Riva SuranaFashion is not only a form of art but an expression of individualist thoughts and societal criticism. Bold Fashion Wear Hand-Stitched By Single Mothers In Colombia. Materializing this very thought, Claudia Gontovnik is a Miami based, Colombian designer and multidisciplinary artist, dedicating her work to sustainable fashion. With a customer base in the US, Europe and Colombia, Gontovnik has achieved a lot in less time.
After working in the fashion industry for years in Colombia, making costumes for various occasions, Gontovnki finally moved to the US to start afresh and opened a few shops with traditional clothing lines. Later on, she started running an online fashion magazine, followed by going on a much needed sabbatical when she finally founded her label and her passion in designing.
The label is dedicated to preventing the mass feeding of dangerous substances into our environment via reuse and sartorial reinvention, fusing style, social responsibility, and sustainability. Along with the message of sustainability, Claudia also manages to incorporate feminism and women empowerment in her garment.
Each piece created by Gontovnik is a celebration of self-expression and makes a statement about both the wearer and the artist. In an interview with FashionUnited, Claudia commented on the uniqueness of her clothing line.
“Within each of my pieces, different religions, different races, different sexual preferences, all coexist happily in one place. That is the idea of each garment. Each one is unique.”
Bold Fashion Wear Hand-Stitched By Single Mothers In Colombia, Claudia sources all her materials herself. Local seamstresses who are happy to have the chance to better support their families, by their skilled trade, wash, iron, and cut these premium fabrics. These fabrics are usually second hand vintage pieces that find their way into Gontovnik’s design.
“I also cut out words because I like to be able to say things. Nothing is used carelessly.”
“These items that can take a long time. The first one I made took me about a week. I started looking for embroiderers in Colombia and I came across a group of mothers, who are considered the heads of families, who do this type of work in the city of Medellín.”
“When I met them I showed them what I needed and since then we have been working together. It can take me up to three months to design a piece. It is important for me to find the perfect spot and to find right meaning for me.”
The year 2014 was a turning point in Gontovnik’s career since it allowed her to define her creative aim clearly by supporting a sustainable and socially conscious fashion sector. She now gives her all to doing this.
