If you've read Norma Mendoza-Denton's Homegirls , you might think El Salvador is full of Chola style, but El Salvador's fashion designers and artisans show off a range of aesthetics. series of influences. When I was a little girl, I loved playing with the traditional clothing and shirts of my mother's home country, admiring the intricate embroidery and bright colors of these garments. It wasn’t until I grew up that I understood that the civil war in this small Central American country from 1979 to 1992 halted much of its production and commercial activity. El Salvador’s recovery has been slow, but initiatives like Carrot Concept – dubbed One World and named a “top design collective” by The Wall Street Journal – offer hope of nurturing a local fashion industry with global impact .
Another thing I didn't understand about Salvadoran fashion as a little girl was that it wasn't just traditional Central American clothing, but could go beyond traditional Central American clothing. Today, El Salvador is producing high-quality ready-to-wear and haute couture clothing. Designers may be inspired by traditional textiles, the country's natural environment (such as Bosque El Imposible National Park), or other local influences, but the goal is to appeal to both non-Salvadorians and Salvadorans.
No matter where you live, here are five Salvadoran fashion brands you should know.
1. Francesca Miranda
Francesca Miranda is perhaps El Salvador's most famous export. Born in San Salvador, she began her career in Colombia. Her big break came in 2003 when she was invited to attend Milan Fashion Week. Miranda's designs are now available in stores across the Americas, France, the UK, Dubai and Russia. They also grace Rebecca Mader, Ashlan Gorse, Sofia Milos and other celebrities. Whether designing wedding dresses or ready-to-wear for men and women, Miranda's pieces are all exquisitely crafted.
2. Geraldine Garcia
Geraldine Garcia designs for modern sophistication. Her signature use of lightweight fabrics gives her pieces an airy feel that's as suitable for El Salvador's tropical climate as it is for upscale California beach parties. Garcia places her clothes in the photos imaginatively but not outlandishly, making you believe this is something you could wear in real life.
3. Monica Agdas
Monica Arguedas opened her first store in 2012, a recent graduate of New York's Parsons School of Design. She designs for those who dare to take risks and expose themselves. Earlier this month at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in El Salvador, Arguedas showed off a range of feminine, mostly form-fitting garments that showed off the back, shoulders and midriff and were available in a variety of colors.
4.Sarah HDZ
SaraHDZ may take hair and makeup to dreamy levels during photo shoots, but her designs are made for the busy urban woman. Her pieces—which she makes for other brands, not her own—often hint at traditional Salvadoran designs or landscapes (look closely at some of these patterns), yet are distinctly modern and tailored for the office and after-hours.
5.Wilson
Wilson, a brand founded by Lebanese immigrants in the 1930s, offers men's (and occasionally women's) clothing to the young and affluent. The look updated classic boatwear with urban touches like fedoras, Warby Parker-style glasses and ironic suspenders.
Image: sjb5/Flickr; Francesa Miranda; Geraldine Garcia; Monica Agdas; Sarah HDZ; Wilson.
