By José Manuel Martinez / translated by Samai Páez
On December 13, 14 and 15, the Espacio Modelo in Montevideo, Uruguay was the great stage of "HILOS" (Threads), a vibrant festival of art, fashion and culture that brought together emerging designers from the Uruguayan territory, live artists, talks and workshops on sustainable fashion and environmental responsibility. In addition, it had an American fair, within the framework of the first fundraising campaign of the Entre Soles y Lunas Foundation, which will help to execute a mass communication strategy that sensitizes citizens about the importance of a change towards a more responsible and conscious consumption model, generating a significant impact in Latin America.
The "HILOS" project was born from the collaboration between the dual high school Anima and the Entre Soles y Lunas Foundation (ESL), through its Universo MOLA program, in order to promote the circular economy in fashion. Thanks to a donation of garments from a Uruguayan fast fashion brand, they were revalued to benefit High Schoolers and promote sustainable practices. The Foundation provided its experience in sustainable fashion, generating an economic and educational impact. Since April, the Foundation has managed to rescue 200 boxes of not used garments, which is equivalent to 4000 kg of textiles or 4 tons, thanks to the support of 20 volunteers who have classified and labeled 1200 pieces for sale at the fair. In these 8 months of work, a total of 173 hours of collective effort have been invested. In addition, in collaboration with 10 emerging designers, garments that were not in the right condition for sale were used to create new design pieces. As part of the festival's cultural grid, 6 talks were held, with the participation of 3 musical artists and 3 DJs, under the coordination of a cultural manager and their assistant..
Day one:
The first day of the inauguration was a vibrant event, starting with an inaugural talk by Paola Badiola, Communication Coordinator and PR Leader of the Entre Soles y Lunas Foundation, on behalf of Universo MOLA, together with authorities of ANIMA and the Municipality of Montevideo. In addition, a parade of designers stood out for their creativity and talent, presenting unique capsules. Lucia Cotignola, a student of Textile Design at the Centro de Diseño University School (EUCD - FADU - UDELAR), dazzled with Bahía, inspired by the Tuscan summer, in Santorini. Jazmín Volpi, also a student at the same school, presented ReFluir, a capsule that symbolizes movement, transformation and flow, both in the ocean and in our relationship with resources and design. Sofia Castro, founder of Plutonia, showed Versátil, a collection that fuses functionality and style. Martín Ábalos, founder of MABA, captivated with AMALGAMA, a bold and disruptive proposal. Finally, Melissa Alassio presented HILOS x Melissa Alassio, a capsule that reflected her personal vision and commitment to conscious fashion. During the three days of the event, a shopping trip with garments was carried out at very low cost, providing the opportunity to access accessible and sustainable fashion.
Day two:
The second day was marked by a series of inspiring talks on sustainability and responsible fashion. Pia Cabral, journalist and communicator specializing in fashion, beauty and lifestyle, gave the talk On sustainability and football". Renata Correa, fashion producer and freelance journalist, presented "Estilismos Conscientes (conscious Stylisms)", approaching fashion from an ethical perspective. Brenda Scott delved into "Feminism in art and fashion"exploring the intersection between these two worlds, and Johana, with her talk "EMAD: art, fashion and stage", reflected on the relationship between art, fashion and performance. Each intervention offered valuable insights into how fashion can contribute to social and environmental change. In addition, Julieta Roldán, founder of JOLIE, presented her Joiaribcapsule, a personal story that tells her process of overcoming and her evolution towards the creation of her Jolie brand. The day also featured live music by Guillermo Gómez, who brought a special touch to the event. Throughout the day, the shopping trip continued, offering quality garments at affordable prices.
Day three:
The last day continued with Johana's "EMAD: art, fashion and stage" talk, followed by live performances by artists such as Delfina Guerrero, Los Kenkes and DJ Pamela ROMAN, who gave the event an energetic close. The shopping trip was also present, offering an excellent opportunity to buy garments at low prices, promoting access to sustainable fashion.
The Entre Soles y Lunas Foundation deeply thanks the designers, artists, speakers, collaborators and attendees, who made this event a unique experience. Their support helped to promote a change towards responsible and sustainable consumption. HILOS is more than a festival, it is activism in action!
