Johanna Ortiz had some fringe benefits for fall — that is, in swingy layered skirts and swooshy beaded dresses — as the Colombian designer continued to express her take on opulent ease.
Gowns were paired with sandals or cowboy boots — a nod to the country’s llanero cultural roots — even as she layered on the luxury with brocade, jacquard and velvet fabrics. The collection spotlighted Ortiz’s concentration on craft with her 400-plus strong stable of female artisans who make each piece at the brand’s atelier in Cali.
Their intricate embroidery work was front-and-center on several pieces, such as a long-sleeve, slit-waist gown fit for a boho queen. Ortiz works western touches into all her collections, here expressed as pattern on dramatic black-and-white capes.
Elsewhere, eveningwear was in a zhuzhed-up tuxedo with a wrap sash waist, loose fit trousers tucked into riding boots, or a keyhole cape-sleeve dress.
Ortiz has switched up her design process from sketching to draping in order to better work with her bold prints. This season they were expressed as palm leaves, paisley and a reworked heart shape woven into a vine.
Stunning jewelry was from a collaboration with Colombian goldsmith Omar Hurtado, who is known for his pieces based on ancient pre-Columbian designs, and added an air of mysticism to the collection.
After a few seasons of runways, Ortiz opted for a quieter presentation this season, with the collection presented against the most stunning view of the Eiffel Tower. The designer wanted an intimate experience for editors and buyers, keeping with the up-close-and-personal presentation trend of the season.
Her brand spans across categories, from home to swim to accessories, and a recent collaboration with wall coverings maker Schumacher will continue, while the largely handwoven home collection will be presented once a year as the company faces some scarcity of raw materials due to climate change.
Following the opening of her New York City flagship last June, Ortiz said sales have been strong and she has grown a deeper understanding of her core customer. She opened a second store in Bal Harbour, Fla., in December as a pop-up and it has been so successful it will now become a permanent location.
As Oritiz expands her universe there are two new non-fashion collaborations in the works for 2026, and more retail expansions for Texas and California are eyed for next year as well.
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