe, kayak in crystal-clear waters, recharge our batteries, and drink lots of piña coladas from coconuts.

That night we wanted to go to a bar, so we left the hotel looking our best, only to quickly learn, through trial and error, the untamed nature of Cartagena, whose will could abruptly decide whether it wanted to pour or not. Walking in heels through cobblestone streets, in the rain, heat, and sweat, is not advisable. At times we wanted to cry, at times we laughed out loud, and accepting our blisters, ruined makeup, frizzy hair, and sticky clothes, we surrendered to our fate of a delicious Caribbean dinner and a salsa show.

The following day, the summit began with a welcome reception and an inaugural dinner in the spectacular Adolfo Mejía Heredia Theater. An imposing, baroque structure with majestically painted ceilings, it was decorated in a charmingly Latin style for the occasion. A kind of golden tropical rainforest awaited the guests inside, and round tables lined the stage as they made their way through palm trees to discover who they were seated next to. The idea was to mingle and get to know one another. dress code of the event was 'Love in the Time of Cholera'.

The talks started early, covering diverse topics but with a strong emphasis on the importance of sustainability, social responsibility, and the preservation of local resources.

Given that Latinos possess such a vast and rich cultural heritage—in customs, aesthetics, and artisanal techniques—we have a duty as creatives to incorporate it into our designs in a modern way. We must take responsibility for this great plus that we have and that strongly differentiates us from the rest of the planet, making us unique and desirable.

Thus unfolded an enriching week, in which we participated in panels, workshops, networking sessions, and more. We also had the opportunity to meet the Pitch-To-Laft contestants and its well-deserved winner, Maygel Coronel @Maygelcoronelofficial.

One of the things that inspired me most was hearing from Venezuelan designers about how they had managed their businesses during times of crisis, since our trip coincided with the beginning of the social unrest in our country. At that time, we didn't yet understand the magnitude of what was happening, but we did feel concern and uncertainty about what was to come and the future it held for our industry. This was compounded by being abroad and far from our families. However, it was very encouraging to understand that anything is possible, that the right attitude is not to be afraid or give up, and to always keep fighting. I think this also applies to what is happening now with the global pandemic. Adverse scenarios can always arise, but what is essential is our ability to adapt to new challenges with creativity, humility, resourcefulness, courage, and a positive attitude.

I had the privilege of listening to talks by very important figures in Latin American fashion, such as Carolina Herrera, Silvia Tcherassi, and Johanna Ortiz, among others. I also had the opportunity to meet incredible people who became true friends, like @Margobaridon, a talented Uruguayan designer.

Cartagena was a destination I loved, and one I would recommend without hesitation. For me, it was a truly inspiring trip. While it's possible to create from almost anything, it's certainly true that beautiful environments stimulate creativity. It was there that my mind began to envision the Virginia collection. The trigger was the magical realism of a city where anything can happen. Its streets, its doorways, its people, its colors. The romanticism of its multicolored colonial architecture, with its wooden balconies from which Colombian exuberance hangs unabashedly. The flowers, the scents, the food. The music, the stories, the energy. Where every corner is special, joyful, photogenic, and mysterious.

Without a doubt, this year (if the situation allows) I will repeat the LAFS experience.