If you consume fashion news religiously like we do, then you’ll know there’s an ever-growing group of brands and designers to keep up with, and the sartorial scene feels more creative, exciting, inclusive, and well-rounded than ever before. Every month, ELLE celebrates those of Latin heritage and the work they do to bring unique perspectives to the industry. And this Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re shining a spotlight on some of our favorites.
Latin designers like Raul Lopez of Luar and Willy Chavarria of his own eponymous label have fast become some of the biggest names on the New York Fashion Week calendar as well as favorites among celebrities and industry experts alike. But beyond runways and magazine covers, there’s an entire subset of Latin brands that are both inspiring and shoppable. Particularly in New York, those in-the-know will appreciate Tumbao, a curative retail community of Latin brands (the self-proclaimed largest curation in the world) that started as a series of pop-ups and landed at a permanent location on the Lower East Side. There, emerging and established brands, artisans, and artists come together for an experiential shopping experience dedicated to their heritage.
Outside of physical retail spaces, though, and especially given the accessibility of e-commerce and social media, creatives from all around the world are able to build and promote brands that have global reach, even if they’re not part of the official fashion month circuit. One thread that many of these brands have in common is a commitment to sustainability, whether through slow, small-batch production or a full-fledged path towards circularity. Maybe it’s not just because they’re Latin, but one can’t help but think of the gorgeous natural landscapes of Latin America, many of which have seen some of the worst effects of climate change, and surmise that there might be a connection. Of course, appreciation for the environment isn’t exclusive to one group of people, but the unified mindset across the spectrum of Latin designers is undeniable.
Now, this is where the fun begins. With just a few swipes and clicks, we can shop these incredible Latin brands from around the world. Below, we’ve gathered the must-know Latin brands to add to both your wardrobe and your vocabulary.
Hernán Herdez
Melissa Hernández designs for her brand, Hernán Herdez, as if pieces are wearable sculptures rather than jewelry. “I often research art to find ways to make the body a part of the experience,” she says. “It’s important for me to provide visual stimulation and serve as a source of inspiration for others—just as other artists have inspired me. This way, we can keep art evolving through new interpretations.” Her label is modern and edgy, yet elegant and seasonless, much like any thought-provoking piece of art or the city it was founded in: New York. “[Hernán Herdez] was born in the city, and [is] in part inspired by my Caribbean roots,” adds Hernández, who is from Puerto Rico. “I really believe that neither would exist without the other—my experiences in both worlds have shaped the essence of the brand.”
Hernán Herdez Single Abrazo Earring
Hernán Herdez Alga Bracelet
Hernán Herdez Sterling Silver and Brass Puff Ring Set
Joao Maraschin
London-based, Brazilian-born designer Joao Maraschin, who showed his spring/summer 2025 collection in Copenhagen in August, has created a global narrative of innovation and sustainability through gorgeous, eye-catching knits and graphic, hand-printed denim, crafted with responsibly sourced or repurposed fabrics and materials. “It’s an approach so ingrained in how we operate that we no longer feel the need to shout about it,” he says. “It’s simply how we do business.” Maraschin has built a community of artisans in Brazil, the U.K., and beyond to empower people of various backgrounds and make an impact. “We bring artisans into the decision-making process, which reflects a culturally-rooted attitude of closeness and collaboration,” he adds. “Though I’m based in London, those [Brazilian] cultural values—especially the sense of working like a big family—are always with me.”
Joao Maraschin Bright Lights Printed Trousers
Joao Maraschin Bright Lights Tee Short Sleeves
Joao Maraschin Bright Lights Printed Shirt
Banzo World
What began as a vintage-upcycling project for designer Camila Banzo, Banzo World has become a notable brand for sustainability and inclusion since its inception in 2021. A finalist for the Latin American Awards’ Emerging Designer category, Banzo sources and reimagines unique, gender-neutral pieces in her Mexico City studio, though her reach expands to New York, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. Her label offers a glimpse into a future of deconstructed and recycled garments, a universe in which clothing is whimsical, sustainable, and uniquely personal.
Banzo World From the Button Jar Blazer
Banzo World Bond Cropped Jacket
Esquina Esquina
“What if Paris Hilton and a gaucho had a daughter?” asks Josefina Roveta. “That’s Esquina.” The Argentinian label, based in Buenos Aires, offers a look at the complexities of Latin American culture. Combining generational craft, fostered through relationships with local artisans, with modern references like 2000s pop culture, which Roveta remembers from her childhood watching VH1, the brand aims to reclaim Argentina’s heritage in a nuanced, youthful way. Roveta brings the fresh ideas, but the brand’s biggest differentiator is its dedication to craft. “Artisans are now the protagonists of my collections, and I engage in dialogue with them, learning from their expertise,” Roveta says. “These elements embody the true essence of luxury: time and knowledge cherished from generation to generation.”
