Desigual and Colombian Designer Esteban Cortázar Celebrate the Joy of Living with Their First Joint Collection.
Desigual and Colombian Designer Esteban Cortázar Celebrate the Joy of Living with Their First Joint Collection.

Desigual and Colombian Designer Esteban Cortázar Celebrate the Joy of Living with Their First Joint Collection.

A tribute to summer dreams. To our childhood memories. To the pride of being Latino. To Parisian savoir-faire. To Miami sunsets. To easy-going as a way of life. To art. Hello, summer! And to love.

7/6/21

Cada dia es para siempre (Every day is forever)


Miami, 1995 - Barcelona, 2021 – Esteban Cortázar (Bogotá, 1984) was once a child. A precocious, intuitive and artistic child. A child who woke up among the paintings of his father, the artist Valentino Cortázar, with the sea breeze, with palm trees swaying with the weight of seagulls and the hustle and bustle of people descending on the beach. From his window at the Avalon Hotel in South Beach, Miami, he would watch as ‘90s supermodels, stunning drag queens and eccentric retirees alike shared historic moments and mingled with Latino culture, the ‘90s fashion boom and the eternal days of Florida’s endless summer. No longer a child, today Esteban is a celebrated designer who works to add a dose of good vibes, Latino charisma and an inclusive casual chic to fashion. At 17, he was the youngest designer to show at NYFW and was the former creative director of Emanuel Ungaro’s women’s collections and the ultimate ambassador of resort style and the endless summer.

This passion for diversity, color, joy and art has led to an inevitable connection between Esteban and Desigual and resulted in this unique collaboration. We are a brand that supports different talents, working together with the designer to present a collection of seventeen garments to bring back the joy of living.

HAVEN’T DANCED IN A WHILE?

Inspired by Esteban’s precocious childhood growing up surrounded by artists and a wide range of characters, we gathered a cast for this campaign that reflects the melting pot that was South Beach, now translated into modern day. From the stunning actress Daniela Santiago, one of the uncontested stars of the hit series ‘Veneno’; Yendry, the Dominican-born singer raised in Italy and winner of one of the highest-rated TV shows in the country; the famous model and entrepreneur from Barcelona Biel Juste; the icon of colorful fashion and Cologne-based Haitian designer Michelle Elie; famous Italian model Chiara Scelsi; Brazilian supermodel Jhona Burjak; and drag artist Alaska Nebraska to a cast of different ages, styles and backgrounds, all come together to represent, through the eyes of a child, the hotbed that was these small hotels and a party that we hope to celebrate soon. The campaign is designed to be a boost of energy and a reminder that the good old days of parties and love are just around the corner.

All through the iconic song ‘Pasilda’ by Afro Medusa, a hit from the early 2000s that fuses dance music with Latin beats and transports us directly to a world of freedom and movement.

A story that represents diversity and fun, we see how the Esteban universe merges with Desigual’s brand values to unveil the collection that defines summer.

DOUBLE RECOGNITION.

“Valentino Cortázar, artist, is my father and my greatest inspiration together with my mother. His love for color, for women, for life and for the joy of living is the guiding thread of his work. I decided to work with him for this collection with a piece that celebrates one of the most recurring themes in his work: ‘El Beso’, which he painted in South Beach back in the day. The collection also pays tribute to iconic photographer Andy Sweet. We create a patchwork with his images taken in South Beach in the seventies, before the turmoil and craziness of the nineties, when retirees, the area’s true trailblazers, arrived from all over the world with their eccentric looks to enjoy the Florida sun. Plus images of the iconic Leslie and Surfcomber hotels, timeless beach moments and art deco architecture. The idea of mixing these two themes and turning the collection itself into a patchwork seemed very fitting and a true snapshot of what Miami was like at the time.”

Esteban

DIVERSE, VERSATILE, UNISEX, EASY AND SUSTAINABLE.

Pieces for everyone. Absolutely everyone. To wear to a party. Or under the water. Shirts that are dresses or jackets for him, her and anyone who wants to wear them. Denim garments that can be worn year-round. And others that define the summer, the heat, the good weather and the best mood. Easy-to-wear pieces that all body types feel comfortable in, clothing where the design is in the color and the print. Clothes that put a smile on your face and that love and respect the world, that are socially and environmentally sustainable and made from ecofriendly fabrics like LenzingTM EcoveroTM, NaiaTM, BCI cotton, TencelTM, LyocellTM and organic cotton. Clothes designed today, inspired by the past and created for you to enjoy them ALWAYS.

THE SUN COMES OUT AGAIN.

They say that the Roaring Twenties are coming... So, we’re getting ready for these coming times of celebration, love and color with tons of care and enthusiasm. According to Esteban, “The tough times we are living in have shown us that our responsibility is to share positive energy. I feel very comfortable collaborating and listening. The key is to put love in everything you do and be authentic. That’s why I wanted to do something personal for this first collection and connect with the audience beyond fashion.”

SOME PRACTICAL INFORMATION.

On sale from May 20 at Desigual.com and selected Desigual stores, Farfetch, Zalando Plus and selected wholesalers with prices ranging from €49,95 to €169,95.


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@desigual

www.desigual.com

@estebancortazarofficial

@ecortazar

www.estebancortazar.com