A Layman at Rio Fashion Week
What I like—and sometimes dislike—about my second calling in life, journalism, is that unlike my first calling, music, there is rarely a formal script or “score” telling you what to do or what you’ll see.
So when I accepted an invitation to the final day of the long-awaited return of Rio Fashion Week—back after a ten-year absence in the city of Rio de Janeiro—I set off as a complete layman. This is, after all, a city dominated (at least in my observation) by the fashion-minded.
My chariot? The Rio de Janeiro Metro and the VLT Carioca, which delivered me to Praça Mauá, ground zero for the spectacle. I arrived not entirely sure what I was about to witness—but determined to find out.
At first, I was denied entry to a runway show—desfile, as it’s called here—by Brazilian designer Isabela Capeto, who runs a women’s clothing shop in the leafy neighborhood of Gávea.
But experience in this so-called Cidade Maravilhosa has taught me one thing: wait patiently, don’t complain, don’t shout—and sometimes the door opens.
It did.
The once-imposing guard suddenly waved us forward with urgency: don’t walk—run.
And so, like a pair of determined “senior citizens,” my better half and I ran as fast as aging legs would allow. We climbed the stairs and squeezed into a crowd preparing to watch the show in a venue chilled to what felt like North Pole conditions.
My vantage point didn’t last long. A slightly irritated neighbor edged me out of position. But experience again intervened: aim for the front row. At my age, I reasoned, who would dare throw me out?
No one did.
From this hard-earned perch, I watched as Capeto’s models took to the catwalk in a striking mix of tropical colors—earthy browns, blacks, and whites—blended with designs that evoked something primal, almost tribal in inspiration. It was bold, textured, and unmistakably Brazilian.
There was no Gisele Bündchen among the lineup, but the models—thin as fashion dictates—moved with confidence as relentless, rap-like beats pulsed through the room.
By the end, the audience rose in a well-earned standing ovation.
The Bigger Picture
Beyond one layman’s adventure, Rio Fashion Week’s return is no small story.
Rio Fashion Week marked its comeback in April 2026 after more than a decade since the last “Fashion Rio” in 2014. Held from April 14 to 18 at Píer Mauá and across the port district, the event reaffirmed Rio as a major creative hub.
Around 20 brands took part, including Osklen, Lenny Niemeyer (celebrating 35 years), and Salinas.
The relaunch is led by IMM, the group behind São Paulo Fashion Week, creating a unified national calendar: Rio in the first half of the year, São Paulo in the second.
The event drew more than 30,000 people and, according to city officials, generated over R$100 million in economic activity—fueling jobs and boosting Rio’s creative economy.
The lineup balanced established names and rising talent, with designers such as Patricia Viera, Handred, and Adidas joining the mix.
Even better for newcomers like me: the event is already confirmed for the next three years.
A Layman’s Promise
As for this observer, I promise to return—hopefully a little less clueless—for the 2027 edition.
Though one humble suggestion: perhaps next time, invited guests won’t have to queue, negotiate, and sprint just to get in.
Still, in a city like Rio, maybe that’s part of the show.
