The 51st edition of Sao Paulo Fashion Week (SPFW) ended on June 27 after showcasing the collections of a total of 43 designers. The event ran in a wholly digital format for the second consecutive season due to the countryâs ongoing battle to bring its Covid-19 outbreak under control.
A diversity quota was imposed last season requiring 50 percent of the models participating in SPFW fashion shows to be Black, people of African descent and/or Indigenous people.
âFashion is a message, it is a code that is presented to people. [A message] of self-esteem or low-esteem, to include or to exclude. It has both functions,â Paulo Borges, SPFWâs creative director, told Agencia Brasil, of the decision to introduce the quota.
Another element of SPFWâs plan for diversity and inclusivity was the Sankofa Project, which gave eight independent Black and Indigenous designers the opportunity to present their collections and receive mentorship from established designers. The selected designers were Meninos Rei, Naya Violeta, Mile Lab, Santa Resistencia, Az Marias, Silvério, Ta Studio and Ateliê Mão de Mãe.
Event highlights included a 30th anniversary show from veteran designer, Walério Araujo, while Flavia Aranhaâs collection made from 500 kilograms of scrap material and Ponto Firmeâs upcycling project in which inmates and ex-prisoners repurposed pieces using crochet techniques, upped the eventâs sustainability credentials in innovative and stylish ways.
Other notable presentations came from Ronaldo Fraga and established names like Lenny Niemeyer, Lilly Sarti, Gloria Coelho and Joao Pimenta. Meanwhile, newcomers Anacê, Carol Bassi, ESFÃR, Igor Dadona, Neith Nyer, Rocio Canvas o Soul Básico made positive first impressions on Brazilâs premier fashion event.
In addition to the shows, this season marked the opening of SPFW+ Regeneração, a virtual event aiming to foster fashion mentoring and entrepreneurship through a series of digital meetings and livestreams, in which fashion professionals came together to share their knowledge of business management, diversity and sustainability.