The Brazilian Embassy played host to the 24th edition of Sotheby’s International Realty Six O’Clock Tea last week. The event took place at the stunning Palacio Pereda, home to the Brazilian Embassy in Buenos Aires.
As Argentines, most of us will admit to being influenced by British culture a bit. Keeping in mind that a sizable group of my fellow countrymen prefer to use the word “tea” in place of the Spanish word “merienda” to mark the afternoon tea (or mate) time, it shouldn’t come as too much of a shock that an event like last week’s fashionable Six O’Clock Tea was instituted.
Started in 2003, SOCT is a bi-annual fashion event that gives local designers an opportunity to present their latest collections. This edition included the likes of Natacha Morales, Dandelion & Burdock, Diego Vaz, Beatrice Pommier, Carmen Steffens, Taglie Forti, Verónica de la Canal, Matías Hidalgo, Ugo Santini, Sabrina Iacobellis, Algior and Lucila Iotti. There is a cultural exchange component to the event to. In addition to showcasing local talent, the event always features an established designer from outside Argentina to bring about something of a cultural exchange. This time around, Isabela Capeto — a well-known Brazilian designer — was present and presented her work.
The event is also meant to serve as a space where fashion can redeem itself. The organizers chose a cause or group to raise funds for. The proceeds from this most recent edition went to the Brazilian theater group Armatrux.
Among the pack of talented designers showcasing their work, Matías Hidalgo, an emerging Argentine designer and teacher, grabbed everyone’s attention. The young designer graduated from FADU-UBA (College of Architecture, Urbanism and Design from the University of Buenos Aires) and was one of the winners of Pasarela BA, a platform created to promote and professionalize new brands and emerging designers. To add to his list of credentials his newest collection was featured at the most recent Bafweek.
Matías Hidalgo presented his ‘SS 17 capsule’ collection Asunción exclusively for SOCT in collaboration with Lucila Iotti shoes.
Hidalgo’s runway was a fresh punch of color. From long dresses to tops, skirts and sporty accents, Hidalgo’s clothes merged beautifully with the patinaed salon in Palacio Pereda. Asunción brought a visible level personal identity and a modern aesthetic in step with designs from all around the world.
Hidalgo’s curiosity led him to combine vintage textiles with pieces of sporty fabrics. Matías described his newest line as “the research for combinations of different fabrics, while giving a new interpretation to the bomber jacket, the apron and the school [and] sport uniform”.
The results are colorful clothes, all of them re-defined; not because they are brand new, but because they are made from the past (vintage textiles) and from the present. A modern touch on top of a few unexpected classics.
Hidalgo understands what’s hot right now, choosing some traditional, statement silhouettes to incorporate into his line. A tracksuit with jewel-toned vintage synthetic fabrics is one example of this modern take on a classic. But he also understands that fast-fashion will lead us anywhere but a good place: “Asunción is based on giving a new meaning and value of remaining textiles. Its purpose is to rediscover the dream of a bygone era from a modern looking design”.
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