What a delight to have our upcycled jean jacket in a Nicaraguan fashion show! Not just a fashion show, but one called “Hecho en Nicaragua” which means “made” in Nicaragua. The best designers and artisans of Nicaragua were featured during the Oct. 29 show.
The back of the jacket was a collaborative effort painted by Byron (of Gue_Gue) and embroidered-sewn by Maria Magnolia. The carefully chosen preloved jacket was upcycled into a stunning piece of wearable art. Working together for the first time was a creative and exciting time as different techniques and ideas were shared.
The jacket was first shown on a Nicaraguan morning TV show before the “dias patrias” or patriotic days in September. This second showing was a wonderful chance to display it on a fashion runway as a piece of wearable art.
The back of the jacket features the hat of one of the main characters in “The Gueguense,” which UNESCO declared as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This satirical drama includes theatre, dance and music and represents the protest against colonial rule. It is considered one of Latin America’s most distinctive colonial-era expressions.
The interpretive art-to-wear jacket included peacock feathers, flowers, beading, fringe and straw. All of these are part of the traditional hat worn during the patriotic festival during January in the town of Diriamba, Nicaragua.