Only In-the-Know Fashion Girls Shop This Site

The buzziest on-the-rise designers right now aren't coming out of New York or Europe—they're coming out of Latin America. Need proof? Just look to Cooperativa Shop, an e-commerce site that only stocks designers from the region.

The site's founder, Araceli Graham, told Who What Wear why everyone should take note: "There's a major fashion movement happening all over Latin America right now with a wave of emerging, young, and extraordinarily talented designers who not only incorporate artisanal techniques into their brands, but look at fashion and trends differently and are not afraid of experimenting with their designs."

"There are other facets to Latin American culture that many often overlook—a more refined and cosmopolitan culture," she told us. "We created Cooperativa to transmit this side of our culture by telling the stories of Latin American designers and giving them a platform through which to introduce their one-of-a-kind, often innovative, collections." 

In-the-know fashion girls have definitely taken notice of the region, including the eight industry players below who were tapped to be featured on the site. 

Scroll down to see all the fashion girls featured on Cooperativa Shop and buy the items they're wearing!

Fashion Waves a Star-Spangled Banner in Paris

Photo Hamish Bowles, European editor-at-large for the American edition of Vogue; Lauren Santo Domingo and a guest at the MAC Cosmetics x Proenza Schouler party on Monday in Paris. Credit Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images

PARIS — How does it feel to be an American in Paris when celebrating the Fourth of July?

Lazaro Hernandez, one half of the New York design duo Proenza Schouler, admitted it felt a little bittersweet Monday night as he stood in the leafy backyard of an elegant 18th-century mansion on the city's Left Bank. "This year is actually the first time I've ever spent the day away from the U.S.," he said, adding that he had been posting images of the "Flags" paintings by the American artist Jasper Johns on Instagram.

"I've been dreaming of margaritas," said Mr. Hernandez's co-creative director, Jack McCollough. "It has been a fabulous few days and Paris is always an incredible place to be. But it is kind of surreal to be in a city where for most people, today is a day like any other."

Earlier this year, MAC, the American cosmetics company, introduced an annua l initiative giving designers an opportunity to show their precollections in Paris during Couture Week. Proenza Schouler was the first brand to participate, with the two men coming to town to give salon presentations of their 2017 Cruise designs.

Photo Derek Blasberg and Naomi Campbell. Credit Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images

Honoring their trans-Atlantic trip — and to commemorate Independence Day (or, "Amerixit," as some guests jokingly called it in light of recent events across the English Channel) — their close friend Lauren Santo Domingo gave a party for friends and family, many of whom arrived in red, white and blue.

"After the French team won against Iceland in the Euro 2016 soccer tournament last night, the streets of Paris went nuts," Ms. Santo Domingo said, one eye on her small children, who were using the CNN Style host Derek Blasberg as a human climbing frame nearby. "It is pretty hard to match that level of patriotic enthusiasm."

"This might be more low key than anything we would do at home, but we also have plenty of the key ingredients to have a good time," added Ms. Santo Domingo, who grew up in Greenwich, Conn. "Burgers, beers, short ribs and apple pie. This is the real deal, and given there are so many of us here together, we can't be too sad. We're doing things the good old American way."

Photo Bianca Brandolini D'Adda. Credit Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images

Although there were no fireworks, there were sparklers galore, much to the delight of a host of familiar and glamorous faces including the designer Tory Burch; Naomi Campbell; Hamish Bowles, the European editor at large for American Vogue; Danielle Steel; and the model Caroline de Maigret.

"The truth is that being far away from America, and among fellow Americans celebrating an American holiday, makes you feel about the most American you can possibly feel," said John Demsey, executive group president of Estée Lauder, having attended a series of shows, including the Proenza Schouler presentation, over the course of the day.

"But at the same time, supporting fashion wherever fashion takes place on whatever schedule it takes place on is part of the new realities of the world right now. And the truly global and collaborative backbone of our industry is what makes it so unbelievably special."

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