Photos: domino.com.uy
It is easy to lose your identity as a fashion designer when there’re countless sources of influence around you. But this isn’t a case when we talk about Uruguayan designers Mercedes Arocena and Lucia Benitez! In 2013 they were awarded the “Dynamic Eco Chic Award” for their ‘Dominga’ collection at the International design contest Mittelmoda in Milan, Italy.
These two brilliant designers showed an outstanding talent for playing with geometrical shapes and patterns. The design itself said, that has been inspired by the traditional Uruguayan clothing and you can quickly notice that the long-established aesthetics are present in their work. Some critics suggest that their futuristic garments indicate Gaucho culture motifs and therefore you can come across with some stylized chiripas, ruanas or ponchos. This collection has become an ode for the sophisticated mixture of the traditional culture and modernism.
Using raw materials like wool they explored the ocean of possibilities to express their passion for shapes, figures and textures. The eggshell color creates the sense of purity and grace, which makes women look elegant and fashion forward at the same time. Pictures taken by Santiago Epstein capture these garments in a movement and allow fashion lovers enter the magical world of Uruguayan style.
Not only did Mercedes Arocena and Lucia Benitez demonstrate how important is to value their identity but also how creativity can become a vulnerable power to incorporate tradition in most-up-to-date trends.