Esquina Esquina Saravia Shirt
Esquina Esquina Coronel Diaz Coat
Esquina Esquina Padilla Pant
Cornelio Borda
“We design products that catch your eye and tell a story,” says Renata García-Menacho, the designer of shoe brand Cornelio Borda. “I believe if I like our shoes, then other people will like them too.” Named after the street in Lima that García-Menacho’s great aunts lived on, Cornelio Borda is a niche company that will only scale according to its local limits. “We are not a mass production company,” she adds. “We are able to scale our production to a certain amount due to our close connection with shoemaker families in Lima.” Inspired by the Moche Indian heritage of her aunts, the brand aims to maintain Peruvian craftsmanship and use sustainable materials, including styles made with deadstock alpaca yarn. Cornelio Borda is both a Peruvian and Italian shoe company, so inspiration for the fun, colorful designs comes from both cultures. “We put a strong emphasis on teamwork,” García-Menacho says. “The team in Peru and the team in Italy are always exchanging and giving feedback to each other, which is important to maintain [a level of] playfulness and sophistication.”
Cornelio Borda Ladybird Green
Cornelio Borda Nanda White
Cornelio Borda Tintina Caramel
Esånt
Mexican brand Esånt’s Instagram page reads more like a curated gallery exhibit than a fashion label’s feed, with as much art as there are images of the clothes. Aline Diaz, the founder and creative director of the brand, brings an intellectualism to her designs, heavily inspired by artists of all backgrounds and styles, and doesn’t shy away from the joys of simplicity. Clean lines and intentional color palettes are hallmarks of the minimalistic sensuality of her aesthetic, shedding light on the more simplistic side of Latin American fashion. The brand is for the modern woman, unbound by labels or trends, who instead is searching for an elevated everyday wardrobe, with splashes of glamour expertly sprinkled in at the right moments, just how any good curator does it.
Esant Mirror Velvet Dress
Farm Rio
“Everything we do pays tribute to our roots,” says Farm Rio co-founder Katia Barros. Created almost 30 years ago and after expanding to international markets in 2019, the label continues to stay a relevant by expressing the energy of its home country of Brazil. Known for its vibrant prints and colors, the brand boasts collaborations with the likes of Adidas. “Our sense of community and collaboration defines us—more than just a brand, we are a group of creatives,” Barros says. “This collaborative spirit, so central to Latin culture, has been key to our success and has helped us reach where we are today.” The company is also sustainabile, contributing to the restoration of Brazilian biomes through the 1000 Trees a Day, Every Day program, which—as the name suggests—plants one thousand trees every day in Brazil. Over 1.5 million trees have been planted so far, a third of which have gone to the Amazon rainforest. Farm Rio is also B-Corp-certified, and uses responsible materials and recycling initiatives to work towards a circular business model.
Farm Rio Anika Flowers Maxi Dress
Farm Rio Long Sleeve Dress
Farm Rio Animal Print Long Sleeve Dress
Now 25% Off
Sloan
Julia Sloan created her brand in 2020 to benefit women on both sides of the business. First, she creates practical, chic clothing that all women can wear and feel elegant in. Second, she empowers the women making the clothes by running an at-home production operation, which allows for a network of female artisans based in Mexico to contribute to each collection while working from home to care for their families. The garments are sleek and timeless, made to seamlessly fit into any season and withstand any trend.
By Sloan The Poplin Striped Pant
By Sloan The Cardigan Shirt Dress
Genes
Genes Brand, based in Lima, Peru, is a family-owned, B-Corp-certified knitwear business dedicated to sustainably-minded processes. Cousins Carolina Anaya and Juan Miguel Rosell founded the company to bring a contemporary, intentional mindset to their family business. “With over 30 years of experience in knitwear, our family’s legacy gave us both the knowledge and the motivation to reimagine knitwear through a modern and more sustainable lens,” Anaya says. The company uses organic, locally-sourced materials and works with local Peruvian artisans to maintain a zero-waste operation and produce knitwear that is light and youthful, but also elevated. “Even as we grow globally,” Anaya says, “we preserve this perspective, ensuring that each garment carries the same care, attention to detail, and connection to our Latin heritage.”
