Note from BW of Brazil: Wow, is it really that time again? Yes indeed, Brazil’s most famous events dedicated to the latest designer fashions took place in the nation’s largest, most famous cities. If you’ve followed this blog throughout its existence, you’ll have noted that models from Rio, São Paulo and the nation’s capital city of Brasília consistently protest the annual whitewashing of fashion events. As in television shows, advertising and too many other areas to name, Brazil’s equivalent of similar events in New York, Paris, London and Milan continuously makes the nation appear to be an extension of Europe in tropics rather the country with the largest number of African descendants outside of the Africa continent. So, was this year any different? Well, though the numbers aren’t in yet, a protest in Rio would suggest that percentage-wise it was the same ole, same ole. On the other hand, it was refreshing to see black models rocking out their natural kinks and curls. But um….hmmmm….how can I say this? Men in skirts?!?!?I’m still not feeling this trend we are noting on an international level. I don’t find it cute when it’s of the comedic buffoonery variety or on the runway. What do you think? Peep the reports and photos below.
Curly/kinky hair was a trend at São Paulo Fashion Week; fashionistas give tips to rock your curls
On the corridors of SPFW, voluminous hair styles called attention
by Ana Flora Toledo
The wave of the chapinha (flat iron) and escova progressive (progressive brush) is ending. At least so it seems to those circulating the halls of São Paulo Fashion Week which presents the trends for summer 2014 to 2015. There were many fashionistas who took rocked their curls and had success with natural afro hair. We interviewed the most stylish girls of the event and ask: how does one care for curly/kinky hair? Check out the tips.
Alana Moreira, promoter, carries a great trick for her curls: the leave-in. According to the morena, it is capable of leaving her curls defined and voluminous. To get the result, she washes her hair daily and then applies the product.
Model Carolina Prazeres’ trick is to define the curls with a diffuser. After using products suitable for her type of hair, she dries it and applies oil.
Modeling sisters Suzana and Suzene Massena avoid wetting the hair every day and moisturize it whenever they can. “The most important thing is to avoid washing your hair in hot water in order not to dry it out. We always wash our hair in cold water and then continue bathing in hot water.” This precaution avoids the dryness of the locks that are already naturally dry.
Elen Adjard is a model and chooses to leave her hair very well dry to define the curls. To do this, wash it every other day. “In the day that I wash it, I leave loose naturally; when not, I opt to do a hairstyle with clips.” The fashionista’s trick when washing is to apply the leave in with wet hair and let it dry naturally. When the locks are dry, she uses a hair dryer to finalize the root and loosen the curls with a comb. A tip repair is applied to finish it and leave her hair shiny.
Journalist Maitê Freitas is stylish and likes to wear turbans for innovating an african look. “It’s a great option to look beautiful without wasting much time.” She washes her hair once a week and for daily maintenance applies a coconut or aloe vera based cream. Her best trick is always moisturizing.
Designer presents only black models on the runway of the São Paulo Fashion Week
By Andressa Zanandrea; photos Francisco Cepeda
The men’s collection was presented by men and women
With a casting consisting of only black models, men and women, Alexandre Herchcovitch presented the 2015 men’s summer collection inspired by religious clothing mixing Zulu and Christianity.
The designer returned to dress men in skirts combined with shirts and jackets. Besides neutral tones, red, pink and orange also colored the clothing.
Black models protest at the entrance of Fashion Rio
About 20 people, including men and women complained against the small quantity of blacks on the runways of fashion week.
By Léo Martinez and Marcelle Ribeiro
About 20 black models, men and women aged 12 to 24, protested on Wednesday afternoon at the main entrance of Fashion Rio, held at the Marina da Glória, in the south of the city. Militants of the GPMS – Grupo palco dos mil sonhos (stage of a thousand dreams group), complained against the quota of blacks on the runways and the right of inclusion of African descendant professionals in the Rio fashion event.
Dressed with shirts that read “esta é a minha cor (this is my color)” (in Portuguese and English), were lined up posing for photographs at the door of the fashion event.
Despite of the peaceful movement, some security guards were deployed to the demonstration so that it occurred in an organized manner. The speeches and the amount of people at the door of the Fashion Rio eventually drew the attention of many onlookers. Last year, in the winter edition of the fashion parades held in the month of November, 40 removed their clothes (and protested) in the name of black consciousness.
Leônidas Lopes, director of GPMS, said the idea is to garner more space for blacks not only in fashion shows, but also in advertising.
According to him, from 2010 to 2012, Luminosidade (the company promoting Fashion Rio) was obligated to comply with a Term Adjustment of Conduct (TAC) which determined that 10% of the models who participated in the parades had to be black.
The TAC was not renewed, he said, because Luminosidade said it was not necessary and that it would increase blacks on the runway. “I think there has to be a requirement of not more than 10% but 20% ,” said Lopes.
For model Zaíra Simões, 18, who participated in the act, many people come to watch the shows and don’t perceive the lack of representation on the catwalks.
“For many it is a very automatic thing to come here and not realize there are no blacks,” she said. In the opinion of 18-year old model Marina Moura, the agencies are not interested in having a higher percentage of blacks among models they tout. “The greatest market demand is not for blacks. Agencies believe that having many blacks means having prejudice,” she said.
Source: Revista Quem, Bolsa de Mulher, Ego, Terra Moda
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