The underground fashion world of Mexico is booming with creative talent. Victor Barragán, originally from Mexico City, is one of these creatives, the designer and visionary behind the eponymous fashion brand Barragán. Founded in 2014, Barragán has successfully broken through the New York fashion scene, gaining significant attention in recent years by pushing the norms of the American fashion realm while paying serious homage to his Mexican roots and culture. The dynamic, edgy collections are without boundaries, and often refer to lesser known, sub-cultures of Mexico. The fashion label also aims to explore and question gender and identity politics through its garments.
The SS21 ready-to-wear collection titled ‘Humilidad’, the Spanish word for humility, was showcased in an abandoned Manhattan restaurant. Barragán is not one to shy away from experimentation, emphasized even further this time around. With obvious nods to Mexican cultural influences, the collection is something made up of clown-core, alternative rodeo, and underground club looks that deliver wild, fun, sexy vibes.
The gender fluid, body inclusive collection is full of life, with many garments resembling that of up-cycled materials, gifting us cool, raw but polished ensembles. Patchwork trousers, leather chap jeans, oversized, cropped blazers, and vibrant, see-through dresses and monochrome sets that hug the body and reveal and conceal in all the right places, form the bulk of the collection. For casual looks, there was plenty of t-shirts, muscle tees and our favorite; a solo, lime green speedo. The clunky, oversized shoes and square toed knee-high boots stole the show, influenced by costumes clowns wear on the streets of Mexico- something only Barragán could make high fashion. From asymmetric cuts and complex pleating, to mesh and sequins, Barragán flaunts its ability to exquisitely tailor and execute just about anything.
The models stepped out sporting patterned contacts, notably of the American and Mexican flag, exhibiting the duality of Barragán’s growing, evolving identity as a designer. From American star shapes and geometric patterns that reference Mexico’s pyramids, it’s safe to say he successfully fuses Mexican and American influences. Upon examining the collection, viewers are also left pondering the greater question of contemporary culture and consumption within the fashion world, and in turn return to the collection’s title, ‘Humilidad’.
One of Barragán’s strongest collection to date, explore the defining collection in the slideshow and keep up with Barragán via Instagram.
