ARGENTINA: Argentines come out to see what's new in fashion as Fashion Week comes to a close in Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires was named by UNESCO as the world's "City of Design", and its annual fashion parade is the region's biggest frock fest. Now in its twelfth year, Fashion Buenos Aires has grown from an 11-parade show to a week-long extravaganza featuring over 70 designers, most of whom are locals like Florencia Fiocca. Fiocca is part of the next generation of Argentine designers who were able to study design in Argentina, and are dedicated to strengthening the local industry. Traditionally, Latin-born designers would pack their bags for Paris or Italy in order to learn the trade and break into the European fashion scene. But since the devaluation of the Argentine peso back in 2001, the local clothing industry has boomed and people are warming to the cheaper, home-grown fashion brands. Fiocca latest "Marisposa" collection hit the runway at Fashion Buenos Aires, which came to an end on Friday (September 8). Her designs were inspired by the shapes and textures of butterflies, but she says that what actually mattered most was designing clothes that appealed to Argentine women. "What I have been doing is a little subdued, with an aesthetic that is ultra-simple and a little rigid, but very feminine. That is I have not forgotten the femininity and the form of the woman, which for me is very important and I am working a lot with the patterns so they have a good fit," said Fiocca. Also hitting the catwalk were some hints at what will be hitting the beaches this summer in the southern hemisphere, with a textured and jewelled collection from the swimwear brand, S-Mode. It was the first ever parade from S-Mode, designed and owned by Argentine Solande Mayo, who exports her wares to the United States, Spain and Italy. Her strappy woven creations are a type of macrame, a form of textile-making formed from a series of knots. The technique was invented by sailors, who used it to decorate anything from knife handles to parts for their ships. "We make a swimsuit that is very sophisticated, very worked, very embroidered. With our collection this year, our strength has been macramé with lycra, that are woven pieces which when you get out of the water they do not transfigure," Argentine swimwear designer Solande Mayo. Following Mayo's funky beachwear, the mood cooled down with the suave, slick designs from Unmo, a brand designed by Argentine Marcelo Ortega. Ortega's austere models showed off a sophisticated collection of red, white and black designs. His centrepiece was a striking bubble dress, that flared into rose-like folds in the skirt. All in all, Fashion Buenos Aires put on 30 runway shows, supported by over 60 design showroom displays.

ITN Source | September 9, 2006

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