Latin American Fashion Awards

OUR TEAM

Credits: Cali Argüello
Latin American Fashion Awards - Constanza Etro
Credits: Pablo Arroyo

CONSTANZA ETRO

Co-Founder
Latin American Fashion Awards

CREATIVE DIRECTOR & ENTREPRENEUR

Named “one of the most influential women in Italy” by Forbes Italia in 2020, Constanza is a successful businesswoman passionate about promoting young talent, sustainability and women within fashion and cinema.

Born in Buenos Aires, Constanza lived in Mexico city for 15 years before moving to Milan where she married Italian designer Kean Etro.

In 2014 she founded Fashion Film Festival Milano, the most prominent Fashion Film Festival in the world with prestigious jurors such as Giorgio Armani and Franca Sozzani and Award winning directors like Luca Guadagnino, Francesco Carrozzini, Tim Yip, Anna Lilly Amirpour, Win Wenders amongst others.

Constanza is Member of the Advisory Board of the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana Fashion Trust as well as member of the Jury of relevant international contests such as: Black Carpet Awards, Photo Vogue, Le Book Connections, Accademia Del Profumo Awards and Grand Prix Luxury Cristal Festival Courchevel.

Constanza has also been speaker at numerous conferences such as Vogue Italia Conversations and held masterclasses at Universities like Accademia Costume e Moda, IED, Marangoni, Brera and NABA, International Academy of Cinema of Bologna and at the University of Tokyo.

Constanza received the MCFW Fashion Award for her contribution to the Fashion World given by the Monaco Fashion Chamber and Monaco’s Prime Minister. She was also portrayed in “Circle of Love” book created by Sheikha Intisar Al-Sabah of Kuwait, as one of the women who are changing fashion.

Constanza is now participating in the “Mentorship Milano 2023”, a project of the Municipality of Milan to support young women.

Latin American Fashion Awards - Silvia Argüello
Credits: Pablo Arroyo

SILVIA ARGÜELLO

Co-Founder
Latin American Fashion Awards

FASHION DESIGNER
LUXURY BRAND CONSULTANT

Contemporary art and fashion, met by a desire to advance and empower women in Latin America, are undeniably Argüello’s greatest passions.

The designer of Cuban-Nicaraguan descent, has over 20 years experience in the fashion industry between Paris and Milan, worked alongside famous designers such as Emanuel Ungaro and Giambattista Valli.

Silvia is the founder and former creative director of Rosa Clandestino, has received a number of prestigious international awards for her work and developed numerous fashion and social projects. Among others, Vogue Italia’s renowned “Who’s on Next” award; United Nations “Fashion Freedom for Africa” ​​project for the emancipation of African Women in Kenya; “Pelle Italiana” exhibit in the Famous Triennale Design Museum in Milan and “The World of Alcantara” in Los Angeles.

Latin American Fashion Awards - Anna Dello Russo

ANNA DELLO RUSSO

Fashion Ambassador
Latin American Fashion Awards

JOURNALIST & FASHION ICON

Described by Helmut Newton as “fashion maniac”, Anna Dello Russo is indeed an eclectic character who lives multiple lives. 

Former Editor at Large and Creative Consultant for Vogue Japan, Anna is one of the most influential fashion journalists in the world and one of the first to create a personal brand of herself.

Dello Russo worked in Condè Nast Italia Group for 18 years, starting as a Fashion Editor for Vogue Italia and becoming Editor in Chief of L’Uomo Vogue from 2000 to 2006. In 2006 she became Creative Director of Vogue Japan where she worked until 2020. 

Anna is fashion consultant for renowned fashion brands and works with social media which she has turned into a successful career in Street Style.

Internationally famous for her flamboyant, ever-changing style, Anna Dello Russo is the perfect fashion advocate of excess.

Latin American Fashion Awards - Sara Sozzani Maino

SARA SOZZANI MAINO

Talent Curator
Member of the Advisory Board
Latin American Fashion Awards

CREATIVE DIRECTOR FONDAZIONE SOZZANI
INTERNATIONAL BRAND AMBASSADOR CAMERA NAZIONALE DELLA MODA ITALIANA

Creative director of the Fondazione Sozzani. Sara Sozzani Maino collaborates with many educational institutions and serves on several boards working and creating awareness for a more responsible planet. She is part of the advisory board of the Circular Fashion Summit, in support of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

To date she is Educational & Scouting Advisor for Vogue Italia after founding Vogue Talents with Franca Sozzani in 2009. Vogue Talents has been a worldwide project and network supporting independent creative talent. 

In collaboration with Altaroma, she curates, since 2005, the Who is on Next? competition in support of Made in Italy. She regularly attends as a judge and consultant in several fashion competitions, including LVMH Prize, the Woolmark Prize, Fashion Trust Arabia, International Talent Support (ITS) and many others. Since September 2018, she has been International Brand Ambassador of the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana in support of the new generation of designers. She is also part of Camera Fashion Trust founded in 2018 in support of made in Italy designers. In 2019 she launched A New Awareness, a project that aims to create more awareness and consciousness to the younger generation. In May 2021 she received the Positive Change Award from Monte Carlo Fashion Week.

