Culture

Anciela is proud to present its new collection, ‘Echoes of Earth’, curated in collaboration with the non-profit FLAWA as part of the Southbank Centre’s You Belong Here summer programme.

This immersive fashion presentation reimagines the role of fashion in an era of environmental challenges. Responding to Tavares Strachan’s work You Belong Here, Anciela invites the audience to collectively reflect on this statement, and envision a sustainable and just future.

Four looks represent a letter, and when worn, they form a deconstructed ‘poncho’ inspired by a pre-Columbian tunic from South America still worn today. When the ponchos are laid flat, the letters displayed on the floor reveal the word ‘HOPE’. But what do we hope for? Anciela aims to connect and share our concerns and ideas so we can dream together.

These pieces were made using no-waste pattern techniques, utilising the full width of the fabric, and gathering draping methods with vintage deadstock fabric donated by artist Allegra Hicks, along with reclaimed wool and foam padding.

Anciela presents its first solo exhibition commissioned by the Colombian Embassy in London. An exploration of Latin American culture through fashion and ethical design.
El Viaje showcases the journey of Colombian-born Designer Jennifer Droguett Espinosa: a constant transition, always morphing, adapting and making sense of the surroundings while embracing her own roots and sustainable values.

Using the power of storytelling with the ultimate purpose of changing the narrative and empowering one’s story, Anciela invites you to experience the journey (El Viaje) of transformation and constant flux where the garments become a vessel of catharsis, packed with rich experiences of a childhood combined with an outsider’s perspective gained from leaving the homeland to live in London. 
Photos by Ana Flores

Showcase with a Difference: Product & Purpose, is part of a new Fashion Open Studio residency at The Lab E20, East Village’s creative community hub. Anciela presented an embroidered Hemp and Linen jacquard trench coat inspired by the Arpilleras from Chile with an upcycled bicycle wheel cap. Curated by Matthew Needham.

Established in 2017, Fashion Open Studio is Fashion Revolution’s mentoring initiative that works to improve the way clothes are made and offers an opportunity to share innovative and creative solutions to the issues the fashion industry faces today.

Ten fashion designers and their approaches and motivations to creating fashion will be presented throughout the showcase, including Anciela, Ifeanyi Okwuadi, Joao Maraschin, Lueder, Martina Spetlova, Renate Brenha, Soup Archive, Rahemur Rahman, Noki aka JJ Hudson and Revival London 

Anciela was part of the Fashion Open Studio international cohort of innovative designers, joined together by one cause: making fashion differently. Fashion Open Studio is a showcasing initiative launched by Fashion Revolution, the global campaign which asks #WhoMadeMyClothes? The two-day series of Fashion Open Studio events will be a mix of physical with an interactive exhibition at Berlin’s Kraftwerk space.

Fashion Open Studio stands for innovation in showcasing, radical transparency, and a belief that to challenge the system, we need to champion the radicals. Fashion is changing, and emerging designers are looking for different ways to express their creativity and reach their customers. By looking at the people and the processes behind the collections, FOS creates an intimate thread between the maker and the user.

Anciela launched an exclusive digital fashion line with metaverse platform Metropolis World, a 360° curated universe that blends unique properties, e-commerce, gaming, art, and experiences that span both the digital & physical worlds. You can create and dress your avatar in Anciela’s pieces while being part of a vibrant and growing digital community. Featuring our iconic cork jacket, poncho hat and bicycle wheel among other wonderful pieces.

Launching a capsule collection of phygital garments in collaboration with Seamm, a revolutionary platform where the future of fashion unfolds in a harmonious blend of the physical and digital realms; it’s a gateway to experiencing fashion in an unprecedented way.  Each digital twin is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring it mirrors its physical counterpart in every aspect. From texture to colour, from design intricacies to the overall look, the digital twins are as authentic as the physical garments themselves. 

Imagine attending a virtual event in Decentraland or playing your favorite game Minecraft or Roblox in an exclusive digital outfit that mirrors your physical attire. The AR try-on feature allows you to try on outfits virtually before making a purchase. You can also customise digital twins to suit your unique style. It’s about experiencing them in a whole new way.

Jennifer delivered a Children’s art workshop as part of ‘Colombia Colores’, a project implemented by CCC in London, aimed at the children of the Colombian diaspora that teaches about the richness of Colombian culture through music, art and dance. We hope to bring together the young Colombians and educate them on meaningful parts of Colombian culture and encourage them to feel connected and part of a larger community. 

Our mission is to support, empower and protect children and young people that are victims, survivors or at risk of the most neglected issues in Colombia as well as the Colombian diaspora in the UK to positively impact their communities and defend their rights in the long term.

Anciela delivered an Art Therapy Workshop x FEWP, designed to help anyone, including those whose lives have been affected by adverse experiences and who are recovering or have survived trauma. 

By using the power of craft, in this space, you would learn how to use fabric scraps and turn them into unique embroidered embellishments that tell a story. This technique can be used in different ways to make decorative patches or repair your garments but ultimately to unwind and benefit from collective craft.

FEWP is a non-profit organization, created for the development and promotion of mental and emotional health in the Latin American community residing in the United Kingdom. 

We promote comprehensive assistance aimed at improving your quality of life at a personal, family and social level through a systematic and ecological intervention model.

Anciela’s work transcends the boundaries of conventional fashion, cultivating a distinctive visual language that goes far beyond the garment itself. Rooted in the celebration of the migrant experience, the brand crafts immersive, multidisciplinary narratives, seamlessly blending wearable installations, live performance, and moving image.

At the heart of this creative approach lies a commitment to storytelling that evokes emotion and provokes dialogue. Through an emphasis on sustainable and conscious practices, Anciela fosters a sense of collective engagement, inviting audiences into shared, sensory-rich experiences.

Jennifer has directed and co-produced Ode to the Papaya (2023), a fashion film premiered during London Fashion Week, and Nueve (2021), a short-form documentary commissioned by Fashion Revolution. Both films were recognised for their cultural resonance, earning shortlistings in the Culture category at the Berlin Commercial Film Festival. Her direction reflects a considered, cinematic eye—one that bridges fashion with poignant, socially driven narratives.