Eliana Paco Paredes (born c.1982) is an indigenous

Aymara Aymara may refer to: Languages and people * Aymaran languages, the second most widespread Andean language ** Aymara language, the main language within that family ** Central Aymara, the other surviving branch of the Aymara(n) family, which today ...

Bolivian fashion designer from

La Paz La Paz, officially Nuestra Señora de La Paz (Aymara language, Aymara: Chuqi Yapu ), is the seat of government of the Bolivia, Plurinational State of Bolivia. With 755,732 residents as of 2024, La Paz is the List of Bolivian cities by populati ...

. In 2016, after exhibiting her

chola The Chola Empire, which is often referred to as the Imperial Cholas, was a medieval thalassocratic empire based in southern India that was ruled by the Chola dynasty, and comprised overseas dominions, protectorates and spheres of influence ...

designs at the Bolivia Fashion Week in June, she achieved recognition in New York City, participating in the September fashion week.

Biography

Originally employed as a secretary in La Paz, Eliana Paco was inspired by her mother, the artisan Cecilia Paredes, to turn to fashion. After receiving the necessary training, she began designing clothes in the local ''cholita'' tradition in 2005. As a result of increasing demand for the local style known as ''chola paceña'', she introduced new colours and textures. In 2016, the producer Pierre Dulanto invited her to participate in the September

New York Fashion Week New York Fashion Week (NYFW), held in February and September of each year, is a semi-annual series of events in Manhattan typically spanning seven to nine days when international Fashion design, fashion collections are shown to buyers, the pres ...

. The collection known as ''Pachamama'' (Mother Earth) was presented by 12 international models. It was the first time cholita fashions had been shown in New York. The indigenous chola women in La Paz are known for their bowler hats, ''mantas'' (shawls), ''polleras'' (skirts) and ''enaguas'' (petticoats). Luis Revilla, the mayor of La Paz, was proud to see Paco's designs had been shown at the New York Fashion week. He expressed the hope that "her designs, which reflect the identity of local woman from La Paz, generate a trend in the global fashion industry." Interviewed for

National Geographic ''National Geographic'' (formerly ''The National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as ''Nat Geo'') is an American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. The magazine was founded in 1888 as a scholarly journal, nine ...

, Paco explained that her designs were not only sold at her store in La Paz but were sent to regions throughout the country. They are also exported to other South American countries and to Spain and Italy.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paco, Eliana Living people 1982 births People from La Paz Bolivian women fashion designers Bolivian fashion designers Bolivian women in business