MANCHA DE PLÁTANO
Category: Apparel
Competitions: International
The identity of Puerto Rico is revealed through the daily life of the jibaro, a hardworking, resilient rural worker who loves his culture and country life. The plantain is a symbol of Caribbean identity, heritage, and the jibaro. “Mancha de Platano” or “Plantain Stain” is the Puerto Rican birthmark. The Jibaro led a simple and humble lifestyle. He worked cultivating crops such as coffee, plantains, and sugar cane. He tended to animals and immersed himself in rural culture and traditional music. The Jibaro’s clothing was simple and functional, characterized by loose cotton shirts, wide trousers tied with a rope, and garments designed to withstand agricultural work and the rural climate of Puerto Rico. The “Mancha de Plátano” collection is inspired by the Jibaro’s daily life and Puerto Rican rural culture. This Fall/Winter 2026 collection explores the aesthetics and lifestyle of the jibaro through a fashion luxury lens. Drapey silhouettes, direct reference to cultural symbols, and the reinterpretation of the modern jibaro. It explores the question: what does Puerto Rican heritage mean today? The garment submitted is a Menswear re-interpretation of the Pava, a traditional straw hat from Puerto Rico. The jacket is made out of lambskin and Calf Leather lace used for the intrecciato.
