7 Venezuelan Designers to Support Right Now
Venezuela’s beauty and cultural richness run deep. While on the surface, it is an oil-rich nation on South America’s northern coast, it contains some of the continent’s most beautiful natural attractions. On one side, you have the Caribbean coast with tropical islands such as Isla de Margarita and Los Roques archipelago, both boasting long stretches of untouched white sand beaches and sparkling, turquoise waters. In the northwest are the Andes Mountains with Sierra Nevada National Park located between the colonial towns of Mérida and Barinas. Now mix the culture, the warmth, and pride of its people, the music (Danny Ocean, what’s up?), the arepas and tequeños and you realize it has all the makings of a utopian paradise.
If you see Venezuela for what it is, then it’s not hard to believe that it was once South America’s most prosperous country and one of the continent’s oldest and strongest democracies. As of late, the country has been tainted by political and economic unrest caused by its dictatorship beginning in 2010 under the presidency of Hugo Chávez, then continued into the current presidency of Nicolás Maduro, which has led to hyperinflation, violence, and shortages of food and medicine. Yesterday, we saw a glimmer of hope for the opposition movement when the National Assembly leader, Juan Guaidó declared himself the interim president. In an act of unwavering solidarity, many countries’ leaders (including our own) recognized him as such. While there is still a ways to go, it is an important reminder that as citizens of the world, it is our duty to help support our neighbors.
Something that has always set South America apart is the optimism and resilience of its people, and we see that quite literally in Venezuelan fashion, which never ceases to make a statement. Venezuelan designers empower women through their designs while offering a window into the beauty that is Venezuela, making you realize instantly what their country is about at its core. From emerging brands like Sara Cristina to well-known designers like Monica Sordo, below we show you our 7 favorite Venezuelan fashion designers to shop now.
