The Latin American Fashion Awards, taking place in the Dominican Republic on November 4, are the first international awards to honor and highlight creatives from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The awards were announced earlier this year, with an open call for submissions across 14 categories. Over 1,500 nominations from 23 countries were submitted.
Founders Constanza Etro and Silvia Argüello put together an elite group of designers, editors, and other heavyweight industry talent to form their international jury, with the Colombian-born designer Haider Ackermann named as its president. The jury includes Steven Kolb, CEO of the CFDA; Carlo Capasa, president of the Camera Nazionale della Moda in Italy; Vogue Mexico and Latin America’s Karla Martinez de Salas; and stylist and i-D global fashion editor Carlos Nazario, among many others.
The ceremony will take place at the famed Altos de Chavón amphitheater and will be hosted by the actress Leslie Grace, best known for the role of Nina in the In the Heights film based on the popular Lin-Manuel Miranda musical. Receiving the first Latin American Style Icon Award will be the Colombian superstar J Balvin, who will also perform during the ceremony. “I’m excited to be celebrating the next generation of Latin American designers and be surrounded by creative minds looking to push the boundaries,” he said in a statement. “I’m honored to be part of this event that cherishes hard work and creativity of the highest caliber.”
Other awards will highlight local talent from the host country—the awards will be hosted in a different location each time—along with diverse categories like photographer of the year, emerging brand of the year, and designer of the year, which includes many of New York’s greatest, Luar’s Raul Lopez and Willy Chavarria, among them. See below for the full list of Latin American Fashion Awards nominees.
Dominican Republic Local Star
Giannina Azar
Indo Mita
Le Blanc Studios
Lineisy Montero
Tiempo de Zafra
Yoanny Garcia
Emerging Photographer of the Year
Elliot
Erick
Gleeson Paulino
Pedro Napolinario
Santiago Sierra
Fashion Influencer of the Year
Andrea Zuckermann
Babba Rivera
Camila Coutinho
Laura Tobon
Marina Testino
Zaya Guarani
Fashion Artist of the Year
Chino Castilla, stylist
Marcelo Gutierrez, makeup artist
Stephania Yepes, stylist
Fashion Photographer of the Year
Camila Falquez
Mar+Vin
Sofia
Mauro
Model of the Year
America Gonzalez
Devyn Garcia
Hiandra Martinez
Lineisy Montero
Valentine
Fashion Film of the Year
Divina by Ode
Regreso a Venezuela by Marco Diaz
Rito by Mar+Vin
The Desert Spirit by Mauricio Sierra
Artisanal Project of the Year
A New Cross
Ayni
Carla Fernandez
Joao Maraschin
Mozhdeh Matin
Verdi
Responsible Project of the Year
Chain
Desserto
Ecocitex
Ponto Firme
Vistete de Sueños
Accessories Brand of the Year
Daniel Villegas
Fernando Jorge
Paula Mendoza
Sordo
Emerging Designer/Brand of the Year
À cheval
Banzo
Diotima
Elena Velez
Karoline Vitto
Lucas Leão
Brand of the Year
Agua by Agua Bendita
Botter
Farm Rio
Johanna Ortiz
Luar
Nous Etudions
Designer of the Year
Johanna Ortiz
Rodarte, Laura
Kate Mulleavy
Luar, Raul Lopez
Stella Jean
Willy Chavarria
Latin American Style Icon of the Year
J Balvin
