Meet Juliana Garcia Bello, Redress Design Award 2020 Womenswear Finalist

JULIANA GARCIA BELLO

ARGENTINA

For her Redress Design Award collection, HERENCIA, Juliana Garcia Bello explores concepts of heritage, being and existence. “I believe every object makes a story possible,” says Juliana, who holds a Postgraduate Degree in Sportswear from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Donations by neighbours and friends form the basis of the work. “I used items from both important moments such as wedding tablecloths as well as everyday objects, including shirts and jeans, to create something new from things that are no longer in use.”

The garments are simple and minimalist, adaptable and comfortable; workwear details give added durability. The influence of family, of “home as land and shelter”, remains central: “My grandmother Dora taught me the importance of re-use,” says Juliana, who founded her own brand GARCIABELLO in 2017. “In my childhood, she made my garments with other old clothes that were no longer used.”

A selection of low waste design strategies come into play: mainly cotton fibres were accepted because of their biodegradability; textiles are left un-dyed to save water; stains and marks are covered with embroidery and patchwork. “I'm interested in clothes because we wear them all the time throughout our lives. Fashion helps me rethink people's relationships with the world,” say Juliana. “[But] I have serious concerns about the fashion industry and the quantities of products being generated,” says Juliana. “I want to show the public that it is possible to create ethical, circular designs with an emphasis on simplicity, and I’d like people in fashion to rethink how things are done.”