The Museum at FIT’s newest exhibit, ¡Moda Hoy! Latin American and Latinx Fashion Design Today explores the work of  21st-century Latin American and Latine fashion designers and opened on May 31st in New York City. 

The exhibit seeks to challenge stereotypes of what Latin American fashion looks like, by avoiding a singular representation of style and exploring the diversity of talent. Showcasing 60 objects from the museum’s collection, the show features designers from Latin American countries and of Latin American descent, living and working in the US.

Latin American designers such as Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, and Edmundo Castillo have taken center stage for decades as leading figures in the fashion industry, paving the way for emerging designers.

Brenda Equihua (Mexican-American) and Kika Vargas (Colombian) open the exhibit with looks that illustrate the breadth of work embraced by designers today. The two garments, a yellow-gold ruffle dress by Vargas and a cobija jacket featuring roses on the front and the Virgen de Guadalupe by Equihua exemplify the exhibit’s prompt of representing a range of style, craftsmanship, and heritage. 

The exhibit was co-curated by Tanya Melendez-Escalante and Melissa Marra-Alvarez and will be on view through November 12, 2023.