Dress by El Dorado Art
Every great venture starts with two things: a void in the marketplace and a desire to make a change. Enter A New World Collective in Miami’s Faena Bazaar. The traveling retail showcase created by Morphew and El Dorado Art features luxury creations made by international artists who support sustainability and artisan craft.
It was early December when I visited Miami. One of the greatest takeaways from exploring Art Week there was seeing how much thought was put into the range of works on display. At ‘A New World Collective’, the mission is to share the importance of livable wages, recycling materials, and minimizing waste. In addition, they aim to keep ancient traditions and stories alive through one-of-a-kind pieces.
‘A New World Collective’ in Miami’s Faena Bazaar
We headed over to check out the space on the rooftop of the Faena Bazaar. It’s open there as a pop-up until January 4, 2020 within the Faena Hotel. Architecturally, it’s gorgeous with an all-white art deco design that’s surprisingly colorful inside.
People are saying retail is dying—we say that it is just changing. We did this space for artists to not feel like they are just selling but also telling their truth through art.”
—Juan Sebastian Rivera Bustos, co-creator of El Dorado Art
Among the 20,000-square-foot U-shaped space are curated racks of clothing. There’s also tables of accessories, and well-dressed mannequins in pieces by exhibitors. These include Morphew, El Dorado Art, Catherine Gee, Paula Mendoza, Esteban Cortazar, Carolina K, Mia Vesper, Judicael Vales, and Arbonne.
El Dorado’s Mission
Each piece tells a story of culture and tradition of the “Old World” and many are made by artisanal or indigenous communities. For instance, “A fisherman is the one who makes this dress,” says Juan Sebastian Rivera Bustos, who runs El Dorado Art with his husband Juan Pablo Gómez Angel. He adds, “He is not fishing anymore, but he’s bringing the technique alive again in a different way.”
On the other side of the room, there’s Morphew, an extravaganza of all things vintage. I was like a kid in a candy store just looking at the pieces from the embellished couture gowns, delicate Victorian lace dresses, to colorful Japanese silk kaftans.
Created by Bridgette Morphew and Jason Lyon in New York City, Morphew has two lines. One is designed by the couple using vintage fabrics and the other focuses on original vintage pieces from brands like Chanel and Gianni Versace sourced from all over the world.
At Faena Bazaar, Sustainability Matters
Lyon talked about the exhibitors’ intention of limiting the use of plastic bags and shipping materials while getting the products to the pop-up. The details may seem small and only the internal crew are the ones who see it, but it shows that everyone involved is genuinely passionate about supporting sustainability. They go beyond just using a paper straw and calling it a day.
Even Morphew’s shopping tote bags are made of leftover scrap material in the factory, which creates job opportunities for seamstresses who paid an ethical wage.
Sunset hit just as we were leaving, and a warm ray of light filled the room. It was a reminder that with each day that comes and goes, we have a chance to make a difference.
A New World Collective, like its golden circular logo, can be seen as a symbol of infiniteness. What remains the same is the hope to support sustainable fashion while giving back to the community.
Check out ‘A New World Collective’ at the Faena Bazaar Penthouse if you’re in town before January 4th, 2020, at 3400 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida.
P.S. Learn more about Morphew and El Dorado Art on shopmorphew.com and eldoradoart.com.
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