Fashion lessons from a year of lockdown

Photo courtesy of Carolina K.

A piece written in loving memory of all the clothes we’ve loved before, in anticipation of reconciling the sweatpants-sporting homebodies with the fashion-lovers we were just a year ago. In the words of Vanessa Mantilla Gamba, our newest contributor.

Living just steps from the ocean makes you think practically when it comes time to dress; it is best to avoid heavy layers of clothing and opt for flowing dresses, breezy tops, and fitted pants — a beach resort-style if you will, but always keeping it casual. Here I am, scrolling back through photos from those first months of 2020. I was living in Colombia’s coastal town of Cartagena — and my outfits said so. I vividly remember that stylish long white dress I wore for an opening gala, chosen with a perfect length to hide a pair of sneakers underneath — fellow event organizers will understand.

A year later, I struggle to reconcile that version of myself with the one caught in the vicious cycle of dressing in Covid times — the one who gets up every morning and works out in the same leggings she wore to bed the night before and ends up showering only to be right back where she started: choosing between 2 or 3 pairs of sweatpants to sit and write in comfort. Perhaps the one silver lining of the last year, what felt like a break from societal demands on appearance, a goodbye to restrictive clothing, and the sudden death of bras, now feels like another way the pandemic has deconstructed the person I used to be.

Is the era of comfort over fashion here to stay? Maybe, but we've also found a middle ground. Hoodies and tracksuits, but also silk sets and long tunics, have been reintroduced into our closets as staple pieces, and as part of our adaptation to a more casual living experience. Suddenly, loungewear is all-day-wear and athleisure has become the new standard. Below, we've compiled a list of some Latin American brands that are succeeding on these two fronts.

ENTREAGUAS

Philanthropy meets art in Natalia Botero's vision of "wearable art," where sophisticated pieces of art are crafted with organic dyeing techniques and handwork by skilled artisans who are also women heads of households. During the pandemic, the brand presented its second collection of outerwear, dyed with mud from the Colombian village of Guatapé and mixed with turmeric and cabbage. In the words of the brand “In our dyeing workshop, we are constantly discovering new colors and testing new materials to show you all that nature has to show us!” entreaguas.com.co

PORT DE BRAS

Clarissa Egaña, the Venezuelan designer and entrepreneur behind this athleisure brand, has become a true advocate and unofficial ambassador for loungewear. Her clothes elevate everyday sportswear by integrating ruffles, shoulder pads, and color-blocked pieces. Egaña's latest contribution is multi-purpose clothing for the active woman, which can be worn at home, at the gym, and even at the pool. Its products are designed for the fashion-conscious consumer. portdebras.com

ESCVDO

ESCVDO is an ethical luxury brand inspired by Peru's rich cultural heritage. The brand's collections combine ancestral textile traditions with premium fibers. While not traditional loungewear, the impeccably soft alpaca wool sweaters, and hand-knitted tunics are a great option for at-home bliss. escvdo.com

Photo courtesy of Carolina K.

CAROLINA K

To close this list with a bang, let’s talk about a Mexican brand that believes “the present is handmade.” Carolina K is an ethical lifestyle brand that works with more than 200 artisans globally in the making of timeless pieces. Her designs are an ideal choice if you’re looking for a happy hour-appropriate slip dress or a comfy kimono to wear to a socially distanced garden party. carolinak.com