ABL Estudio
Alvaro Barrera Lozano works out of a studio in Monterrey, Mexico, in the same building that his dad, siblings, and grandpa grew up in. Heritage, he says, is huge. His brand, ABL Estudio, only recently started releasing collections, after first building a business off of made-to-order garments. Leather jackets and star-shaped cutout tops seem to be its bread and butter, but ABL’s appeal is in the slowness of its ethos, not bound to a fashion schedule, but instead only to its direct customer. “The biggest challenge is educating people on why our clothes are worth it compared to fast fashion,” Barrera Lozano says. “Fast fashion is getting really good at making beautiful pieces, and at greenwashing as well, but I’m hopeful!” ABL recently ventured into the New York scene at Tumbao’s downtown store with the Los Ébanos collection. With expansion, for some designers, comes an existential question: Who are you outside of your culture? “I feel like non-Euro, non-American designers often exoticize their own culture to appeal to the Euro-centric audience, which I’m like, get your bag,” Barrera Lozano says. “But if I use references of my heritage, I want them to be genuine to me.”
ABL Monterrey de Rayas T-Shirt
Paula Mendoza
Paula Mendoza isn’t exactly a new name—the Colombian jewelry designer has been creating bold, futuristic pieces for decades. What’s fresh about her brand, though, is the constant innovation (she recently launched a sunglasses category, named after her favorite artists and tastemakers) and a distinct look that still feels different despite her tenure in the industry. “No matter what I’ve studied or where my focus lies in fashion, my upbringing in a country filled with richness, vibrant colors, lush greenery, and flowing rivers has shaped how I design,” Mendoza explains. “Every time that I try to design very formally, it just doesn’t work. So I think the inspiration just comes from the trips that I take, from the conversations that I have with friends, or just simply people that inspire me, from exhibitions at museums and even people on the street.”
Paula Mendoza Helios Silver Hoops
Paula Mendoza Dali Crystal Olive
Paula Mendoza Big Moon Ear Cuff
Damaya
Daniela Amaya, the founder and designer of the shoe brand Damaya, wants to show the edgy side of Latin culture. “Most people think of bright colors and tropical vibes when they think of Latin American design, but my background brings a more city-driven, edgy approach,” Amaya says. “Bogotá is a city that’s not often associated with fashion, but it has this gritty, artistic side that really shaped me.” That attitude is exhibited in the brand’s sexy, almost-punk designs, complete with harsh angles, lace-up straps, and bold metallics. The wearers of Damaya, as Amaya puts it, have a “magnetic presence; they’re both daring and elegant, with a kind of mystery that draws you in.” What more could you want from a shoe?
Karoline Vitto
Brazilian designer Karoline Vitto is a champion of body positivity, with collections consistently designed to celebrate all shapes and sizes. Named Emerging Designer of the Year by the Latin American Fashion Awards, a semi-finalist for the 2024 LVMH Prize, and supported by Dolce & Gabbana during her spring/summer 2024 show at Milan Fashion Week, Vitto has had a run of well-deserved achievements and proves that designing for women outside of “sample size” (Vitto’s samples start at size 16) can empower rather than hide the bodies we’re meant to protect and cherish.
Karoline Vitto Barely There Skirt
Karoline Vitto Nyakier Bikini Top
Karoline Vitto Midi Metal Ladder Dress
Now 3% Off
Minena
Based in Mexico City, Minena was founded by María José, María del Mar, and María Gabriela as a way to reclaim the power and freedom that comes with wearing beautiful, feminine clothes. Experimenting with silhouette, but often featuring pastel colors, delicate ruching, and light, airy fabrics, Minena asks the onlooker and the wearer at once: What would a grown woman wear if she still lived by the memories of her girlhood?
Minena Vestido White Canvas 001
Minena Vestido Tan Gogh 002
Religare
Through Religare, Colombian designers Manuela Peña and Natalia Posada aim to connect with and honor nature with their designs, made to celebrate the earth and the body in one. “Natural is a luxury,” they say in the brand’s mission statement. Using natural dyes and timeless silhouettes, they work with local artisans in Colombia to create pieces inspired by the female gaze that are both seductive and effortless at the same time.
Mozhdeh Matin
Born and bred in Peru, Mozhdeh Matin boasts a heritage spanning oceans. As the daughter of Iranian parents, Matin weaves traditional Peruvian knitting techniques into modern, elegant, and playful clothing. Colors and patterns range from vibrant to understated, giving the brand a wearability that’s both effortless and individual. What Matin excels in are sophisticated (but not serious) knit sets and incredible color combinations, but the brand also just released a new capsule for fall, featuring a type of vegan leather made using rubber ethically extracted from the Peruvian Amazon. This latex-like material, also known as shiringa, has never been used in clothing before and is crafted in small batches to maintain sustainability—a key pillar of Matin’s brand.
Mozhdeh Matin Corina Shirt Black
Mozhdeh Matin Shine Pants
Mozhdeh Matin Zig Zag Pants Green
Now 62% Off
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