Models wear designs by Martin Churba during BA Fashion Week 2010. (AP/ Natacha Pisarenko)

Buenos Aires is the city where “shopping” is much more than an action verb for describing the favorite indoor activity of many females…“shopping” is a place. In fact, BA is home to some of the largest gallerias—or shoppings—in Latin America. BA shoppings like Alto Palermo, Paseo Alcorta, Patio Bullrich and the new DOT Baires mega-project all feature their share of international retail outlets, but those engaging in porteño retail therapy will also find a significant number of high-end stores and successful labels launched by Argentine designers. The highly anticipated BA Fashion Week, an annual showcase for Fall/Winter collections, is the launching pad for many of these aspiring designers. As always, this week’s event features dozens of designers showing a wide variety of unique garments and accessories like Cubreme’s coats, S-Mode’s swimsuits, Cosecha’s vintage clothing, Bienamada’s handbags and Ana Livni’s Uruguayan merino wool designs.  Not to be outdone on the global catwalk, the 2010 edition of BAFWeek is competing with Fashion Weeks in two other major fashion capitals, London & Milan. For foreign retail buyer inquiries regarding any of the collections featured in BAFWeek 2010, send a detailed e-mail to out@investba.com.