By Tirzah Rezende

 

The third edition of Universo MOLA Fashion Week, the only sustainable fashion week in Latin America, has concluded with a resounding success. Organized by Universo MOLA, a program of the Entre Soles y Lunas Foundation, the event took place from March 15 to 17 at the Hotel del Lago in Punta del Este, Uruguay. This fashion week has left an indelible mark on the fashion world, reaffirming a firm commitment towards more responsible practices with the planet and a deeper identity in our culture.

 

«It is necessary to consider our culture, our countries, our diversity, how we manifest our identity, what resources we have and what is the current situation of Latin American fashion», highlighted Doris Helena Rojas, director of the Foundation, at the opening of the event, with an impressive view of the Laguna del Sauce.

 

Next, Valentina Suarez, director of Universo MOLA, highlighted the ongoing work to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable fashion worldwide.

 

«We are here today for something specific. We thank each of you for being part of Universo MOLA. What you are seeing here today is part of a work that continues all year long.” Valen, as she is known, also led table discussions at the fashion talks.

 

For three consecutive days, Universo MOLA Fashion Week offered a transformative experience that marked a before and after in the history of regenerative fashion throughout the region. More than just an exhibition, the event became a vibrant stage for inspiring debates and innovative proposals in the textile field.

 

Participating brands include Alkimia Textil (Argentina), AloTANA (Uruguay), Ananda Román (Chile), Arami (Argentina), Artelanas (Argentina), Asociación de Moda Sostenible de Perú,  Calandrelli (Argentina), Campestre Chic (Uruguay), Christy Bolívar (Colombia), D’ mi Sangre (Chile), Entrenudos (Chile), Escobar Zuluaga (Colombia), Gabriela Serrano (Chile), Maria Lana (Argentina), La Vestiduria (Uruguay), Juana Montoya (Argentina), Asociación de Moda Sostenible del Perú (AMSP), Maura Marti (Paraguay), Mawo (Argentina), Munay (Uruguay), Murila (México), Nicteel (Guatemala) – presentada por la Semana de la Moda de Guatemala, Oni (Uruguay), Paolina Cattorini (Argentina), Red World Creative (Peru), Tejedoras del Sol (Colombia), Tan Basicx (Colombia), Safari (Uruguay), Southwool (Uruguay), Silvana Sutar (Chile), Tenaz (Uruguay), Universidad Tadeo Lozano (Colombia), Versura (Colombia) and Ziruma (Colombia). 

 

With a wide variety of activities, the event offered fashion manifestos and installations, conferences, opportunity rounds, workshops, exhibitions and more, making it a perfect occasion for Latin American brands to come together, discussing ideas and solutions, sharing the same challenges and reaching conclusions on how to move forward.

 

The Opportunity Round allowed connecting with people, organizations, companies and other actors in the sustainable fashion sector at the Latin American level, thus expanding the network of contacts in more than 50 simultaneous meetings. The MOLA Challenge, a sustainable fashion editorial and production course by Galantti Fashion School, was an inspiring workshop aimed at the creative minds of the future, with 11 students in total from countries such as Guatemala, Peru, Argentina and Uruguay.

 

The runway shows were out-of-this-world, while the conferences provided an opportunity to keep up to date on the constantly evolving universe of fashion.

 

The collections presented during the event highlighted responsible approaches to design, production and consumption, showing how fashion can combine aesthetics and ethics by prioritizing the use of recycled materials and low-impact manufacturing techniques. Furthermore, the event served as a platform for various stakeholders to emphasize the importance of education in promoting a shift in consciousness towards a more sustainable future for the planet. 

 

About upcycling, according to Geraldine Volcanes, designer of the Chilean brand Entrenudos, “it’s possible to turn these fashion inputs into artistic designs with colorful and delicate finishes, which have already completed their first useful life, achieving a positive social impact. Besides, we enrich the artistic heritage of our region, strengthen our cultural values that come from ancestral heritage such as the art of wiring.”

 

The educational talks were in partnership with well-known Universities such as the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED by its acronym in Spanish), conducted by Natalia Londono, who is a  Colombian Designer and former student of the IED of Barcelona. On the other hand, the Universidad ORT of Uruguay led the Q & A along with Jose Forteza, Senior Editor of Vogue Mexico and Latin America, and global ambassador of Universo MOLA. 

 

IED promoted an informative physical space where the public could directly know the educational offer they have in their Spain and Italy sites as well as to get information about curriculums, tuition fees, scholarships, admission requirements, and discounts. The golden brooch was the lecture “Slow Fashion en la Esencia de Marca (Slow Fashion in Brand Essence by its translation into English)” conducted by Natalia Londono that allowed us to understand the topic from a businesswoman perspective. 

 

The Universidad ORT of Uruguay made its debut with an innovative proposal, a Master in Fashion Management and Communication, and the Specialization in Fashion Management and Business. These programs represent the first Postgraduates degrees specialized in  fashion in the country, offering on-site and online options to adapt to active professionals’ needs. 

 

In the talk led by the University, Forteza highlighted the importance of getting new skills to stand-out in a highly competitive market. The Magister Sabrina Bianchi, Teaching Secretary of the EPAP (for its acronym in Spanish Escuela de Posgrados y Actualización Profesional, in English: School of Postgraduate and Professional Updates) highlighted that the curriculums at the Universidad ORT of Uruguay are designed to provide to graduates wide-ranging understanding of the industry, including strategic management skills, commercial management, and communication.

 

“These three days of UMFW have been significant, this is the first time that I have taken part in it. It is comforting to realize that from different places we are experiencing the same troubles. When we go outside, we notice that we are living challenges such as small teams, little support, and little visibility. Part of getting to know each other is knowing that something is being done by joining forces” emphasized Ananda Roman, Chilean Designer. 

 

In the final act of the event, the MOLA Carpet, was hosted by Catalina Droguett who is the Universo MOLA ambassador in Chile, creator of the program Mujer Sustentable (in English Sustainable Woman), Journalist, and Activist.

 

The event was supported by the Municipality of Maldonado, which has been a crucial partner in this project from the beginning, as well as the Universidad ORT of Uruguay, which is committed to change through its Postgraduate programs. The event also had the support of Vicky Rivero in floral decoration, Ana Zuliani in the setting, Vista Urbana Producciones, Picadas y Encuentros with its exquisite cold cuts table, Lavazza with its coffee and drink’s bar, La Vienesa, Pakcha and its innovative augmented reality, Ecopate with its water purifiers, Laura and Natalia who elaborate the photographic background for those days,  Strawbetty school of models, the IED for its global educational support, as well as the the valuable partners and allies Back in Fashion, Ola Marketing, Galantti, Fashion School, Ministry of Tourism of Uruguay and the Fashion Week of Guatemala with Bryan Quant. 

 

In addition, thanks to all the media involved such as Revista Clap, Disenarte TV, Chile Sustentable, Estena Press, Reimpulso, Influnegocios, Radio Uruguay, and Diario  El Este. 

 

Also it was announced the scholarship granted to Paolina Cattorini to participate in the Fashion Week – Guatemala in its 2025 edition on behalf of Universo MOLA. 

 

In summary, MOLA Fashion Week 2024 has proved to be a keystone event in promoting sustainable fashion in Latin America, offering a platform for innovation, exchange of knowledge, and building a more conscious and responsible future.