The MALBA esplanade was the stage for a night where fashion, art, and music engaged in perfect harmony. As the crowning moment of the Haute Couture Week by Elina Costantini, four designers presented a capsule collection inspired by the universe of Frida Kahlo, one of the most influential and fascinating artists of the 20th century.
As part of the celebrations for the museum’s 25th anniversary, the show proposed a contemporary look at the aesthetics, the strength, and the legacy of the Mexican painter. Each designer presented five exclusive designs that, from very different languages, paid homage to a woman who transformed pain into art and turned her identity into a work in itself.
Natalia Antolín: color and the artisanal richness of Mexico
Natalia Antolín’s proposal emerged from her personal connection to Mexico, a country she visited on numerous occasions, and whose artisanal tradition deeply marked her creative universe.
Flowers, hearts, lace, embroidery, and prints took center stage in a collection where color and handcraft spoke to Frida Kahlo’s unmistakable aesthetic. More than a visual reference, the designer found inspiration in the strength of a woman who managed to turn her personal history into a universal symbol.
Camila Romano: pain turned into beauty
For Camila Romano, inspiration arose from Frida’s most characteristic silhouettes and the emotional intensity that runs through her entire body of work.
Large skirts in shantung and silk satin in vibrant hues mingled with tops, shawls, and metallic structures in lead and gold tones that symbolized the physical pain that accompanied the artist for much of her life. The maximalist jewelry, developed in collaboration with Limido Joyas, reinforced that narrative from a contemporary viewpoint.
Pía Carregal: personality as inspiration
Pía Carregal’s collection focused on the essence of Frida Kahlo: an authentic, free, and deeply creative woman.
Raw materials, intense reds, lace, and velvets were the protagonists of a proposition where the richness of textures and artisanal craftsmanship dialogued with the Mexican artist’s aesthetic universe and with the designer’s sophisticated mark.
Carla Fernández: Mexico’s voice on the runway
The presence of Carla Fernández added a notably meaningful dimension to the show.
Born in Coyoacán, the same neighborhood that witnessed Frida Kahlo’s growth, the designer brought to the runway a collection built from dialogue with Mexican artisan communities and the valorization of ancestral textile techniques.
Her five creations summed up more than two decades of work around identity, memory, and Mexico’s cultural heritage, establishing a natural bridge between contemporary fashion and Frida’s homeland roots.
A rock-powered finale
The show culminated in a celebration that brought fashion, art, and music together. The Argentine band Silvestre y La Naranja was responsible for closing the night with a live performance that turned the MALBA esplanade into a gathering space to celebrate the 25 years of one of the country’s most important cultural institutions.
