Johanna Ortiz Brings Colombia to Paris With Pop-up at Le Bon Marché

PARIS — Johanna Ortiz is bringing a style of Colombia to Paris. 

Identified for her luxurious resortwear and swim designs, the designer is about to unveil a four-month pop-up area at Le Bon Marché on Saturday, laying the groundwork for a extra everlasting presence within the French capital, the place she’s introduced her collections since 2017. 

Situated on the second ground, the two,370-square-foot “La Plaza Johanna Ortiz” activation is impressed by the markets of the coastal metropolis of Cartagena and the colourful structure of the coffee-producing area of Quindío, Ortiz informed WWD.

“It’s somewhat combination of magical realism and of Colombia by means of our eyes,” she stated through video convention from Key Biscayne, Fla. “I’m actually enthusiastic about it, as a result of it’s an enormous alternative to point out somewhat little bit of my world by means of a Le Bon Marché expertise.” 

Her ready-to-wear model has been carried completely in Paris on the division retailer for nearly 4 years, however this might be her first alternative to showcase different classes similar to homewares. 

“Johanna Ortiz is extra like a way of life, within the sense that we at all times need to present what occurs round it with artisans, with our heritage,” she defined. “When it’s solely a rack in an area with 5 or 6 attire, we can’t actually present all the things that we work on.”

The area will carry an unique 250-piece capsule assortment of Caribbean-inspired clothes and niknaks, with objects starting from a coral palm-printed solar gown to a leopard-print bikini, Lurex swimsuits, a colourful printed gown and a choice of shawls.

Collaborations on supply embody candles made with French perfumer Bon Parfumeur; eyewear with Italian specialist L.G.R., and pickleball paddles with U.S. model Recess.

They’ll sit alongside ceramic tableware crafted and painted by hand in Carmen de Viboral, in addition to merchandise from her collaboration with Litoral, a corporation devoted to preserving and instructing ancestral crafts like werregue weaving. An artisan might be available to reveal the basket-making method.

“We wished to point out the tip product, but in addition the way it’s executed and the way ladies and communities are supported by means of this basket,” Ortiz stated. “There needs to be an expertise and there needs to be a connection while you’re shopping for one thing.”

There might be a tiny café nook with two seats, and guests can purchase a choice of Colombian merchandise together with Huge chocolate and Café Quindío espresso. 

Ortiz, who runs the corporate along with her sister Paula Ortiz, stated her enterprise has seen “good, regular development” at Le Bon Marché and she or he hopes to have a standalone retailer in Paris “within the hopefully close to future,” after opening her first abroad boutique in New York Metropolis final yr.  

She was in Florida for a private look at Bal Harbour Outlets, the place her seasonal retailer has been extended to a full-year lease, and a trunk present with Moda Operandi in Palm Seaside. 

Ortiz plans to convey her touring “Caravan” idea to Madrid on the finish of Might, to be adopted by the Hamptons and a 3rd, as-yet-undisclosed, location this summer time. 

Having dressed celebrities together with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, former First Woman Michelle Obama and Amal Clooney, she stays dedicated to the U.S. market regardless of U.S. President Donald Trump’s introduction of a brand new 10 p.c tariff on imports from Colombia, the place greater than 90 p.c of her items are made.

“We need to nonetheless carry on producing in Colombia,” she stated, noting that her workshop employs 460 folks and has its personal coaching faculty. “At this second, we have to settle for no matter they [the Trump administration] are doing, and we have to make issues work with the situations. I’m apprehensive.”

Although the model sources materials from Italy and France, its larger value level ought to function a buffer, the designer stated.

“Being within the luxurious section, it separates us from the quick trend and different producers which are extra large producers,” Ortiz stated. “We’re standing in, I simply need to name it a ‘protected’ — greater than ‘snug’ — zone at this second.”