Caña Brava
Caña Brava is a runway that honors the Dominican cultural stamp. Presented at DominicanaModa19, the collection stands as a tribute to the heritage born in the sugarcane fields, traditions now recognized as intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Carlos De Moya built this Spring/Summer 2020 collection to benefit two causes close to his community work: Sociedad Benéfica Amor y Paz and Fundación San Francisco de Asís.
Cultural Context
The collection celebrates three living expressions of Dominican identity: the Guloya, the Gagá, and the Congos de Villa Mella. Each carries centuries of resistance, faith, and joy passed down through dance and ritual. De Moya translates these traditions into fashion, not as costume but as inheritance. “We carry a bit of many places, and that mix makes us unique,” he said after the show. “Those differences are what I celebrate through my prints and the clothing I design for the brand that carries my name.”
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More than two dozen looks moved through the ruins of San Nicolás de Bari, each one built around original prints. “Every print collection is built to add value to the concept and to communicate what I, as the creator of these proposals, want to say,” he explained. “Having my own prints adds value to my designs and lets me protect exclusivity for my clients.” The prints are not decoration. They are the vocabulary through which he tells the story of his island.
Technical Innovation
Every textile in Caña Brava was designed in-house, a signature practice for the CDM Carlos De Moya brand. This ownership of print design, from concept to fabric, sets the collection apart on the runway and gives each piece a layer of exclusivity that off-the-shelf textiles cannot offer.
Presentation
The show took place at the Ruinas de San Nicolás de Bari, one of the oldest colonial structures in the Americas, during the most important fashion week in the Dominican Republic. Original music was composed by Vadir González. Show design was led by Roger Espinal, with production by Real Pro Audio y Eventos. Sponsors included Samsung, Leche Nutra, Real Pro Audio y Eventos, and Caserío.
Legacy
De Moya closed the night with words that define the collection’s purpose: “I want my collections to move from being clothing to being pieces that tell my story, the story of my island, and its valuable cultural expressions, the inheritance of that mix we carry and must love and defend fiercely.” Caña Brava stands as proof that fashion can carry memory forward while also giving back, through its benefit to Sociedad Benéfica Amor y Paz and Fundación San Francisco de Asís.
Project Information
NAME:
Caña Brava
Location:
Dominican Republic
PLACE:
Ruins of the Hospital of San Nicolas de Bari, Colonial Zone
CLIENT RATING:
CDM
FASHION
