LAURA JEANS DA SILVA FASHION DESIGNER & ILLUSTRATOR PORTFOLIO
juchiteca
“ There’s something so seductive, so self-confident, so subversive about these Juchitecas ”
final collection
juchiteca Autumn/Winter 2013 LAURA JEANS DA SILVA
Juchitan, is one of the most purely indigenous communities in Mexico, and unlike the rest of the country, where men are distinctly dominant,the Juchitan region of Mexico has a matriarchal society where the women ‘are economically, politically, and sexually independent and have been idealized as a source of national strength’ for centuries. Using the hauntingly beautiful photography series Juchitán de las Mujeres by Graciela Iturbide , which manage to perfectly portray the regions ‘Catholic traditions intertwined with pre-Hispanic rites and superstitions, showing a culture in constant flux’, this fashion collection aims to explores the unique and powerful, Half Zapotec half Catholic, culture and matriarchal society of Juchitan, and in doing so, capture its contradicting attitudes towards sexuality, ritual, death and the role of woman. Just as these “big, strong, politicized” women form the back bone of this society, they also form the back bone and initial starting point to the construction of the garments.
“ Here, women are so revered that if you’re not female, your best bet is to become an honorary one ”
“ The women of juchitan impose themselves with the white ruffles of their skirts, the twinkle of jewellery & golden lighting of their smile. �
“ Transvestites are accepted within the society and it’s said that when a woman has a homosexual son that he will be a help with the house and work ”
juchiteca
autumn/winter 2012
ACCREDITATIONS Rebekah Heys
-
Photographer
Anna Veith
-
Model
Rachel Young
-
Makeup
Charly Smith
-
Hair Styling
Okami Studio
-
Graphic Design