Nadia Manjarrez Spring 2024
The aim for Nadia Manjarrez’s Spring 2024 Bridal Collection was to honor the rich and varied culture of Mexico while also paying homage to the powerful and tenacious women who have played a vital role in shaping the nation’s history and leaving a lasting impact on its legacy.
She studied the past and found a Nahua woman, Malinche, given to a Spanish colonizer as a slave–a gift to him. She lived in terrible conditions as a slave, but by doing so learned the Spanish language, eventually becoming an important translator to bridge two cultures and mitigate violence through her translations between the groups.
“To honor her legacy, I named the most versatile dress in this collection after her – a breathtaking ball gown made from recycled moirè with a mesmerizing wavy pattern that can be transformed into a cocktail dress,” Manjarrez said.
I also pay homage to Adela Velarde, the visionary creator of the “Las Adelitas,” the first female soldier who bravely fought in the Mexican Revolution. These women defied gender norms by carrying ammunition and guns and provided valuable support to their fellow soldiers as nurses, cooks, and helpers. The Adela dress features a gorgeous tulle ball skirt with a halter rose Chantilly lace as an ode to their courageous spirit. The dress also allows for versatility with its removable sleeves and the ability to transform into a Chantilly cocktail dress.
The Frida, Spring 2024
The iconic Frida Kahlo, known for her stunning art, unapologetic style, and signature floral crown, served as the inspiration for the floral beaded “Frida” dress. “I also drew inspiration from the traditional Oaxacan dress known as the “Tehuanas,” popularized by actresses such as Dolores del Rio, Maria Felix, and Frida Kahlo. The skirt shape of this dress has been adapted into a contemporary design and incorporated into several of the pieces in this collection,” she said.
This season also features embroidered tulle with silk organza laser-cut flowers inspired by traditional Mexican embroidery techniques as well as a mantilla-style veil, reminiscent of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, a Mexican poet and nun who inspired the feminist movement with her work challenging gender norms.
“I used thick silk satin crepes with minimalistic silhouettes that can be paired with accessories such as Juana or Josefina. The latter is a triple V stretch crepe dress with French Chantilly applications that can be paired with a Chantilly bolero,” she added, “The Josefina dress is named after my grandmother-in-law, a skilled seamstress who sewed up until the end of her life. Her 80-year-old sewing machine was gifted to me this past year and added to my atelier in Mexico. Its vintage stitching techniques have inspired the picot edges seen on dresses including “Anna,” a stunning crinkled silk chiffon dress with a draped bodice that transforms into an airy skirt.”
The Genesis & Elisa Gowns
The Genesis dress is made from a rose brocade crepe with puff long sleeves, while the green Elisa dress takes inspiration from the Palenqueras – the women who work in the creation of mezcal in rural areas of Mexico, particularly Oaxaca. These women are responsible for processing the agave and turning them into mezcal, great inspiration for a new line of wedding dresses!
To accompany the Nadia-Manjarrez Spring 2024 line, here is a vow book by Wedding Story Writer, a perfect design fit.
Attribution: MVC Communications