An Exclusive Look Inside the Latin American Fashion Awards

This weekend, some of the most influential names in fashion descended on Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for the first-ever Latin American Fashion Awards. Hosted by Leslie Grace and Iván de Pineda, designers and brands were honored in categories such as Designer of the Year, Brand of the Year, and more. The night concluded with a performance from the evening’s Icon of the Year, J Balvin.

The three-day event, founded by Constanza Etro and Silvia Agüello, kicked off with a welcome cocktail on Thursday, November 2. The jury, presided over by Haider Ackermann and comprised of ELLE editor-in-chief Nina Garcia; journalist Anna Dello Russo; stylist and i-D global fashion director Carlos Nazario; supermodel, actor, and activist Indya Moore; Fondazione Sozzani creative director Sara Sozzani Maino; and philanthropist, strategic Investor, and entrepreneur Carmen Busquets, among others, then deliberated a slew of categories on Friday, November 3. The jurors and nominees eventually came together for an intimate celebration at Oscar de la Renta’s historic private villa at the Puntacana Resort & Club.

And the party continued from there. Last night, the results from the jury were revealed at the grand ceremony—the Latin American Fashion Awards’ tentpole celebration. Hosted inside the Altos de Chavón Amphitheater at Casa de Campo, Grace opened the night with a stirring performance, backed by a full, Dominican-inspired band. De Pineda then came onstage to introduce the event’s co-founders, Etro and Agüello, who emphasized the importance of the gathering to the Latin American community.

Then came the first award, Accessory Brand of the Year, presented by Anna Dello Russo, which went to Daniella Villegas. Other winners included Camila Falquez for Fashion Photographer of the Year, Karoline Vitto for Emerging Designer/Brand of the Year, Marcelo Gutierrez for Fashion Artist of the Year, and Lineisy Montero, who received the award for Dominican Republic Local Star, presented by actress Moore and rapper Tokischa. In her remarks, Moore hinted at the global conflict happening in the world right now. “We can grow to be more respectful, more kind, more compassionate, more open, and more curious, and in those small changes we make in our personal relationships with each other and with strangers, I think that will bring us closer to a world that will change,” she told the crowd. “This event is symbolic of that, the unification of a diaspora that is so beautiful.”

Next, Busquets presented the award for Responsible Project of the Year, given to two individuals—Ecocitex and Desserto—as the jury could not come up with one winner. For the unfamiliar, Ecocitex, based in Chile, takes discarded clothing from a landfill and converts it into wool and yarn, which is then used by local artisans to create new garments. Desserto, founded by Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez, hails from Mexico and developed a vegan alternative to leather from a cactus. Both projects were chosen for their noted impact around sustainability.

The ceremony wrapped up with the two biggest statues: Brand of the Year, presented by Garcia to Raul Lopez of Luar, and Designer of the Year, presented by Ackermann to Willy Chavarria.

“Everything starts from one person’s dream,” Ackermann said before presenting the award. “Never ever forget about your dream. A dream you dream alone, it’s only a dream. A dream you dream together? It’s reality.”

For the grand finale, Icon of the Year J Balvin performed a rousing set full of his top hits, including “I Like It” and “Mi Gente,” among others, getting the crowd on their feet while he shrieked “Latin American Fashion Awards!” at the top of his lungs.

See all winners and nominees below, and for a VIP look inside the star-studded night, keep scrolling to click through our gallery.

---

Designer of the Year

• Winner: Willy Chavarria (Mexico)
• Johanna Ortiz (Colombia)
• Laura & Kate Mulleavy (Mexico)
• Rual Lopez (Dominican Republic)
• Stella Jean (Haiti)
• Willy Chavarria (Mexico)

Brand of the Year

• Winner: Luar (Dominican Republic)
• Agua by Agua Bendita (Colombia)
• Botter (Curacao, Dominican Republic)
• Farm Rio (Brazil)
• Johanna Ortiz (Colombia)
• Luar (Dominican Republic)
• Nous Etudions (Argentina)

Emerging Designer/Brand of the Year

• Winner: Karoline Vitto (Brazil)
• Acheval (Argentina)
• Banzo (Mexico)
• Diotima (Jamaica)
• Elena Velez (Puerto Rico)
• Karoline Vitto (Brazil)
• Lucas Leao (Brazil)

Artisanal Project of the Year

• Winner: Verdi (Colombia)
• A New Cross (Colombia)
• Ayni (Peru)
• Carla Fernandez (Mexico)
• Joao Maraschin (Brazil)
• Mozhdeh Matin (Peru)
• Verdi (Colombia)

Responsible Project of the Year

• Winners: Ecocitex (Chile) and Desserto (Mexico)
• Chain (Argentina)
• Ecocitex (Chile)
• Ponto Firme (Brazil)
• Vistete de Suenos (Venezuela)

Accessories Brand of the Year

• Winner: Daniela Villegas (Mexico)
• Fernando Jorge (Brazil)
• Paula Mendoza (Colombia)
• Sordo (Venezuela)

Fashion Film of the Year

• Winner: “Divina” by Ode (Brazil)
• “Regreso a Venezuela” by Maco Diaz (Venezuela)
• “Rito” by Kelvin Yule & Marcos Florentino (Brazil)
• “The Desert Spirit” by Maurico Sierra (Mexico)

Model of the Year

• Winner: Hiandra Martinez (Dominican Republic)
• America Gonzalez (Venezuela)
• Devyn Garcia (Cuba)
• Hiandra Martinez (Dominican Republic)
• Lineisy Montero (Dominican Republic)
• Valentine (Mexico)

Fashion Artist of the Year

• Winner: Marcelo Gutierrez, Makeup Artist (Colombia)
• Chino Castilla, Stylist (Mexico)
• Stephania Yepes, Stylist (Colombia)

Emerging Fashion Photographer of the Year

• Winner: Elliot and Erick (Cuba)
• Gleeson Paulino (Brazil)
• Pedro Napolinario (Brazil)
• Santiago Sierra (Mexico)

Fashion Photographer of the Year

• Winner: Camila Falquez (Mexico & Colombia)
• Mar + Vin (Brazil)
• Sofia & Mauro (Argentina)

Dominican Republic Local Star

• Winner: Lineisy Montero, Model
• Giannina Azar, Designer
• Indó Mita, Fashion Gallery
• Le Blanc Studios, Brand
• Tiempo de Zafra, Brand
• Yoanny García, Accessories Brand

Fashion Influencer of the Year

• Winner: Zaya Guarini (Brazil)
• Andrea Zuckermann (Mexico)
• Babba Rivera (Chile)
• Camila Coutinho (Brazil)
• Laura Tobón (Colombia)
• Marina Testino (Peru)

---