Hello, and welcome back to GEN33, your go-to source for the latest news and insights on the business and culture of Latin America's creative industries.

Yes, it's been a bit fashion-heavy lately, but with fashion month running until 1 October, there's no shortage of developments—especially when it comes to Latin American talent.

A perfect example: seven new Latin Americans have been inducted into the Business of Fashion's 500 Class of 2024. Representing Brazil, there is designer Airon Martin, models Angelina Kendall and Zaya Guarani, music sensation Anitta and Elle Brazil's editorial director Susana Barbosa. Also joining the ranks are Mexican photographer Enrique Leyva and Argentine Juan Costa Paz, co-founder and chief creative officer at Paris-based creative agency Convoy. His business partner, Nordine Benotmane, who hails from Algeria, is the other co-founder and design director. Congrats to all the new inductees!

I certainly have a few opinions regarding the fashion shows, but there are plenty of others who are actually there to break it all down. My personal favourite to follow for this is Lauren Sherman, who spills insider info in her Line Sheet newsletter—I'm addicted to her Chanel rumours like a telenovela!

This week, she said that a decision on the next creative director for Chanel could be announced after the show "once the contract has been signed". Sherman mentioned potential candidates like Simon Porte Jacquemus, Daniel Roseberry, Thom Browne, Hedi Slimane, Marc Jacobs, and Pieter Mulier. I concur with Sherman—I'd love to see Marc take the helm, but Mulier is doing great work at Alaïa, so I'd hate to see him leave. She also hinted that Pierpaolo Piccioli at Fendi sounded "like a fine idea".

On that note, it's the perfect moment to share this infographic from Stylist magazine that came out a couple of weeks ago; it explores different fashion houses and potential creative director pairings.

More news from the fashion front: Social media has been buzzing about a star-studded cocktail party hosted during Milan Fashion Week (MFW). The lavish event was organised to celebrate the winners of the inaugural Latin American Fashion Awards (LAFA), which took place in November.

LAFA is a biennial event, with the off-year used for touring and promotion. And as promised, in addition to getting a lot of pictures that look good on Instagram, as part of the perks of winning, the 15 honorees got to take part in the Fashion Hub Milano, an immersive exhibit supported by the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, showcasing the work and stories of the winners. Among them are designers Willy Chavarría, Luar, Karoline Vitto and Verdi, as well as photographers Camila Falquez and Elliot & Erick.

Additionally, fashion and accessory designers were also featured at the WHITE showroom, giving them prime access to buyers who may not have had these brands on their radar. Meanwhile, Brazil's Vitto, whose expertise in designing for curvier body shapes won her the Emerging Designer category, will receive a six-month mentorship programme from the CFDA.

The mentorship programme is one of the most hands-on benefits the winners receive, as there aren't cash prizes involved, just exposure. I have to say, the creators of the awards, Silvia Arguello and Constanza Etro, have worked hard to get as much press as possible, but I do wonder how much of it will actually translate into something meaningful for the winners.

Many already have solid reputations and industry recognition. For example, Hiandra Martinez, named Model of the Year, has graced every major runway and magazine cover, largely thanks to her hard work and dedicated agent, Sandro Guzman (whom I actually covered in 2017 for BoF, along with Lineisy Montero's rise to fame). However, Willy Chavarría is best known in the U.S., so this could boost his presence in Europe.

There's also the question of how LAFA defines "Latin American." Take the Rodarte sisters, for example — nominees for Designer of The Year. They were listed as Mexican, but their Latin American heritage comes from just one Mexican grandparent. While their heritage may have influenced their work, they are primarily recognized as American designers, as far as I know at least.

I wonder how this compares to designers like Silvia Tcherassi or Johanna Ortiz, who have built their brands in Colombia, or Chavarría, whose work makes a direct statement about his heritage and political views. It raises an interesting point about the balance between cultural background and the role it plays in defining Latin American talent. Of course, not every designer has to centre their work around their heritage, but it's worth considering how much weight that carries in this context.

Nonetheless, it's fantastic to see big industry names rally behind these designers, and this extra exposure undoubtedly brings new opportunities. However, whether these awards have a lasting impact remains to be seen. Let's hope the ripple effect reaches beyond the usual suspects!

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Chiara Machiavello Wins CNMI Sustainable Fashion Award

Chiara Machiavello, founder of Peruvian brand Escvdo, won "The Bicester Collection Award for Emerging Designers" at the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2024. Known for her vibrant knitwear handcrafted by Peruvian artisans, Chiara competed against Marco Rambaldi and Kartik Kumra. Escvdo continues to champion sustainability with its blend of traditional and experimental techniques. Follow @escvdo for more!

Beauty 🌸Lizeth Selene Joins YSL Beauty

The Acapulco-native joins the ranks of Hailey Beiber and Precious Lee as YSL’s beauty ambassador. Selene is known for her role in the Nexflix reboot of Mexican telenovela Rebelde and musical hits like Sin Ti and Pa Darle. (WWD).

Photography 📸Angela Cappetta: Puerto Rican Girlhood in NYC

Angela Cappetta’s new photo book "Glendalis" offers an intimate look at a Puerto Rican family in pre-gentrification Lower East Side. Spanning over a decade, the book highlights Glendalis, the youngest daughter, and her coming-of-age story surrounded by the love and support of her community. A beautiful portrait of life in NYC’s Latinx neighborhoods. (Service95).

Film 🎬Mariana Rondón’s “Zafari” Premieres at San Sebastián

Venezuelan filmmaker Mariana Rondón is back with Zafari, a dystopian fable set in a deteriorating Latin American country. Premiering at the San Sebastián Festival, the film builds on her acclaimed 2013 work, Pelo Malo. Keep an eye on this thought-provoking new release from one of Latin America's most exciting directors. (Firmand.es).

XII Premio Sebastiane Latino: LGBTQIA+ RepresentationFour Latin American films are finalists for the prestigious XII Premio Sebastiane Latino, which honours films that best represent the values and struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community. Competing titles include Los Amantes Astronautas, Reas, Baby, Vera y el placer de los otros . The award highlights diverse voices and productions from Brazil and Argentina.(Premio Sebastiane).

Music 🎵The Chilean Artist Who Went Viral Using Bad Bunny’s Voice,Mauricio Bustos has gained fame by using AI voice-cloning tools to create a viral track featuring Justin Bieber, Bad Bunny, and Daddy Yankee—without their involvement. While the track is a hit with fans of the Latin Urban genre, it has also sparked debates about the ethical use of AI in the music industry. A glimpse into the future of digital creativity! (Rest of The World).

Art 🎨New MALBA Exhibition Space Opens in ArgentinaBuenos Aires’ Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA) has launched a new exhibition space in Puertos, Escobar on September 22. The opening featured four exhibitions and drew a crowd of 1,000 special guests, including local artists and architects. The new space promises to be a dynamic addition to Argentina’s thriving art scene. (Arquitectura Viva).

Film & Culture 🎞️Cineteca Nacional Chapultepec Opens in Mexico CityFilm lovers rejoice! The new Cineteca Nacional Chapultepec has opened its doors in Mexico City, offering eight theaters, an outdoor forum, a videotheque, and workshops. The highly anticipated venue aims to be a cultural hub for cinephiles, blending film screenings with educational and artistic spaces for the community.(MXC).

That’s it for now! Thank you and thanks for reading!