Viviana De La Barca | ART, DESIGN & CULTURE
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Autumn Winter 25|26

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Après Ski Inspo — Even If You Don’t Ski!


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Bundling up in warm coats and rich knits in winter is not exclusive to the Netherlands.

Mexico’s valleys, mountains, and sierras experience a distinctly different winter compared to the warmer coasts. This blue hooded shawl is a perfect companion. It features contrasting materials and is crafted from 100% wool fibres, with at least 50% sourced from a certified mill.  The nylon is also sourced responsibly.  This item is a collaboration with Fairly Made, a French green tech startup.​

A stunning winter accessory to add a layer of sophistication to any outfit.


Time To Warm Up


With Our Favourite Clutch. Thermo clutches are smooth and unique pouches that elevate your everyday winter outfit while extending the life of your phone battery.

They are made with durable nylon and filled with RDS Certified duck down insulation to protect your phone from dying in the freezing. They also come with an adjustable and detachable carrying strap.
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In our stylist’s wardrobe, CUT HERE scarf from Michael Barnaart designer.

With Berry Rutjes


I love hats. I have too many of them. I wear hats in the summer as in the winter. This autumn, one of my dreams is coming true. — Viviana M. C. De La Barca
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Berry Rutjes is a fashion designer who attended the London College of Fashion to specialize in the traditional, artisanal techniques of millinery.

​Dutch press on Berry’s craft:
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libelle.nl

Harpers Bazaar

deondernemer.

Royal Tea! Over Máxima's hoofdzaken: hoedenontwerper Berry Rutjes.

Amsterdam Fashion Week 2025


Cont...
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​Sterre Elaine, a personal story in fashion, celebrates empowerment and confidence through designs inspired by heritage, passions, and family. Elaine offers a sustainable expression of self, from childhood dreams to handcrafted pieces honouring the strength behind her name.

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In Tunisia, Turkey, Jerusalem, and Morocco, we had the opportunity to immerse in the regional women’s fashion scene. These historical and culturally rich destinations showcase a distinct style that diverges significantly from our director’s own upbringing (Mexico) and current residence in the Netherlands.

Recently, during Amsterdam Fashion Week, we had the privilege of engaging with two young designers who seamlessly blend traditional elements with contemporary aesthetics. SUITS for her and MAZIYA, shared their creative journey on this platform, providing valuable insights into their designs.

In line with the overarching message of Life Is A Cultural Thread, which emphasizes the significance of intersectional inclusion in the domains of culture, art, and design, we believe that this experience underscores the importance of fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and respects the unique identities of individuals. Equality. SocialAwareness. Diversity.
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Amsterdam Fashion Week 2025 hit the runway this weekend, and we were off to Georgette Koning, editor-in-chief of Dutch magazine MIRROR MIRROR, for an interview with Maria Kublin on her father’s book Balenciaga-Kublin.

Balenciaga-Kublin celebrates fashion photographer Tom Kublin, who worked with couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga during the golden age of haute couture in Paris, the 1950s and 1960s.

Balenciaga-Kublin is written by Ana Balda, a fashion lecturer, researcher, and curator, and Maria Kublin, a curator and editor with a focus on fashion and photography, with text contributions by Miren Vives, director of the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum; the model Katinka Bleeker, who was Tom Kublin's partner and muse; the fashion photographer Gian Paolo Barbieri; and Lydia Slater, editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar UK.

Maria Kublin is a posthumous child, and what she knows about her progenitor comes from secondary sources. As she describes in the book, the most important source is her mother, Katinka, a leading fashion model and her father's muse.

The book is a beautiful photo journey of Balenciaga’s creations. This visual material, as Maria Kublin puts it, represents one of the most creative unions in fashion history, with a great selection of Tom Kublin's work, as it shows his contribution to fashion photography.


What is Georgette Koning, editor-in-chief of Dutch magazine MIRROR MIRROR, story?

According to Georgette’s Vintaaage Magazine, our personal style is a continuous process. A test of time and a collection of stories. A blouse that belonged to your dear grandma, or that other garment that has had multiple lives versus a fast-fashion product that sometimes doesn’t survive after a wash.

In this edition of her magazine, Georgette presents the story behind people’s style and their relationship with clothes. Garments from their closets that surprisingly give them happiness and pleasure.
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Home Style

​🍂 Styling our autumnal evenings at home in the Netherlands with Mexican woven cotton textiles and Finnish cast iron casserole by IITTALA - the cast iron material and detachable wooden handle draw inspiration from ancient Finnish folklore.

One of our cozy-day recipes is a family favorite: Mexican cilantro soup. Start by chopping two fresh bunches of cilantro and boiling them in chicken or vegetable broth. Then, brown two cloves of garlic in olive oil and add to the broth. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and add some optional fresh cream. Serve with homemade croutons.

