On Saturday October 8th I attended the Gypsy Sport Spring 2023 Fashion Show. Held at the Lighthouse Artspace in Hollywood, the building was formerly and most iconically known as the legendary Amoeba Music Building. A fitting venue for the style of Gypsy Sport.
The Gypsy Sport logo filled the room as the beat of the music intensified- anticipating the start of the show. This was Rio Uribe’s second show back in Los Angeles, his hometown.
In its entirety, the show explored the classic Chicano character and many of its diversified forms. To be Chicano isn’t necessarily one stereotype. Fashion is expression. There are endless possibilities and forms to express being Chicano.
The iconic Pachuco zoot suit made more than one appearance on the runway. Being further deconstructed from its classic form each new time it stepped out on the runway with a different model.
New life was brought to these long standing classic styles within the Chicano community. As each model walked the runway, their energy merged into the look and became one identity. It was beautiful to see how many interpretations one can produce of one iconic style design.
If LA Chicano fashion culture was reimagined, it would be by the hands of Rio Uribe. His ability to take risks and play, recalling his memories from being a teenager in Los Angeles is refreshing to see.