Kate Spade celebrates Mexico and Frida Kahlo in new SS17 collection

By

Francelia Rodriguez Ceballos

Translated by
Barbara Santamaria

Published
May 18, 2017

Vibrant pink and red tones, off-the-shoulder tops with floral embroideries, accessories in the form of cacti and piñatas – Kate Spade’s new Spring Summer 2017 collection draws inspiration from Mexico and Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

The brand’s creative director Deborah Lloyd took Kahlo’s sense of style and art as a theme for the summer range, highlighting an artist who has become synonymous with fashion and art in the past few years.

Floral prints inspired by the artist’s garden outside Mexico City grace dresses, tops and skirts, as well as denim, while sequins give a touch of glam to Kate Spade’s new collection.

The catch line ‘Viva el taco’ - which seems to reference the famous title of Kahlo’s last painting – can be found on handbags, sandals and phone cases, and basic ingredients of traditional Mexica cuisine such as the chili pepper come to life as earrings and prints on dresses and ruffled jumpsuits. 

The summer 2017 collections includes fun and witty accessories featuring elements of Mexican culture like piñatas and cacti, and its colour palette ranges from vibrant pinks, reds, purples and green to graphic black and white tones.

The launch of the line is supported by an ad campaign which sees Australian model Fernanda Ly step into a New York subway before a band of female mariachis play a traditional Mexican song.

With this fun, cheerful collection Kate Spade follows Christian Louboutin who recently introduced a new handbag collection inspired by Mexican culture and created together with over 100 Maya women.