Young black designer dresses Colombian vice president in ‘resistance’ fashion

by

Reuters

Esteban Sinisterra, a young black designer from Colombia’s impoverished Pacific region, is dressing Colombia’s vice president, Francia Márquez, the first black woman to hold the office, in what he calls “resistance” fashion.

Sinisterra, whose colorful patterned dresses for Márquez have drawn international attention, grew up in the municipality of Santa Bárbara Iscuandé in Nariño province, where he says young people have few opportunities to escape involvement in the country’s ongoing internal conflict.

Her upbringing bears similarities to Francia Márquez, a former housewife and environmental activist who grew up in the impoverished municipality of Suárez, in the province of Cauca, and faced death threats for her opposition to gold mining.

“One way or another, her story and mine are similar, so I think there was a really beautiful spark,” said Sinisterra, 23, who now lives in Cali and studies social work in addition to her job. as a stylist.

“First we accept and recognize that we have roots that connect us, which is Africa, but taking these roots into account we also express the territory where we come from, the Colombian Pacific,” said Sinisterra, who learned her craft from her aunt and grandmother.

“Each of Francia’s outfits evokes that,” said Sinisterra. “It’s being able to show that we are like this… so for me fashion, my fashion, is resistance.”

Francia Márquez, 40, who mentioned her ancestors in her oath of office, is expected to lead a new equality ministry if the government can get Congressional approval for its creation.

(Reporting by Jair Fernando Coll)

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