Following an exclusive pre-drop of four dresses, H&M is delighted to announce that its collaboration with Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz will launch in full on March 12.
The 19-piece collection – which spans feminine dresses, tops, skirts and swimwear – features the exotic color palette, tropical florals and dramatic silhouettes that have become synonymous with Ortiz’s statement-making label.
“The imprint of Colombia – the rhythm of the salsa dance, the beauty of the elegant orchids and the effortless palm trees dancing in a balmy pink sunset – can be felt in every Johanna Ortiz design. I’m thrilled to be able to infuse this H&M collection with effortless glamour and introduce some Latin American festivity to the H&M customer’s wardrobe. I hope customers wear the pieces barefoot and with a beautiful flower in their hair,” Ortiz said.
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The H&M design team traveled to Colombia’s salsa capital to fully comprehend the construction behind Ortiz’s flattering designs. Hosted by Ortiz in her elegantly decorated home, the team stepped into her sophisticated bohemian world, examining her archive to revisit her signature tropical prints in different colorways.
Key pieces include the vibrant red floral maxi dress, the magenta midi dress in broderie anglaise (English embroidery), the black patterned floor-length column dress in viscose crepe, which is one of Ortiz’s personal favorites, and the ruffled wrap skirt in black and white cotton poplin. Extravagant ruffles are seen all over the collection, even appearing on asymmetric swimsuits. Cotton-poplin tunic shirts and monochromatic blouses are refreshingly simple.
“Johanna Ortiz has a gift for creating confident, colorful designs that make you want to dance. This collection is both a celebration of Colombia’s creative history and craftsmanship and an opportunity to bring Johanna’s signature feminine styles to our customers. The reaction to the pre-drop was very positive, and now the wait is over, we can’t wait to see how our customers will style this exciting collection,” Maria Östblom, Head of womenswear design at H&M, said.
After the official launch, the main collection will be in select H&M stores and online at hm.com.
Ortiz is a Colombia native who studied fashion design at The Art Institute of Tampa, Florida. After graduation, she returned to Colombia, and eventually became a fashion ambassador for the country.
