As part of Assouline’s Travel Series, the Colombian fashion designer explores the mystical, magical city that embodies her bold artistry.
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Fashion designer Johanna Ortiz with Cartagena Grace. Courtesy of Johanna Ortiz
Take one glimpse at the ready-to-wear collections by Johanna Ortiz and you’ll be whisked to the sunny, sultry, cobblestoned streets of Cartagena. The designer’s feminine array of architectural dresses and statement separates in bold hues and lively prints reflect a tropical sensibility, a barefoot elegance, and a joyful escapism that embodies the irreverent spirit of the coastal Colombian city.
Ortiz hails from the city of Cali, but the seductive temptation of Cartagena is so visceral, so alluring in every aspect of the senses, that it continues to inspire the eponymous label she founded in 2003. With such long standing admiration, Ortiz continues to give back to her country. As a creative ambassador to Colombia, Ortiz has strengthened local development by generating 441 jobs across indigenous communities and created opportunities for vulnerable women through her “Escuela JO” training program.
In partnership with her close friend, Lauren Santo Domingo, (who’s also a Colombian citizen via her husband Andrés), the two co-edited Assouline’s Cartagena Grace, which celebrates the Colonial splendor, the bygone nostalgia, the exuberant soul and searing beauty of this extraordinary city - not to mention the head-turning fashion.
We sat down with Ortiz, who shares what she loves most about Cartagena and how it shapes her work and design philosophy to this day.
What draws you to Cartagena?
I grew up and live in Cali, in the Pacific region of Colombia. But since I was little, I had the good fortune of being very close to Colombia’s Caribbean coast. So many memories lie in my soul of those times when I was discovering Cartagena. I remember wandering through the historic center, cherishing its magic, its cobbled streets protected by imposing walls and suddenly feeling immersed in a journey to a mystical and adventurous past. I was enchanted by the history, contrasts, local people and magic and now I am fortunate to call it my second home.
How does Cartagena inspire your work as a designer?
The stories, aesthetics and sense of style that I have found in Cartagena have played a crucial role in my evolution as a fashion designer. This city has enriched me with its color palette, and has directly revealed to my eyes the gracefulness of the Caribbean women, whose dresses display a fantastic movement when dancing.
How do you define your work or aesthetic?
I defined the essence of my work in expressing what is close to me, and the traditions and biodiversity of my country will always be an essential part of my work. I have a special love for details, handmade work and handicraft techniques that are always present in Cartagena and in my collections.
Is there a must-visit spot in the city you feature in the book?
I love to explore the city’s historic center, watching the day-to-day life, listen to the local´s stories and get lost in the magical realism of “la Heroica.”
What are some other can’t miss destinations?
Some unmissable landmarks that are featured in the book are: Castillo de San Felipe, Plaza de Santo Domingo, Torre del Reloj, Plaza Simón Bolívar, Iglesia San Pedro Claver, Teatro Heredia, Plaza de la Aduana, Museo del Oro Zenú, Islas del Rosario, Barú and Getsemaní neighborhood.
What’s your favorite image in the book?
It is hard to choose just one…. I love those images that translate Cartagena’s unique color palette and the ones that really make you feel immersed in the magical local daily life.
Of our Travel Series books, which will you add to your collection next?
I must confess I am an avid collector of the Series…the one I am adding next is “Amalfi Coast”, one of my favorite destinations.