Colombia is the birthplace of many successful fashion designers who have set international trends with their distinctive styles. Silvia Tcherassi, Johanna Ortiz, Hernan Zajar, and Haider Ackermann are amongst the most recognized designers. Most of these designers incorporate symbols of Colombian culture into their designs.
Silvia Tcherassi
Silvia Tcherassi, born in Barranquilla, is one of the most renowned fashion designers in Colombia. After studying interior design, she started to create personalized T-shirts with leather appliqués. During a trip to Aruba in 1987, the owner of a local store saw one of her designs and placed an order. This moment marked the beginning of her fashion career.
By the 90s, Tcherassi had already founded her own fashion company, Altamoda, and opened her first store in Cali. After participating in national events such as Colombiamoda, in 1997 she entered the international market by opening a store in Miami. Since then, she has made a mark in the international fashion world, dressing celebrities such as Olympia of Greece, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, Tamara Falco, and Dua Lipa. Today, Tcherassi has more than 10 stores distributed across four regions of the world.
Johanna Ortiz
Johanna Ortiz, originally from Cali, studied fashion design at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, United States. Upon returning to Colombia, she began building her brand by opening a swimwear and beachwear store in her hometown. Her career took off in 2014 when she became the first Colombian to be featured on the prestigious fashion platform Moda Operandi. This recognition allowed her to expand internationally and today Ortiz has 120 luxury boutiques in 20 countries. Meghan Markle, Shakira, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Michelle Obama are among her clients.
Hernan Zajar
Hernan Zajar, from Santa Cruz de Mompox, studied Tourism Management in Spain before dedicating himself to the world of fashion. After returning to Colombia, he opened a restaurant where he would put on fashion shows. When the shows became the venue’s main attraction, he decided to pursue fashion seriously and developed his skills in Europe and the U.S.
Zajar has since been involved in prestigious events such as Colombiamoda and Cali Exposhow and has designed wardrobes for beauty pageants as well as for Colombian film, theater, and television productions. His ability to fuse traditional Colombian elements with modern trends has earned him international recognition. He has dressed celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Ivanka Trump, Claudia Schiffer, and Joan Collins.
Haider Ackermann
Haider Ackermann, a Colombian-French designer, studied fashion design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. Inspired by the legendary Yves Saint Laurent, Ackermann began his career working for major brands such as Bernhard Willhelm and Patrick Van Ommeslaeghe. In 2001, he launched his label and presented his first women’s collection. Ackermann has dressed prominent personalities such as Timothée Chalamet, Penelope Cruz, Tilda Swinton, Victoria Beckham, and Kanye West.