¡Moda Hoy! Latin American and Latinx Fashion Design Today

Fashion & Textile History GalleryMay 31, 2023 - August 27, 2023
woman in yellow and black striped suit standing between white curtainsImage: Apartamento 03, Ouro Collection pantsuit. Photos by Gustavo Marx, courtesy of Apartamento 03

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For decades, fashion designers of Latin American descent such as Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, and Haider Ackermann have been central figures of the fashion industry. Their successes have paved the way for new generations of talented designers, including Gabriela Hearst, Willy Chavarria, and Kika Vargas. These names represent only a few of the emerging designers who are making their mark on the fashion scene by creating for famous fashion houses, winning prestigious awards, and dressing celebrity clients. The English-language media has often viewed Latin American fashion from an outsider’s perspective—as an exoticized other—presenting the region as a homogenous entity. However, there is no singular Latin American style but rather a diversity of talent that continues to shape contemporary fashion.

back view of a red blanket coat and front view of golden dress with ruffled short sleeves

(L) Equihua, Devotion coat, New Classics collection, 2018, USA, museum purchase, 2022.24.1
(R) Kika Vargas, dress, 2022, Colombia, gift of Kika Vargas, 2022.83.1

black dress with polka dot train

Carolina Herrera, evening dress, fall 1988, USA, gift of Carolina Herrera, Ltd, 2005.48.8

green ensemble with black collar, belt, and trim

Oscar de la Renta, cocktail ensemble, c.1974, USA, gift of Isabelle Leeds, 2005.71.3

¡Moda Hoy! Latin American and Latinx Fashion Design Today included creators from Latin American countries, as well as designers of Latin American heritage living and working in the United States who are often referred to as Hispanic, Latino/Latina, or the gender-neutral term Latinx. This exhibition took a decentering approach to fashion studies, shifting perspectives away from a single cultural viewpoint. The region, with its shared histories of colonialism, globalism, imperialism, industrialization processes, and local modes of modernity, has historically been dismissed by dominant Eurocentric fashion voices as underdeveloped. However, Latin American fashion is a powerhouse. During the 20th century, a number of Latin American and Latinx designers gained global recognition while the region served as an inspiration for designers from Europe and North America, functioning as a background in fashion publications and becoming a source of talent. In this exhibition, the work of Adolfo, Víctor Alfaro, Maria Cornejo, Oscar de la Renta, Luis Estévez, Carlos Falchi, Carolina Herrera, and Isabel Toledo exemplified this era.

white t-shirt laid flat as a square
1/8 Takamura x Artesanía Textil Arte-Fer, Cuadro Tlahui blouse, 2020, Mexico, museum purchase, 2022.26.1
multicolored sneaker
Ricardo Seco and Mauricio Carrillo, beaded sneaker, spring 2015, Mexico, gift of Ricardo Seco, 2015.5.1

¡Moda Hoy! Latin American and Latinx Fashion Design Today was organized by The Museum at FIT’s Tanya Melendez-Escalante, senior curator of education and public programs, and Melissa Marra-Alvarez, curator of education and research.

You can read more about the exhibition via the press release (PDF).

side view of silver ensemble with belt and high boots
Collection Item

Explore more collection objects on view through our online collections.

Image: Rodarte, ensemble, spring 2009, USA. museum purchase, 2009.53.2
Online Collections

Latin American and Latinx Fashion Design Today ¡Moda Hoy!

Exhibition Publication

Latin American and Latinx Fashion Design Today ¡Moda Hoy!
Edited by Tanya Meléndez-Escalante and Melissa Marra-Alvarez

Through a series of themes and topics such as Indigenous heritage, art, sustainable design, politics, gender, elegance, and popular culture, curators and Latin American fashion authorities highlight established designers with a strong international presence, such as Isabel Toledo, Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta, alongside emerging talents.

*Please note that the publication is entirely in English. 

Purchase a Copy

Press, Related Events & Additional Content

 
cuadro tlahui blouse with moda hoy logo superimposed

Dive Deeper with Bloomberg Connects

To include deeper stories about objects in the exhibition, the curators of ¡Moda Hoy! Latin American and Latinx Fashion Design Today recorded ten short audio clips. Listen to our Bloomberg Connects digital guide content to hear how the work of designers reflect the exhibition themes of Indigenous heritage, gender, politics, sustainability, craftsmanship, elegance, art, and popular culture.
¡Moda Hoy! audio tour
Related Events
Past Event
Oct
7

¡Moda Hoy! Latin American and Latinx Fashion Symposium

The symposium "¡Moda Hoy! Latin American and Latinx Fashion" provided an opportunity for museum curators Tanya Melendez-Escalante and Melissa Marra-Alvarez to engage with the general public and the academic community in preparation for the upcoming exhibition of the same title. The speakers explored the work of fashion designers of Latin American heritage, shedding new light on Latin American and Latinx fashion. Topics included politics, sustainability, art, Indigenous heritage, gender, and popular culture. Recordings will be made available on YouTube in fall 2023.
Past Event
Mar
14

Blancopop: Styling Celebrities

Fashion stylists Juan de Dios Ramírez and Beto Escamilla, and actress Irene Azuela, present the book "Blancopop, Una Mirada al Estilismo de Moda en México". This book brings together artists, photographers, and celebrities with whom the duo has collaborated during their 35 years in fashion. Specializing in editorial and celebrity styling, Blancopop have worked closely with Latino/a stars, including Ms. Azuela, Kate del Castillo, Cecilia Suárez, and model Mariana Zaragoza, among many others.
Past Event
Jun
6

Opening Reception

Fashion Film Festival Milano

Explore a selection of Latin American fashion films especially curated by Fashion Film Festival Milano to honor the Latin American community and celebrate the launch of the first ever Latin American Fashion Awards.
Watch Online


Three scholars address issues of race and ethnicity in Latin America and the United States from different perspectives.

¡Moda Hoy! Latin American and Latinx Fashion Design Today was made possible with the support of the Couture Council of The Museum at FIT and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. 

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