19 M Gallery is pleased to present “Carla Fernández. The handmade future“, an immersive exhibition that immerses visitors in the creative and exciting world of fashion, design and contemporary art. Organized by curator Florence Müller and presented until December 17, 2023 in a scenography by Pedro Reyes, the exhibition reveals a fruitful collaboration between the fashion designer and various collaborators all with a pronounced interest in cultural aesthetics and art.
Carla Fernández, creator, designer and founder of her eponymous brand, is a pioneer of ethical fashion. She stands out for her work documenting and preserving the textile heritage of Mexico’s indigenous communities, in collaboration with her partner Cristina Rangel and a group of around 180 weavers, embroiderers and woodcarvers. This artisanal community uses rich and vibrant traditional techniques, which inspire Carla Fernández Casa de Moda’s vision for the creation of contemporary fashion that resonates with a universal territory, at the crossroads of textile creation, crafts and the visual arts.
On the occasion of the exhibition “Carla Fernández. The handmade future” exhibition, specially designed pieces have been added to the collection. Each of these creations was made in close collaboration with Carla Fernández’s community of artisans, who hail from fifteen Mexican states. This fertile association highlights the multiple possibilities offered by different materials and creative modules. In addition to this partnership, Carla Fernández has established a creative relationship with four resident Maisons du 19M, including Goossens, Massaro, Maison Michel and ERES. Together, they seek to bring together the know-how and techniques of yesterday and today, the empiricism of the object and creative abstraction. This collaboration between these different 19M houses creates a unique synergy, where artisanal expertise and contemporary vision meet to give birth to unique and innovative pieces.
The 19M art center, designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti, is an exceptional architectural creation that houses working, meeting and transmission spaces. Inaugurated in January 2022, this artistic space offers workshops, a school and an art gallery, with the aim of promoting the skills of craftsmen and creators. Fashion designer Carla Fernández‘s exhibition fits in perfectly with the fundamental values of this multidisciplinary venue, reinforcing the relevance of this artistic and cultural representation.
19M Gallery is offering a series of workshops, lectures and events in parallel with the exhibition, highlighting the educational dimension of Carla Fernández‘s collaborative work. As part of this cultural program, three Mexican artisans have been invited by the designer to share their expertise in traditional craft techniques. These activities will enable visitors to discover and learn about mask painting with Felipe Horta, embroidery and papel amate cutting with Arisbeth González, and lacquerware with Obdulia Almazán.
This cultural program, open to all, aims to promote the value of handicrafts, encourage their transmission and inspire vocations among a broad public. It fits in perfectly with the 19M project and with CHANEL‘s desire to preserve the Métiers d’art of fashion and decoration. This enriching initiative offers visitors an immersive and interactive experience, plunging them into the heart of Mexican craftsmanship and promoting its valorization and transmission.
The exhibition “Carla Fernández. The handmade future” exhibition kicks off in an exceptional way, coinciding with Mexican Independence Day and the European Heritage Days weekend. This special period allows the gallery to open its spaces to the public until December 17, offering access to unique locations such as the École Lesage, the Maison Massaro and the magnificent garden of the 19M. Nestled in a cocoon of greenery, it’s the ideal setting for fully appreciating the weaving of concrete threads created by Rudy Ricciotti, the celebrated architect and winner of the Architectural Award, who designed the Mucem in Marseille. This harmonious blend of architecture, nature and craftsmanship creates a unique atmosphere that invites visitors to immerse themselves in the creative world of Carla Fernández.
