Cultural Belongings — Society Marbella

A wordlwide journey, where traditional pieces are mixed with contemporary, handcrafted ones, creating a fresh and edgy look.

All sorts of people and cultures are influencing fashion, so why not treat it as one of the ways to express our cultural belongings without saying a single word we can tell our story?

When we think about fashion nowadays on the one hand we see extravagant outfits on the other clothes that represent origins so that customers can stand out from the crowd. This editorial will take you on a worldwide journey, where the old traditional pieces are mixed with currently handcrafted ones leading to a fresh and edgy look. Archimbolidi-inspired statues, original decorations and the Andalusian patio where an artist - Vicente Viudes lived and created were an appealing canvas for the photoshoot.

We can travel to Guatemala just by wearing a Huipil, the most common traditional garment worn by indigenous women from Mexico to Central America, most often used among the Mayas in Guatemala. Its handmade embroideries show artistic visions depending on a personal style and an area the manufacturer comes from so that an expert can easily distinguish its origin.

In current fashion, many designs are inspired by traditional clothes, such as colourful skirts, pants or even shoes with pompoms. When we look into the past, women from Banjara ethnic group, a nomadic tribe that once travelled to sell salt throughout the Indian Subcontinent, used to hand embroider beautiful textiles in bright colours for their dresses that later on were decorated with mirrors and ornaments to make each design unique.

The cultural heritage left behind by the ancient Silk Road is reflected in the beautiful fabrics and designs, made with the ikat technique. No wonder Marco Polo was impressed by the luxurious clothes worn by the Emir and his court. Striped silk pants in Tashkent, woven on a manual loom and following the tradition of Uzbek artisans on the silk route are an amazing example that style lasts forever.

A bit of history of iraca fabric. Cultivated since pre-Hispanic times, its tender shoots serve as food in salads, roofing and thermal insulation. But the big boom started in the second half of the 19th century when the Panama hat elevated it to the category of the first Colombian export manufacturer. Used by Bolívar as well as Capuchin and Franciscan priests, sugar cane workers in Cuba and cotton workers in the southern US. In the beginning of the 20th century, it served to differentiate the conservatives from the liberals by the colour of the ribbon on their hat. Roosevelt, Churchill and Hollywood stars used to wear them a lot.

Preserving the diversity of cultures and talents, this editorial was realised by people from all over the world who contributed a part of themselves. A Polish photographer through her lens

captured every scene where the Spanish model played her character, wearing clothes from countries such as Guatemala, Colombia, India, Italy, Uzbekistan and many more. Mexican stylist and makeup artist moved us to an enchanted world of art and history of our interpretation of “La Tirana”.

As Carlyne Cerf de Dudzele, ex-editor of Vogue magazine, says “life is about mixing things and being divine in the street”. Through clothes, we can tell our story. The language of fashion breaks borders and unites people. Behind each garment, there is a world of cultural wealth and traditions.