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Hearty lifestyle characterized by the expression of love and care.

WHAT DOES YOUR BOOTS SAY ABOUT YOU?

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Professor Carolyn Mair, PhD, frequently incorporates her expertise in the Psychology of Fashion into her public lectures. One of her questions this season, presented to an audience aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line, pertains to this subject.

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WHAT DOES YOUR OUTFIT SAY ABOUT YOU TODAY?

The power of clothing is an art form that allows us to express identity through various personal and cultural layers.

As Prof. Carolyn Mair points out, “When you understand the psychology of fashion, you see how every outfit can shape how you feel, how you're seen and how you connect with the world.”


In the autumn-winter season when boots help our bodies keep warm.
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Mexican Design In H&M Autumn 2025

H&M, founded in 1947 in Västerås, Sweden, began as a women’s clothing store. Over time, it grew into a global powerhouse with stores in over 70 countries. H&M, known for its affordable and trendy clothing, built its empire on speed and volume. This was achieved through quick production cycles and low prices. While their success is attributed to their fast fashion business model, H&M is now investing in textile-to-textile recycling through its joint venture with Renewcell, a Swedish innovator turning old garments into Circulose® pulp, used in new fabrics, and designer collaborations that tell richer stories by combining heritage, innovation, and underrepresented creators to reflect modern brand values.

That said, circularity is the cornerstone of H&M’s transformation. Producing less with key materials that include:
Organic Cotton & Recycled Polyester for basics.
TENCEL™ Lyocell for fluid dresses and blouses.
Innovative fabrics from waste: orange peel silk, pineapple fiber, and seaweed textiles under trial.

We support that!

H&M designer collaborations began teaming up with luxury labels nearly 20 years ago. It was in 2004 when they released its first-ever designer collaboration with the legendary Karl Lagerfeld, in 2005 with Stella McCartney, and the following year with Viktor & Rolf. Almost 20 years later, a promising Mexican designer, Lorena Saravia, is on their radar!

My love for dressmaking runs in the family, so such relationships with my garments and the craft behind them had led me to research, write, and produce artistic installations and a short documentation in 2021, with established artists and designers from around the world. So I couldn’t miss this opportunity to continue supporting conscious Mexican design for my birthday month. Treating myself to silhouettes that nod to my Mexican maternal dressmaking heritage and my father’s ranching roots with pieces by this renowned Mexican designer, is magical! Some of Lorena Saravia’s pieces are part of the H&M collaboration Premium Selection.

Now, when my stunning items arrived, I was glad to witness the great quality of the garments. One of the main reasons I stopped buying H&M fashion a long time ago was the poor quality of their clothes. The disturbing news stories about poor working conditions for workers also prompted me to step away and continue supporting anthropological and sociological research that favor conscious practices in the fashion industry.


 H&M x LORENA SARAVIA

My initial choice for H&M x LORENA SARAVIA was the SUEDE CAPE JACK WITH FRINGES and the SUEDE BOOTS IN WESTERN STYLE, but they were unavailable. So I chose the CLUTCH and the PLEAT-FRONT TWILL PANTS. Both pieces embody femininity and strike a balance between contemporary and timeless styles. What I love the most about these items is the great design and the quality. They truly speak to my Mexican heart. I love the soft natural colours of the pants and the clutch. The clutch shape, a rectangular bag beautifully braided in suede, and the lining are 100% cotton twill. It’s a stylish daytime clutch ideal for casual outings. It includes an adjustable, detachable shoulder strap with metal carabiner hooks. The full-length, baggy-fit pants are made in rigid cotton twill with a front zipper engraved with the designer’s logo and a wide waistband tab with discreet side pockets. These pants are unique because I didn’t have anything similar in my wardrobe.  They’re two modern, versatile pieces that combine strength and elegance, so rooted in my heritage. 

Fast fashion has long been synonymous with overproduction, pollution, and exploitation. However, even industry giants can adapt, and we are happy to learn that H&M, one of the world’s largest fashion retailers, is demonstrating this evolution.

H&M x LORENA SARAVIA features only a 29-piece collection currently available online via H&M.
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Autumn | Winter 2025-2026
Stylist Approved Staple

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​Originating from the rugged cowboys and ranchers of northeastern Mexico, the Cuera Tamaulipeca has evolved into a cultural symbol, worn also for everyday wear and representing northern Mexico’s identity.

The Tamaulipas region, known for its ranchers, features the Cuera, a handcrafted garment with a history spanning over a century.

Originally made from calfskin or deer suede, the Cuera is a jacket with long fringe
on the lower part and sleeves, adorned with white engravings, usually flowers. Founded in 1617, Tula is home to the Cuera Tamaulipeca. October 20th is designated as the National Day of the Tamaulipas Cuera in Mexico.

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© 2026 Viviana De La Barca.
​All rights reserved. Netherlands.


  • Home | News
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