By: Editorial Staff
Medellín, Colombia – July 23, 2026
As the 37th edition of Colombiamoda prepares to open its doors in Medellín from July 25 to 31, the atmosphere in the city is charged with more than just the excitement of the runway. Under the thematic umbrella, "Uniqueness is the new luxury," the event aims to solidify its status as the definitive Fashion Week of Colombia. However, this year’s narrative is shifting away from mere aesthetics toward a profound structural evolution of the industry, anchored by the massive retail influence of Grupo Éxito.
The company has unveiled a bold strategy that transcends the traditional retail model, signaling a new chapter for its flagship fashion brands, Arkitect and Bronzini. Through high-profile collaborations with renowned designers Jorge Duque and Isabel Henao, Grupo Éxito is not only showcasing 160 new references but is also initiating a strategic pivot to move beyond the confines of supermarket aisles and into the competitive world of standalone fashion retail.
The Magnitude of the Event: A Hub for Global Business
Colombiamoda 2026 is positioning itself as an expansive platform for creativity, business, and cultural exchange. Organizers expect to welcome over 70,000 attendees throughout the week, drawing from 50 different countries. The economic pulse of the event remains its B2B capacity, with 17,000 specialized buyers anticipated, 4,000 of whom represent international markets.
Latin America remains the primary focal point for trade, with robust delegations expected from Ecuador, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the United States. This international presence underscores the growing relevance of Colombian manufacturing as a reliable and high-quality partner in the global fashion supply chain.
Chronology of the Showcases
The fashion calendar for the Grupo Éxito activations is set to be a cornerstone of the week’s events, emphasizing a blend of high-concept design and industrial accessibility:
- July 28, 7:00 p.m. – Plaza de la Libertad: The Arkitect x Jorge Duque runway will take center stage. This collaboration is highly anticipated, as it represents a shift toward more conceptual, identity-driven fashion.
- July 29, 7:00 p.m. – Parque de los Pies Descalzos: The Bronzini x Isabel Henao collection will be unveiled, bringing Henao’s signature delicate sensibilities to a broader, mass-market audience.
Supporting Data: The Industrial Engine Behind the Runway
The glamour of the runway hides a significant industrial machine. The production of these collections is the result of a massive, coordinated effort involving 16 primary suppliers and 27 specialized garment workshops. This collaborative ecosystem supports over 2,400 jobs, a vital statistic in an industry where the workforce is predominantly comprised of female heads of households.
The scale of Grupo Éxito’s operations within the textile sector is staggering. In 2025, the company reported sales exceeding 1.6 trillion pesos in the fashion segment. With over 21.6 million garments sold annually—90% of which are manufactured within a network of 300 local workshops across seven departments—the company has solidified itself as the largest employer in the Colombian textile sector, supporting over 12,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Perspectives from the Creative Visionaries
The designers themselves view these collaborations not merely as commercial transactions, but as a democratization of design. Jorge Duque, reflecting on his partnership with Arkitect, emphasized the importance of visibility.
"We want to deliver a product with which people can form an authentic bond," Duque stated during the launch. "If a consumer wants to know who made their garment, they should discover a real industry, one where a person stayed up late sewing or pressing the fabric. This collection uses the language of identity. We even held our campaign shoot in the warehouses of Fabricato, because I wanted to look back at our history and the path we have traveled."
Duque also noted the technical challenges and rewards of designing for Colombia’s unique climate. "Colombia is a country with many thermal layers and altitudes. Any collection meant to stay in this country must be designed with that functional reality in mind."
Isabel Henao, known for her intricate design work, expressed that the partnership with Bronzini allowed her to extend her creative reach. "Beyond the commercial scale, I am moved by the fact that this is a celebration of the enormous talent we have in Colombia—our ability to connect ideas with hands and, above all, with the heart," Henao remarked.
Official Responses and Strategic Shifts
Sebastián Diez, Executive President of Inexmoda, praised the evolution of the partnership. "The Arkitect project is a testament to the growth of the Colombian Fashion System. It reflects the purpose that has driven Colombiamoda for 37 years: accompanying the expansion of brands that create value by interpreting the consumer and responding to an industry in constant transformation."
Perhaps the most significant news of the week is the announcement by Carlos Calleja, Executive President of Grupo Éxito, regarding the new direction of the Arkitect brand. For years, Arkitect has been synonymous with the "shop-in-shop" model within Éxito retail stores. Now, the brand is officially entering a new stage: breaking its exclusivity with the parent retail stores to establish a broader footprint.
"One of our first milestones will be the opening of new standalone stores in the coming months," Calleja confirmed. "Moving the brand beyond traditional retail formats not only drives business growth but also strengthens the development of the entire national industry. We are reaffirming our commitment to a model that promotes ‘Made in Colombia’ with quality, purpose, and a long-term vision."
To facilitate this, the company has launched Arkitect.com, a dedicated digital channel, and has opened a "pop-up" store at Carulla Rosales in Bogotá, serving as a physical bridge between the runway and the consumer.
Implications for the Future of Fashion
The implications of this move are twofold. First, it marks a shift in how mass-market fashion is perceived in Latin America. By taking a high-volume brand like Arkitect and giving it a premium, standalone identity, Grupo Éxito is betting that the Colombian consumer is ready for a hybrid model—one that balances the accessibility of mass-market pricing with the prestige of "designer-label" retail.
Second, the data provided by the company highlights the resilience of the local supply chain. In an era where many global retailers are outsourcing to Asia to cut costs, Grupo Éxito’s insistence on a local, 90%-national production model serves as a case study for domestic economic development.
As the industry converges in Medellín this week, the spotlight will be on these collections. However, the true legacy of the 37th edition of Colombiamoda may be found in the strategy behind the seams: a concerted effort to scale the Colombian fashion brand, create sustainable employment for thousands of families, and prove that national production can compete at the highest level of modern retail.
The stage is set, the clothes are in production, and for the thousands of buyers and industry experts arriving in Medellín, the message is clear: Colombia is not just a participant in the global fashion conversation; it is an architect of its own future.
