The final look was a beautiful ruana made with warm colours setting the trend for this winter. There was also a Reykjavik Pima Cotton Tunic featuring colourful Icelandic motifs and ingeniously matched with a Peruvian chullo and a hat.
Leather gloves, a belt and a trendy Peyton Felted Hat add a vintage flair. The last few pieces, while being more traditional, render a playful look through the creative use of layering that starts with a hand-knitted Larapa Market Skirt, combined with two different types of shawls, beautifully pinched at the waist of the model, giving a coat-like look. One of my favourite looks: classy, edgy and perfect for London weather! The catwalk starts to get even more intriguing with models featuring more casual looks such an adorable Alpaca Nordique Pullover followed by a very Peruvian Connection look featuring a beautiful patterned Kilim textile shawl wrapped on top of a cozy coat, dramatising the look with an alpaca fur hat.
Ana explains the inspiration behind this piece: “Our designers, located on a farm in Kansas City, are often inspired by their surroundings, in this case the inspiration comes from patterns on chicken feathers.” As I browse the other designs, I realise that every garment has its own unique story and inspiration. Walking towards me now is a model wearing a remarkable combination of a Plumage Maxi Skirt beautifully accessorised with a leather Obi Sash and a Zoe Floppy black Hat. As we speak a stunning brunette saunters past us sporting a snuggly, beige alpaca capelet matched with a flowing black skirt and a pair of elegant, fingerless, elbow-length gloves.Īs the second model wows the crowd by wearing a beautiful coat featuring bold black and white patterns, Annie explains: “Everything is designed in our warehouse in Kansas City, but most of the production is done in Peru, other than the boots that are made in Tuscany and the beading work that is made in India.” Peruvian Connection, London store. I couldn’t agree more with her while I’m admiring the ensembles that each model is parading along the catwalk. “What makes us different is the originality of the products we offer, which are carefully crafted and produced,” says Ana Orihuela. As the brand began to establish itself, a significant turning point for Annie was a fortunate article about her newly created brand in the New York Times’ Style section, which moved them from a wholesale business to directly selling to consumers and entering into the fascinating world of retail.Īs Annie finishes the history of the brand, I can see the first model flawlessly walking through the tables, giving us the chance to take a closer look at the patterns that each garment features and feel some of the softest materials Peruvian Connection uses, like baby alpaca, wool and Pima cotton. While the first degustation dishes start to arrive, Annie Hurlbut begins the fashion show with a heartfelt introduction, walking us through the beginning of Peruvian Connection that was born by the inspiration she gathered in Peru as a Yale anthropology student and through her Peruvian ethnographic textile collection. The intimate setting has tables carefully placed around an L-shaped catwalk where all the attendees, including long-time customers, bloggers, journalists and representatives from the Peruvian Trade and Tourism Office, are thrilled to see how this international brand is settling into the London retail scene less than two years after the opening of their first store on King’s Road. I then make my way to one of the tables where I start mingling between welcoming drinks and Peruvian pisco, my favourite! There is a wonderful welcoming by Ana Orihuela the London Store Manager and an introduction to Annie Hurlbut, the CEO and mastermind behind the brand that was founded in 1976. What a great moment to try out this fantastic new entry, while feasting my eyes on the latest Peruvian Connection’s Gift collection. I fling open the taxi door and dive through the front door of Lima Floral, the latest Peruvian restaurant to open in London, showcasing some of the latest creations and cooking styles of chef Virgilio Martinez and head chef Robert Ortiz. Tonight Peruvian Connection launches its first catwalk show accompanied by an exclusive Peruvian degustation.
I’m going a million miles an hour in a cab, through Marylebone on the way to Covent Garden, where one of the most exciting events in my calendar this month is about to start and hopefully not before I arrive. LONDON, United Kingdom - I know I’m running late.
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