Desiderata

Prêt-à-BA: Desiderata helps kick off Day One of BAFWeek 2010 here in Buenos Aires. (Photo: Diego Bigolin)

The 2010 edition of BAFWeek is well underway, and the first two days have featured a wide variety of unique designs and Spring/Summer 2010/11 collections. First up was the Semillero UBA, the sixth annual presentation of designs by rising fashion stars from the University of Buenos Aires.  Desiderata showed a variety of wearable, well-tailored pieces, while vibrant colors (especially pinks and purples) and florals abounded at Juana de Arco. A live band played as models paraded down the runway at Wanama in the casual, wearable separates the brand is known for. The day wrapped up with Grupo 134‘s designs for men with predominantly gray silhouettes.

Day 2 started off with a packed house at the jungle-influenced runway at Rapsodia, where the collection mixed vibrant patterns and colors with fringe and sequins. Next came the gorgeous Middle-Eastern -inspired collection from Marcelo Senra, where models were dressed in flowing gowns and beautifully detailed head scarves. A monochrome palate prevailed at Kostüme, where the structured black and white garments were offset by the models’ dramatic salmon lips. Blacks and whites dominated the Uma show as well, albeit in a much more feminine way, with short skirts and blazers accented by playful oversized bows that served as headpieces. The final show of the night celebrated the 10th anniversary of menswear line Hermanos Estebecorena. Models came down the runway wearing shorts and lightweight jackets in khakis and army greens with the occasional punch of black or navy.

BAFWeek wraps up tonight at La Rural. Be sure to check back for our coverage of Day 3 and a complete overview of the event both here and in the upcoming issue of InvestBA Privada.

Tramando Nights

This week's Tramando Nights showcased BA designer Martin Churba's designs for the masses.

On July 12 and 13, renowned Argentine designer Martin Churba hosted Tramando Nights, a sample sale of sorts sponsored by L’Oreal and Chandon, in his gorgeous Recoleta showroom.  Guests sipped champagne, received complimentary makeovers, and tried on deeply discounted pieces from past Tramando collections. Churba, who considers himself a textile designer above all, creates pieces that are completely unique yet manage to retain an undeniably edgy elegance. More than simple garments, his designs are true avant garde works of art. The quality workmanship of each piece is evident in the intricately woven rubber material that the designer utilizes in the creation of his collections. The result is structured clothing that is eye-catching but still flattering, highlighting the wearer’s best features and making her truly stand out in a crowd. Which is what every woman wants, isn’t it?

Tramando, located at Rodriguez Peña 1973, celebrate’s its 7th anniversary this August. Look for more on the designer in our September issue of InvestBA Privada and be sure to follow VanityBA on Twitter.

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Puro Diseño Argentina 2010

Pure Design celebrates ten years of design excellence this weekend in Buenos Aires.

The Bicentennial celebration is only days away, but there is still one major Buenos Aires event between now and 25 de mayoPuroDiseño! With over 3,000 exhibitors and 700,000 attendees, the annual design Expo at the Rural in Palermo always delivers an eclectic mix of design, innovation, fashion and accessories. The 2010 edition will offer four unique spaces for specialized design: Puro Inedito (Limited Edition designs made especially for the Expo), Puro Verde (a space dedicated to sustainable design), La Selección (a showcase of young designers selected for the Expo), and Paseo de las Artes (works of art from some of Argentina’s most celebrated designers. The Casa Sustentable (Sustainable House) from 2009′s fair takes on new dimensions with this year’s Mundo Sustentable (Sustainable World) built entirely of bamboo and hosted by architect Mónica Cohen. The space will also showcase the first ecological hotel to be built soon in San Telmo. And for those feeling up to the design challenge, there is Work In Patchwork, the first PuroDiseño contest where entrants will design objects using patchwork techniques that blend disciplines, techniques and new materials. Judges at this year’s event include Benito Fernandez and Maria Zunino among others. (Official Website)

The mighty Touaregs return to Argentina on New Year's Day to compete in Dakar 2010.

The mighty Touaregs return to Argentina on New Year's Day to compete in Dakar 2010.

After two decades of races from Paris to Senegal, the 2010 edition of the Dakar Rally will be unleashed in the Argentine wilderness on New Year’s Day. Recent political instability in Africa prompted the trans-Atlantic crossing of the annual event to South America last year when the race was first run from Buenos Aires across the Andes into Central Chile, north into the Atacama Desert and back to Buenos Aires. (2009 Course) This year’s event will take place from January 1-17, and tourists, technology and Twitter will play expanding roles building on last year’s success. There were major public turnouts in 2009 given Argentines and Chileans shared love for motor sports, and this year’s course, a brutal 9,000 kilometer, counter-clockwise loop should pull solid crowds in Córdoba, Antofagasta, Santiago and of course BA. (2010 Course) As for technology, Adam Hoover of WhoWon.com says “5 pairs of Volkswagen drivers will battle against other competitors in Volkswagen Race Touaregs powered by 280 hp clean diesel, TDI engines. In 2009, Volkswagen scored a 1-2 victory in the Dakar Rally with its Race Touaregs in the car class. The German duo of Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz took the win.” Arizona native Mark Miller and teammate Ralph Pitchford (New Zealand) finished second making Miller the highest finishing American in Dakar’s history. While 2.9 million unique visitors followed the race last year online, that number should easily exceed 3 million this year thanks in part to Miller who will Twitter his way through the 2010 Rally. (Official Dakar 2010 Site)

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Bollywood superstar Lisa Ray is participating in this month's India Film Festival in Buenos Aires

Bollywood superstar Lisa Ray is participating in this month's India Film Festival in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires plays hosts to major international festivals year-round, but this month’s Festival of India finds Latin America’s most cosmopolitan metropolis showcasing the second fastest-growing economy in the world. As one of India’s leading cultural exports, Bollywood takes center stage during the Festival with the arrival of actress Lisa Ray and the launch of the Indian Film Festival this evening at the Borges Cultural Center. Ray, the 37-year-old star of Water and Bollywood/Hollywood, told Clarín that she likes walking through the streets of Buenos Aires where nobody recognizes her. (Full Story)  If this comment implies Bollywood hasn’t been widely embraced in Argentina, this month’s festival will be a welcome introduction. Screenings will be held every night through November 15 and then on the weekends through December. In addition, Ray will be speaking at both the Universidad del Cine and INCAA, the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts. According to the Embassy of India in Argentina, Ray will be meeting with Argentine filmmakers to discuss possible collaborations between Bollywood and Argentina. Hence, cinema’s newest international hybrid, Bollywood Porteño.

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