From streetwear to sustainability: local designers present their collections in the heart of the criolla city.
The fashion event Paseo Pasarela (PasPas) returns to Plaza Santiago R. Palmer in Caguas on Saturday, July 5, for its fifth edition, spotlighting twenty local designers.
PasPas maintains its commitment to presenting diverse and sustainable fashion through the use of reusable materials and an inclusive approach, breaking down barriers around beauty standards, sizing and gender.
"It is a space for artistic expression for emerging and established fashion designers who specialize in streetwear and ready-to-wear," said Cristina Núñez, founder and director of the runway show.
The event's format also seeks to break with the traditional runway model. Unlike conventional runway shows, the event is free, open to the public and has no dress code.
A niche without representation
The idea for Paseo Pasarela came to Núñez while she was completing academic research for her university courses, when she identified "a very large niche of designers who had no more representation than their social media."
In 2019, Núñez founded Paseo Pasarela "as a community alternative so that local designers who don't have the capital to produce their own runway shows can come together and have real visibility and impact in their community," she told Platea.
And why the plaza? The connection to Caguas is personal for Núñez, who is from Caguas.
The inspiration for holding the event in the very heart of the criolla city came from a story her mother told her: "Before, when people left Mass, they would go for a walk around the plaza to show off their Sunday clothes," she recalled.
Educating the next generation of designers
The impact of Paseo Pasarela has expanded beyond the annual event. In September 2023, in collaboration with Nuestra Escuela, a community-based organization that provides educational services to children, youth and adults in Caguas and Loíza, the fashion design school "Nuestra Moda" opened.
This educational project offers vocational courses in sustainable fashion, creative processes, digital fashion design, garment construction and pattern making.
The school also aims to guide young designers in finding their own identity within the fashion world.
Recently, students from Nuestra Moda presented the collection "Aché", inspired by Afro-descendant heritage, at Plaza Santiago R. Palmer.
31 young people who took workshops in sewing, design and cultural history took part in the project.
The designers of the fifth edition
In the fifth edition of PasPas, participating designers will include Héctor Omar, Allen Bonet, Edwin Muñiz and William Murphy, who challenge gender norms through their styles.
Also taking part will be María Cristina Santiago, Lizaimi Rivera, Daniela Fabrizi and Crystal Vélez with their collections that incorporate sustainable practices.
Emerging designer Neysha De León, whose work was recently featured in Vogue México for dressing urban artist Bad Bunny in a pava crown, will debut her first collection at the event.
De León's style also drew attention at the Met Gala, where Bad Bunny wore a contemporary take on the traditional Puerto Rican jíbaro hat.
Other creators presenting their designs at this edition of Paseo Pasarela are Víctor Morales of Calle 40, Gabriela Valentín, Alexandra Astor, Ángel Ramos, Stephanie Carlo, Jorge Marrero, Cristina Núñez, Rebekah Caruccini and Mariana Vidal Goss.
Although each designer presents individual proposals without an established central theme, "there is always a harmony in what is presented," Núñez emphasized.
Over five years, Paseo Pasarela has remained a free event, open to anyone who wants to stop and enjoy the show.
Paseo Pasarela will take place at 6:00 p.m. at Plaza Santiago R. Palmer, as part of the municipality's "Los sábados pa' la Plaza" initiative.
After the event, attendees can connect with the designers through their Instagram page: @paseopasarela.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
