Johanna Ortiz Collection
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Articles on Johanna Ortiz
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Many times, a designer’s style reflects their place of origin rather than where they’re based. They have a certain affinity to the place where they’re ancestors are from, even though they themselves hadn’t been to that place. Good examples of such are Cristobal Balenciaga, a Spanish couturier in Paris whose designs are often inspired by Spanish renaissance, and Josie Natori, a Filipina designer based in New York who presents collections influenced by her tropical native land. They use their birthplaces as unique stamps to their style, making them stand-out against the rest. Today, one of the most prominent designers as such is Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz.
Known for her festive designs, Johanna Ortiz has become a global name in the fashion industry. Her womenswear line is embraced by women of all shapes and sizes, and always has a Colombian touch to it. With signatures such as ruffled pieces, bold prints, and exciting hues, her clothes embody the wild and vivacious spirit of Latin America. Similar to her personal style, her designs are also distinctly feminine and refined. From cocktail numbers to wedding gowns, Johanna Ortiz offers modern women an elegant and easy wardrobe for her to make an impact for any occasion.
From Colombia to international retailers
Born in the Cali province of her native land Colombia, Johanna Ortiz developed her love for fashion at an early age. Her area is known as the “world’s capital of salsa”, and she was most likely surrounded by colorful dancing costumes growing up—which would later inspire her style. She studied fashion design at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Florida and later on in the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York City. Afterwards, she returned home to Colombia and set up her eponymous brand in 2001. It initially started as bespoke couture, but she later ventured into ready-to-wear and resort wear.
In 2014, she started showing in two of the most prestigious fashion weeks in Colombia. The first is Colombiamoda in Medellin and then Círculo de Moda in Bogotá. Her collections were met with critical acclaim and commercial success, and soon, international clients began buying her clothes. It also wasn’t before long until her clothes were bought by some of the most prominent retailers in the world. In New York alone, her designs can be bought in the likes of Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Online, one can buy a Johanna Ortiz piece in Net-a-Porter and MATCHESFASHION.COM.
South American fashion ambassadress
Because of her distinct Colombian style, Johanna Ortiz is regarded by many as the fashion ambassadress of the South American nation. Although there are many Colombian designers working all over the world, none have elevated that Latin American style quite like this designer. Her significance to Colombian fashion is so huge that she has been invited to show her collections in the White House in Washington, D.C. She has also been invited to present her designs to the United Nations in their headquarters in New York City. Even though she’s become an international fashion designer and her company is now a globally-known brand, she always instills upon herself and her work the spirit of Colombia.
Bridal Line
With her feminine and sophisticated style, Ortiz also became a favorite among the bridal industry. Incorporating her signature Latin flair to the subdued elegance of weddings. Ortiz’s wedding gowns became a hit among the fun and youthful brides of today. Her creations soon became the favorite of brides whose weddings were a bit less formal and took place in beaches and gardens. Online retailer Moda Operandi got the Colombian designer to sign up a partnership with them so they can sell her wedding dresses to their clients. She now designs bridal collections for the website season after season and continues to be a client favorite.
Red carpet prominence and beyond
It’s no surprise that through the years, Johanna Ortiz has become a staple designer for the red carpet crowd. Her array of cocktail dresses and evening gowns have been worn by some of the most prominent names in entertainment and beyond. Actresses such as Rachel McAdams, Priyanka Chopra, and Busy Philipps have all donned a Johanna Ortiz ensemble on the red carpet. Kerry Washington even wore an asymmetric black-and-white striped top during one of her appearance on the popular talk show, The Ellen Show. Other personalities who’ve worn the designer are socialite and reality TV star Olivia Palermo and supermodel and host Heidi Klum.
What makes a designer unique can be many things. Often times it’s how they think or how they want to see women dress, but sometimes it can also be about who they are themselves. Johanna Ortiz is known for her festive and feminine designs that are reflections of her native land of Colombia. Even though her style is distinctly South American, it has caught the eye of women everywhere, and thus, leading her to become an international name in the fashion industry.
