On Saturday, the second edition of the Latin American Fashion Summit concluded in Cartagena, Colombia, with a designer competition. Maygel Coronel, who makes luxury swimwear, won the $10,000 prize.
The four-day conference and networking event is the brainchild of Estefania Lacayo, a Nicaraguan New Yorker with 17 years of experience in the fashion business, and Samantha Tams, a retail specialist. They launched the project in 2018 to help Latin American creatives and entrepreneurs who had previously had little-to-no access to the industry’s international decision makers. With the promise of panels, workshops, and dinners at home, Lacayo and Tams lured the likes of Carolina Herrera and Francisco Costa, entrepreneur Carmen Busquets, jeweler Ana Khouri, Matches Fashion’s Natalie Kingham, and Colombia’s own rising star Johanna Ortiz to the summit, and 600 attendees participated.
Busquets and Herrera spoke about the Latin American fashion boom and what it takes to make it on the global stage, and Costa joined Vogue Mexico’s Karla Martinez de Salas to discuss his new beauty project Costa Brazil. Lacayo’s personal highlight came during the welcome event. “Everyone went around the room saying hello and at one point 15 children stood up and introduced themselves as students from Honduras who were in attendance thanks to the sponsorship programs we developed with NGOs and private family offices. It’s this type of inclusivity that’s one of our main missions, and to see it come to life was truly special for us.”
Here, Lacayo and Tams share other highlights from the four-day event.
The Teatro Adolfo Mejía was constructed by Luis Felipe Jaspe, the architect responsible for many of Cartagena’s local landmarks including the iconic clock tower. The theater was the venue for the opening dinner, as well as panel discussions for this year’s Latin American Fashion Summit (LAFS). 
The famous Torre del Reloj clocktower overlooks the main gate of the historic center of the city. 
Maygel Coronel, designer of an eponymous swimwear collection, won this year’s Pitch to LAFS competition. Coronel took home a $10,000 prize and will receive multiple educational and partnership opportunities. 
Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz hosted an intimate dinner party in her home. We’ve known each other for years and she is one of the best hostesses I know. Johanna is warm and welcoming and her parties are as fun as her designs. 
Designer Silvia Tcherassi hosted a dinner at her family’s Tcherassi Hotel which is a must-visit if you’re in Cartagena. With live Cuban music, fabulous tablescapes, good food and good friends, what’s not to love? 
Carolina Herrera and Carmen Busquets spoke to a standing-room-only audience and brought the house down with a lively panel that touched on Latin America’s fashion boom, the global perception of new Latin American talents, and what it takes to make it on the global stage. It was an honor hosting these two iconic ladies; a true highlight of this year’s LAFS. 
Cartagena fruit vendors in traditional garb. 
In Colombia when it rains, it pours, which it did for a few minutes en route to dinner. With no taxis in sight, Samantha and Cristina Cabarcos hailed a horse-drawn carriage—erhaps not the fastest option, but definitely the most fun! 
My LAFS co-founder Samantha Tams before Tuesday’s opening dinner at Teatro Adolfo Mejía. 
Patricia Lansing 
Designer Lisa Sadoughi and Editor in Chief of Vogue Mexico and Latin America Karla Martínez de Salas. 
Son Cubano musicians getting guests on their feet. 
Carolina Herrera, Patricia Lansing, and Clare Vivier look on as Francisco Costa discusses his transition from fashion to beauty, his new brand Costa Brazil, and how he’s carving out his own niche in a crowded field. 
Francisco Costa, of Costa Brazil, one of this year’s highlighted panelists. 
In his talk, Esteban Cortazar addressed issues including cultural appropriation, how to work with artisans, and sustainability. 
Natalia Reyes, a star of Terminator: Dark Fate, is wearing the 2019 Pitch to LAFS winner Maygel Coronel.
Source: Vogue.com
