San Antonio’s fashion scene is blossoming thanks to the joint efforts of Fashion Business Network, San Antonio’s government and talented artists. The San Antonio Botanical Garden kicked off Fiesta with “Viva Botanica,” a sustainable fashion showcase.
Audiences emerge from the greenhouse, opening the door to reveal a stage planted in the garden’s center. Kaya Dublin, CEO of FBN, wears a scarlet dress with a rose blooming from the fabric on her shoulder, and co-founder Cassandra Rodriguez dons Daughter of Venus, Catherine Elizabeth’s clothing line.
“Creating FBN was truly just to give back our love and our passion for our community,” Rodriguez said. “We love building up our community. To encourage, inspire and uplift the community and teach them [what] we’ve been taught.”
Beginning as interns, the two saw a need in the city to elevate designers and, since 2017, have worked to spotlight artists in the community. Viva Botanica is the first official fashion show for Fiesta and is funded by the City of San Antonio’s Office of Sustainability.
The show begins with models emerging from garden scenery into the center circle, surrounded by fauna as they walk down the path. The garden is the perfect display for sustainable fashion, as it gives audiences a chance to view the clothing in natural daylight.
Eight designers graced the runway; they are as follows.
Minx and Onyx’s outfits are vibrant traditional Fiesta-colored dresses with added features for everyday wear. Instead of the full skirt, they opt for a forest-green-patterned blouse and black leggings. They create festive clothing that can be worn to work.
De La Rosa Designs features a quilted bag with bold, contrasting lines against a white plush fabric, resembling loose threads. The crowd-favorite wedding dress includes a giant, beautifully crafted white tulle over a pink flora dress. Both pieces appear separate, so they can be worn on more occasions than just the wedding day.
“I have been sewing since I was seven. They give me their sketches, and I turn them into their dreams. I also teach sewing to young kids. I have my girl scouts here today. I always enjoy teaching new techniques to young designers because I can’t take it with me when I go,” De La Rosa said.
Anna Ovalle uses film stills to elevate everyday business outfits. Ovalle expertly crafts a creme skirt suit embellished with red stills on the hems — the exact color of the model’s top. An asymmetrical sleeve giving the appearance of a live moving picture follows the suit. The final look is a full corset composed of film stills warped around the chest. This top pairs with a shiny, black reptilian skirt and angular sunglasses to create a modern-day twist to the old-Hollywood look.
“Film is plastic, and so I always say, ‘Although photography is not wasteful art, it does produce a lot of waste sometimes,’ [so] I upcycled 35mm film onto a corset,” Ovalle said.
The future of fashion is showcased with Madison High School student designers, who were given the opportunity to create looks under instructor Amanda Hunter.
“Thank you to our students. We’re really proud, and please shop from local designers,” Hunter said. “Everything you saw on the runway is for sale. So, this is how we keep the arts going. This is how we keep fashion designers. This is how we move our city.”
This set has the crowd’s most vocal enthusiasm, from innovations of embroidered plastic corsets to a modern-day ribbon dress. This school considers what constitutes fashion, with a tie resembling loose threads and a scarf resembling a tie-dyed shirt. The opening piece is the suit with fabric flowers scattered on half the left side of the suit; the back reveals the flowers form a geometric pattern and a tie worn on the “wrong side.”
Insects swarm the stage when Angie “Moda” Riojas unveils her work inspired by garden pollinators. Antenna headbands and capes resemble moth wings. She incorporates whimsical concepts into outfits while being practical for evening events. Her avant-garde dress with an ancient-Greek look resembles scraps of fabric being held together by a rope, which gave the impression of a kid playing dress up, conveying how inspiration comes from the inner child.
When Flawnless Fashion took the stage, no one knew what to expect. From sleek black dresses with black-beading work to expertly mismatched, patterned dresses with a doily on the front, flawless fashion can do it all.
Gigi Designs took to the stage with bleached jeans and lace appliques. Gigi Designs finds ways to elevate thrifted clothes into desirable pieces. She sells out most of her work on display after the event according to her Instagram.
Daughter of Venus, whose designs were worn by the moderators, closes the show. Blooming tops and intricate lace work combine patterns to create texture in an otherwise plain silhouette.
Some designs can be viewed through May at the museum in the botanical gardens.
For those looking to invest in the San Antonio fashion scene, FBN will be hosting another event in July for garden nights. Engage with the community, meet some sustainable designers and traverse the gardens. To keep updated with upcoming events, go to @fashionbusiness.network on Instagram.
