Albuquerque Fashion Week Showcases New Mexico Designers

For the third installment of Albuquerque Fashion Week’s Enchanted Elemental series, 'Nocturnal Flame,' eight New Mexico designers will present fall collections at the Wheels Museum. The show, which begins at dusk on Friday, Oct. 16, is built around ideas of fire, transformation and renewal.

Designers will interpret the theme through couture, avant-garde and ready-to-wear collections. The event will also include music and fire performances. According to event coordinator Jakia Fuller, ABQFW has become an important platform for contemporary designers in the state.

All eight designers are creating one-of-a-kind, handcrafted pieces. Fuller emphasized that local, handmade garments are better for the environment than factory-produced clothes. She also noted that the show aims to be inclusive, with a diverse range of body types represented on the runway.

Some designers, such as Son of Picasso, are well known in the region, while others are presenting runway collections for the first time. Joseph Romero, founder of Joe’s Bows, is making his debut with a full collection inspired by empowered women and traditional Hispanic dress. His work combines Day of the Dead-inspired floral patterns with denim workwear.

Carly Trujillo’s collection explores her Native and Irish heritage, as well as her solidarity with Palestine. She is incorporating elements like Irish tartans, Indigenous Mexican huipiles and Palestinian keffiyehs. Trujillo also emphasized the importance of designing for all body types, stating that fashion should be a form of expression rather than aspiration.

Dei Jahvu, a 20-year-old trans, nonbinary designer, is creating a collection that challenges traditional gender roles in fashion. She is using red as a key element, incorporating it as trim and in flamboyant jackets. Jahvu also participated in a mentorship program with fellow designer Son of Picasso, which helped improve her pattern-making skills.