African Fashion Week Brazil Inspires Afro-Brazilian Designers, Reveals Cris Vieira
Renowned Brazilian designer and stylist, Cris Vieira, the visionary behind Cris Vieira Moda Africana, has unveiled a remarkable revelation following the conclusion of the African Fashion Week held in Brazil. The event, graced by the esteemed presence of Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi, Queen of Ile-Ife and wife of Ooni of Ife, Kabiyesi Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Arole Oodua, has ignited a new wave of inspiration for Afro-Brazilian designers.
Cris Vieira, celebrated for her distinctive style in Brazil and across the global fashion spectrum, expressed her admiration for Olori Aderonke’s African Fashion Week. The event’s portrayal of African fashion transcended conventional boundaries, dispelling the misconception that African attire solely belongs to traditional and religious contexts.
In an exclusive interview, Cris Vieira underscored how Queen Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi’s African Fashion Week in Brazil has elevated the essence of African fabrics, particularly Adire, and showcased their unparalleled beauty to Brazilians and the international community. She emphasized that the event achieved a groundbreaking feat, leveling the playing field for African Brazilians and stylists alongside their European counterparts. Through this remarkable showcase, Olori’s African Fashion Week has effectively dismantled the stranglehold of European dominance within Brazilian fashion, as highlighted by Cris Vieira.
Cris Vieira, presiding over her fashion house, ‘Cris Vieira moda Africana,’ headquartered at rua catequese, no 7, Santo André, Saopaulo, Brazil, offered a compelling insight into the evolving demand for African fabrics. Notably, fabrics such as Adire, Ankara, Guinea, and Aso Oke have experienced a transformative shift in Brazil’s fashion landscape. They have transcended their prior association solely with traditional or religious contexts, now assuming a prestigious place as favored attire among high-profile celebrities. This paradigm shift can be directly attributed to the resounding success of African Fashion Week Brazil, which indisputably established these fabrics as a hallmark of contemporary international fashion.
Cris Vieira’s perspective reinforces the resounding impact of Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi’s African Fashion Week in Brazil. By bridging cultures, celebrating diversity, and redefining fashion norms, the event has ignited a creative spark within Afro-Brazilian designers and stylists, propelling them to new heights of innovation and influence on the global fashion stage.
Cristiane Vieira Ribeiro, also known as Cris Vieira, was born in Rio de Janeiro but relocated to Sao Paulo at a young age along with her parents. It was in Sao Paulo that she established her name and career. As a prominent figure in the fashion industry in the ABC region of the extreme south of Sao Paulo, Brazil, she founded the Espaco Cultural Cris Vieira. This cultural outlet became a platform dedicated to advocating and promoting Afro-Brazilian arts, culture, and traditions.
Cris Vieira, working alongside other notable advocates of culture and tradition, played a crucial role in reintroducing African traditions among Brazilians of African descent. She became an educator and promoter of African arts and languages, offering lectures, services, and education to black communities.
Having earned various academic and professional accolades, Cris Vieira’s aspirations include extending the advocacy for Adire fabrics, incorporating ancestral elements into the Brazilian fashion industry. Notably, she is an admirer of Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi, the queen of Ile-Ife and the founder of African Fashion Week.
