Page 68 - OCEAN BLUE - SUMMER 2014

ART & DESIGN

CARLA FERNáNDEZ

The Barefoot
Designer
A Passion
for Radical
Design and
Community

Photo by: Ana Hop

Mexican fashion designer,

Carla Fernández has gained international recognition for her
extraordinary approach to preserving the rich textile heritage
of Mexico’s indigenous communities by transforming it into
beautiful contemporary clothing.

F ernández’ radical A barragan is a shawl radical and practical. She ‘The garments
fashion style is is the rare combination of prove that
clear, identifiable, that can become a sweater; tireless entrepreneur and tradition need
and continuously evolving. a gercha is a coat that can be artist who knows the limits not be static,
She refers to herself as an worn as a skirt; and high- of what is possible but has nor fashion
ethical engineer as she fashion wooden shoes are the imagination to dream ephemeral.’
travels throughout rural made in the manner of a the impossible by way of the
Mexico looking for weaving, improbable.
dying, or sewing skills that molinillo, traditionally a
are undervalued or nearing
extinction, then adapts the turned-wood whisk that is
techniques into her designs. used to prepare hot chocolate.
Fernández’ polished skills
create designs that are

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