Reina de las Fabricas: 2017

“There is always a Latin influence in my designs, it could be the colors, the print, the textures or the volumes, it is all a mix of our festive background and abundant biodiversity. Johanna Ortiz

Guo Pei, Dolce and Gabban and the all-time legend Alexander Macqueen are known for the creation of dresses beyond the “art for art sake” note. Guo Pei creates mind blowing and exceptional pieces laced with strong aura of national pride and cultural expression, undoubtedly the pride of Chinese fashion and Macqueen's Savage Beauty, a beautiful interpretation of the occupation of Scotland. Johanna Ortiz is a yet another designer who makes the business of dress making more than an artistic expression but also a statement. Alessandra Codinha for Vouge stressed the beauty of Ortiz’s dresses which are far more than the marriage of fabric and femininity but the expression of patriotism. Can a pretty party dress also make a political statement? Johanna Ortiz thinks so. The well-established Colombian purveyor of ruffled feminine frocks has found increasing success for her statement silhouettes in the American market. But that doesn't make her any less concerned with what's going on back at home.

Ortiz began designing her Spring collection when it looked like Colombia would be ratifying a landmark peace treaty with the FARC rebels that would put an end to a 52-year conflict—one that has claimed the lives of an estimated 260,000 people. But on Sunday, a low number (38 percent) of Colombian voters turned out and the peace deal was narrowly defeated in a referendum in another Brexit-like shock to the system. So, when Ortiz embroiders Give Peace A Chance on the back of one of her military green ruffled tops, it's not just because it's cute. She really means it.

Ortiz's most successful designs have a sort of fête-ready flair. There are wiggle skirts with cascading ruffles, sultry off-the shoulder blouses, and snug lace separates with dramatic sleeves and strategic flounce. Even with the passion of making a political statement, the collection is not dampened in the political situation. Most of the collection took inspiration from her native Colombia, from its legacy of magical realism to its less fortunate realities. A darker section matched a verdant green with black lace and was inspired by “the light through the trees in the forest,” said Ortiz, pointing out some subtly sequined bird designs.

This is what is most interesting for me, the cuts are so simple like the words that jump at you from a children’s novel. But you only have to look at them in a matter of seconds to see the innocence of each creation, the vibrate and ethnicity that floods each creation. And the delicacy of the fabric and the soft colours, it is safe to say that the modern day woman who is bold yet shy, independent yet delicate, sultry yest polite would work well with ever piece in her collections.

Her Spring/Summer collection has a play with cool colours and her execution of pieces in Army dream is beyond a dream. She explores ruffles as well, an art i must say sits well with her collection (I am not a fan of ruffles but as do a few designers like Zuhair Murad, she make me rethink ,my stand).