The 36th edition of Colombiamoda, Colombia’s most important fashion fair, closed this 2025 with outstanding figures: more than 60,000 visitors from 50 countries, solidifying Medellín’s role as the regional epicenter of fashion and the textile-apparel business.
Organized by Inexmoda, the event brought together 650 exhibiting brands from 14 Colombian departments, including Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Santander, Norte de Santander, and Valle del Cauca. On the international front, brands and buyers came from key markets such as Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Panama, the United States, and Puerto Rico.
‘Colombiamoda’ 2025 attracts over 60,000 visitors to the country’s leading fashion event
On Thursday, July 31, the 2025 edition of “Colombiamoda,” the most significant event in the South American country’s fashion sector, came to a close.
One of the most notable transformations of this edition was the implementation of the City Circuit model for the second consecutive year, taking fashion beyond traditional venues and into emblematic spaces such as Plaza Mayor, Plaza Botero, Parques del Río, and the Metropolitan Theater. A total of 34 runways were held across 46 locations, integrating fashion, urban art, and cultural heritage.
Memorable moments included the long-awaited return of Agua Bendita after more than a decade away; the opening by La Petite Mort; and a powerful trend-setting close by Mexican designers Julia and Renata, Mexican marking thier strong international influence.
The 36th edition generated an estimated economic impact of US$17.7 million for Medellín, fuelled by MICE tourism from visitors, buyers, and members of the national and international creative community.
Within the business hall, Colombiamoda hosted 11,000 buyers—9,000 domestic and 2,000 international—originating from countries such as the United States, Venezuela, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Peru. Thanks to support from Medellín’s Mayor’s Office, emerging entrepreneurs closed deals worth over COP 312 million (approximately US$76,000) and made 683 business contacts with potential local and foreign partners.
For Sebastián Díez, CEO of Inexmoda, “the 36th edition of Colombiamoda strengthens Colombia’s position as the epicenter where business, design, and culture converge to showcase an industry to the world that is defined by identity, innovation, and purpose.”
The event reflects a narrative connecting fashion with cultural identity, business creativity, and social responsibility. In this context, urban fashion—fueled by reggaeton and street-style influences—has become a growing export driver. Artists such as Maluma, J Balvin, and Karol G have helped shape a recognizable aesthetic that Medellín exports through brands like True, Undergold, and Monastery to markets such as the United States and Puerto Rico.
In 2025, fashion with purpose: Sustainability and responsibility
Sustainability was a central theme throughout the event. More than 50 brands took part in the Sustainability Route, showcasing practices in traceability, circularity, and the use of eco-innovative materials such as reclaimed cotton, hemp fiber, and recycled PET. Additionally, the Circular Fashion Market, organized in partnership with Coca-Cola, featured 20 ventures committed to responsible fashion and honored 10 companies aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Estimates suggest that recycling in the fashion sector yields the following environmental benefits: 1 ton of CO₂ emissions avoided—equivalent to what 73 trees absorb in a year; 1,870 m³ of water saved—comparable to the monthly consumption of 160 Bogotá households; and 3,170 kWh of energy reduced—equal to the monthly usage of 20 homes.
One of the participants in this upcycling initiative was TransMilenio SA, Bogotá’s public transport authority. Colombiamoda and Colombian-Venezuelan designer Alejandro Crocker collaborated to present for the first time the collection “Fragmentos” [Fragments]: an innovative concept that transforms the system’s old uniforms into garments of high aesthetic, ethical, and environmental value.
“Fragmentos” stems from the recovery and redesign of 1,146 disused items—including vests, jackets, caps, and raincoats—that for years formed part of TransMilenio SA’s institutional image. These garments are now repurposed as raw material for a creative concept that preserves the memories of workers and the stories of the more than four million people the system transports daily, giving them new life on the runways of Colombia.
Industry, exports, and global outlook
This meeting took place at a strategic moment for Colombia’s fashion industry. Between January and May 2025, exports from the sector grew by 2.7%, reaching US$370.2 million compared to the same period in 2024. The United States led purchases with 30.9% (US$114.3 million), followed by Ecuador and Mexico with shares of 15% and 10.6%, respectively.
Export surprises included an 884% increase in socks and knitwear, along with strong growth in natural leather goods (24.8%) and kitchen apparel (8.8%). Projections from Analdex estimate that the sector’s external sales could exceed US$900 million by the end of 2025.
For the time being, Colombia has avoided the worst tariff forecasts from the Trump administration, the export sector is not expected to suffer from the 10% surcharge that takes effect this week on sales to the U.S. On the contrary, as the country faces among the lowest tariffs compared to its main competitors, this short-term scenario could even improve the excellent figures recorded in the first half of the year.
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