The Latin American Fashion Summit (LAFS) begins its first edition in conjunction with the Design Week Dominican Republic initiative, called “Raíces by LAFS”, focused on reconnecting with the origin of Latin American culture and promoting tourism in the region, which will include panels, workshops and networking opportunities between professionals in the fashion industry.

Estefanía Lacayo and Samantha Tams, founders of Raíces by LAFS, formally opened the event in the company of David Collado, Minister of Tourism and Ligia Bonetti, executive president of Grupo SID as part of the sponsors of the summit.

The Colonial City will become the mecca of fashion and design for three days. This event aims to boost the country’s orange economy and promote the Latin American fashion and design ecosystem. The selected city was the first city of the New World, Colonial Zone, and the birthplace of the famous fashion designer Oscar de la Renta.

During the opening ceremony, Ligia Bonetti highlighted: “At Grupo SID we are proud to support initiatives of value such as this summit, which allows us to honor the legacy of our dear friend Oscar de la Renta, who left a mark indelible in the Fashion industry, an event that enshrines his vision, as well as our commitment to creating well-being by promoting art and culture.”

“Fashion is much more than clothing and accessories. It is a universal language that speaks of the culture and traditions of nations. It is a form of expression, communication, and a symbol of identity, and, in turn, it is an economic engine that generates jobs and contributes significantly to the GDP of many countries, including the Dominican Republic. For Grupo SID, it is very proud to be part of this meeting to support and promote local fashion, giving voice to Dominican talents,” Ligia Bonetti said.

Raíces by LAFS is an event that brings together local and international professionals from the fashion industry to provide a learning and empowering experience to emerging creatives and Latin American entrepreneurs. The three-day La Casa de los Vitrales y la Fortaleza Ozama event occurred from March 12-15, offering an international environment to learn, connect and thrive in a Pop-Up with the best curatorship of Latin American design that combines the different brands, luxury brand exhibitions, a perfect excuse to discover a new destination and connect with Latin American culture.