The Palais Garnier has hosted opera stars and couture houses for over three centuries, but it had never worked with a Latin American fashion label — until now. Baobab, founded in Bogotá, made history during Paris Fashion Week by partnering with the Paris Opera, putting the institution on record with its first collaboration of this kind with a label from the region. Considering that past partners include Rolex and Chanel, the invitation says a lot about how far Colombian fashion has travelled.
The show, held on October 2, unveiled Baobab's Resort 2027 collection inside the Palais Garnier, one of Paris's most recognisable landmarks. Rather than a standard runway walk, founder Isabella Espinosa staged a full cultural showcase: fashion mixed with contemporary dance, live music, art and gastronomy, all pointing back to Colombia.
The partnership took about a year to come together. The Paris Opera approached Baobab directly, keen to extend its cultural reach through a Latin American label, and chose the Colombian brand after weighing several candidates from across the region. Espinosa credits Baobab's international track record — earlier presentations in India, Dubai, the Swiss Alps, Madagascar and New York — for catching the institution's attention.
Colombian talent ran through every part of the evening. The collection was modelled by Colombian faces, with dancers from Compañía Cuerpo de Indias, the professional ensemble of Cartagena's Colegio del Cuerpo, weaving through the staging. Singer Lido Pimienta performed in a Baobab creation, drawing on the repertoire of Totó la Momposina and carrying the sounds of the Colombian Caribbean into the gilded halls. The finale belonged to Grupo Niche, the Cali salsa legends, who played their best-known songs in the venue's Grand Foyer — a genre born far from Paris performed in its most operatic setting.
Behind the scenes, Colombian collaborators filled out the production: makeup brand Atenea and footwear label Damaya worked with Baobab on the models' styling.
For travellers, this is a reminder that Colombia's creative scene is increasingly operating on the world stage. Paris gave the applause, but the ideas, rhythms and craftsmanship all came from Bogotá, Cartagena and Cali. Anyone planning a trip to Colombia with culture in mind has more to work with than ever — from Cartagena's dance tradition to Cali's salsa clubs and Bogotá's growing design district. The country's fashion calendar, led by events like Bogotá's Colombiamoda and_cartier_designers showcases, is drawing international buyers and curious visitors alike. A runway at the Paris Opera is a milestone, but it is also an invitation to see where the story started.
