Vanessa Bruno travels to Mexico

Mexico City certainly seems to be fascinating the fashion world. The Mexican capital is due to host the Dior cruise show on May 20, showcasing the brand's work with local artisans. Vanessa Bruno has also drawn her inspiration from the ancient Aztec capital. For spring 2023, she designed a capsule collection dedicated to Mexico.

"I think it's great what Dior is doing by having local artisans work on luxury products. It's no coincidence that they chose Mexico City and so did we. If several brands are inspired by a subject or a place, it's because there's a special energy that emanates from this city," explains Vanessa Bruno. "Luxury makes its own shows. What I like is to travel, to meet cultures and to share these discoveries with our clients. In Mexico City, there is an incredible energy and creativity, whether in cuisine, art, architecture or fashion. What interested me was to share how a young generation reinterprets traditions."

The French premium women's ready-to-wear brand, founded in 1996, is therefore launching a capsule of fifty ready-to-wear pieces and as many accessories that will be sold until mid-July, in dedicated concept stores called 'Mexico mi Amor', in Saint-Tropez and Paris.

The capsule, which complements the season's main collection, consists of large, light coloured dresses with floral or graphic prints, as well as numerous accessories and raffia bags that play with visual elements reminiscent of Mexico. It will also be available at Galeries Lafayette, Printemps Haussmann, Bon Marché and in the rue Vieille-du-Temple shop in Paris, as well as in Lyon.

For the occasion, Vanessa Bruno, who has been offering spring collections inspired by travel for five years, is sharing her vision of a modern Mexico City by turning her flagship shop at 25, rue Saint-Sulpice, in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, into a real concept store reinterpreted using the codes of the house designed by Mexican architect Luis Barragán, whose work has been classified as a Unesco World Heritage site.

In store, the collection is showcased among furniture found at the Mexico City market. The designer has also invited local designers, artists from the city's art scene, to reinterpret and modernise Mexican know-how.

"This new scene is full of energy," explains Vanessa Bruno. "I'm not interested in crafts as such, but I think it's great how they interpret the work of Mexican artisans with their contemporary eye, whether it's ceramics, large piñata-style papier-mâché plates or a young designer who makes gaucho-style trousers. I wanted it to be a real immersion in modern Mexico."

The Parisian space will also have a customisation workshop to provide an extra service to the brand's customers. At the end of this Mexican adventure, the flagship shop will close its doors for a few weeks to install the brand's new boutique concept. This will then be rolled out to Vanessa Bruno's 65 or so points of sale, including stores and corners.