Since 2021, as Creative Director of the Fondazione Sozzani, Sara Sozzani Maino has curated and coordinated projects dedicated to education, responsibility and the next generation of creatives.

Latin American Fashion Awards - CANDELA PELIZZA

CANDELA PELIZZA

Fashion Ambassador
Latin American Fashion Awards

MODEL & INFLUENCER

Argentinian model and influencer, Candela Pelizza started her career in Italy and traveled the world modeling for the biggest fashion brands such as Marni, Marras, Pucci, Cavalli, Kenzo, Vera Wang and many more. Candela also collaborated with top photographers such as Bruce Weber, Deborah Turbeville, Michel Comte and Nathaniel Goldberg. 

Pelizza became “It Girl” at grazia.it and soon started her regular fashion column «Candela Meets…» at RedMilk magazine where she interviewed influential personalities from the art, fashion, music and design industries. 

Candela collaborates as Digital Creative Director and influencer for luxury brands such as Bulgari, Sergio Rossi, Loewe, Valentino, Roger Vivier, Estée Lauder and Calvin Klein.

Candela´s joie de vivre is worldwide known and her projects are a true reflection of her positive state of mind. 

joseforteza copy

JOSE FORTEZA

Ambassador
Member of the Advisory Board
Latin American Fashion Awards

CONDE NAST-VOGUE LATAM
SENIOR EDITOR

Born in Havana of Spanish and Cuban descent, José Forteza has lived in Europe, Dominican Republic and the United States. Currently, Mr. Forteza is the Senior Editor of Vogue Mexico and Latin America, has been in Condé Nast Publications for more than 20 years. Also, he is the Honorary President of FDLA (Fashion Designers of Latin America), and Global ambassador for Universo MOLA. Master in Journalism and International Relations, José Forteza has been Curator for Latin America of the World Fashion Week, International Advisor for DAB Bolivia, SCAD speaker, in the United States; Lecturer at ISEM, Spain; and international jury at Barcelona 080, Miami Fashion Week, Los Angeles FW and Dominicana Moda. Likewise, he has been a consultant for Country institutions in several Latin American countries. In addition, it acts regularly as consultant and member of the international jury at fashion events in Europe, the United States, Asia and Latin America. In addition, Forteza has been a consultant for advertising agencies such as Zubi Advertising, in United States. Mr. Forteza began his professional career as a Diplomat as an Attaché Cultural, but he soon derived to the Music Industry as a producer and manager of Jazz artists and Word Music. Simultaneously, he founded the publishing house Ideas Publishing Group, which was later bought by Condé Nast. TV writer – Producer and radio host, Mr. Forteza has been nominated for an Emmy Award and is a Grammy Award winner. Fluent in English, French and Spanish. Based out of Miami.

Fabian Hirose - Latin American Fashion Awards

FABIAN HIROSE

Ambassador
Member of the Advisory Board
Latin American Fashion Awards

LUXURY & FASHION BUSINESS STRATEGIST

Fabián Hirose brings passion and 19 years of expertise in the Global Luxury & Fashion Industry. Integrating his strong business acumen, design-thinking and developmental expertise, he assists clients to reach a deeper understanding of commercial challenges.

He works relationally with senior business leaders and cross-functional teams to unlock the enduring potential of a brand and its people. His international experience, combined with a background in marketing for multinationals, creates the structure for strong financial returns and taps the authenticity of a brand and its business model to create sustainable growth.

French/Spanish, Colombian-born British-educated, Fabián’s clients include Bottega Veneta, Boucheron, Burberry, Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Fendi, Valentino, Comme des Garçons, Salvatore Ferragamo, Balmain, Versace, Moncler, Paul Smith, Diesel, All Saints, Luisa Via Roma, Matthew Williamson, Karla Otto, Mario Testino and emerging businesses across the UK, Europe, Asia, Middle East and the Americas.

Using design and innovation management to work with the creative and learning processes, Fabián is inspired to open up the possibility of transforming how we develop and care for the next generation of fashion professionals, business leaders and companies. Drawing on his in-depth research and experiences to promote better outcomes for all, he co-creates, leads and manages business development programmes and internationalisation processes with governmental entities: the Mayor of London, the British Fashion Council, The National Chamber for Italian Fashion, the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Culture, The Chambers of Commerce of London (UK), Milan (Italy), Gipuzkoa (Spain), Miami (USA), Bogotá (Colombia), Lima (Perú) and Jalisco (Mexico).

Additionally, Fabián collaborates with emerging leaders at the start of their careers in England, Italy, France, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and Colombia, working with the London School of Economics, Central Saint Martins, Royal College of Arts, London College of Fashion, Polimoda, INSEEC Business School, Coventry University,  Southampton University and the University of Los Andes, so students are meaningfully equipped for the fast-changing world we live in.

“Fashion is freedom, expression, art and revolution,
The thread that holds together our people in evolution.”