Antillana
We as a culture have that “je ne sais quoi”—that distinctive quality that gives us a particular look, a “rebulú” (mixture) of many elements which is phenomenal. That cultural mix became the heartbeat of my new proposal.
#ANTILLANA locates us, distinguishes us, gives us color, presents us to the world with joy, showing that white and black dancing together with their different cadences and with their distinctive beauties.
Vibrant. Unapologetic. Unforgettable.
About this project
Antillana was born from the lyrics of Carolina Camacho’s song “Palo de colores”—a celebration of our mixed heritage, our multicolored roots, our Afro-Antillean identity. This collection was my declaration that the Caribbean woman deserves to see herself reflected in high fashion: intriguing, decided, and exotic like birds emerging from their cages.
Using endemic birds and flowers of the island as my starting point—the cigua palmera, chicuÃ, barrancolÃ, cotorra, and trodón—I transformed these elements into original prints and designs that visualized the woman who visits or lives in the Caribbean. This wasn’t just fashion; it was cultural documentation through textile design.
Collection Highlights
- Partnership with Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Antillana marked an innovative collaboration with Samsung for their Galaxy Note 9 launch, merging technology and fashion in an unprecedented partnership that brought Caribbean design to a global tech platform.
- Original Print Creation: Every print in this collection was hand-designed, featuring representations of the Caribbean Sea, the caoba flower, the rosa de Bayahibe, peonies, and endemic birds—creating a visual encyclopedia of Antillean natural heritage translated into wearable art.
- Multi-Sensory Fashion Experience: Beyond the runway, Antillana came to life through a specially designed menu at Santoña restaurant in the Ciudad Colonial, co-created with Chef Omar Brito and Oinos Wine Club. The culinary pairing allowed guests to taste what the collection represented—bringing together gastronomy and fashion in a complete sensory celebration of Antillean culture.
The collection presented in blocks—morning changes, afternoon looks, and gala evening wear—ensuring every Antillana woman could find a piece for each moment of her day. I worked with luxurious textiles including silk, charmeuse, georgette, cyberlina, and tulle, incorporating subtle embroidery, holographic pieces, structured garments, boots, and typographic belts.
Antillana represented a turning point in my artistic journey. After empowering myself with Caribbean culture through my 2010 Pulowi collection, Antillana took that commitment deeper—embracing our “mezcolanza” (mix), our Afro-Antillean roots, and transforming them into a fashion series that would continue to evolve. The collection became a manifesto: we are descendants of Black, descendants of White, we have many colors, many flavors, and we deny none of them.
This was fashion as cultural reclamation. This was the irreverent woman—the “mujer zonera”—stepping into her light, turning night into a sea of contrasts with bursts of tropical colors. This was a call to renaissance, an acceptance of our darker side while maintaining elegance. This was Antillana.
