With a penchant for bright colours and graphic patterns – and thanks to growing interest among luxury retailers and celebrities – South America's hot crop of designers are set to embolden your wardrobe.
Colombian Johanna Ortiz, who jumpstarted the current off-the-shoulder blouse craze with flirty fare favoured by fashion plate Olivia Palermo, offers a silk-satin jumpsuit with a sweet floral motif. Olga Piedrahita (also Colombian) found inspiration in wild, winged things for her current collection, including the quirky parrot print on her Loritos skirt.
Jewellery designers Paula Mendoza (Colombian number three) and Monica Sordo (Caracas-born New Yorker) take a geometric approach to their pieces. Mendoza's bold ring set – which can also be worn as an ear cuff – features raw emeralds, while Sordo's stunning statement necklace is a mix of 24-karat gold and rhodium plating.
Bogota-based Mercedes Salazar's festive drop earrings will work just as well with a simple T-shirt as with an LBD. Salazar, whose baubles have been worn by Katy Perry, is part of a group of designers who will have work featured in Holt Renfrew's Uncrate South America pop up, launching in stores this September. She'll join Gabriela Goldbaum, creative director of Valdez – a brand of made-in-Ecuador Panama hats – in the H Project space.
"I was born and raised in Ecuador so I grew up influenced by artisans and aware of the cultural heritage of the Toquilla hat," says Goldbaum, whose focus on translating traditional craft techniques to contemporary pieces is shared by many other designers in this mix.
"I really want to promote and share the beautiful work of the artisans with the world."