ACRE, BRAZIL — This year's Yawanawá Mariri Festival, held in the Rio Gregório Indigenous Land in the municipality of Tarauacá, in Acre state, brought another memorable moment: the bridge over the Gregório River was transformed into a runway for an Indigenous fashion show featuring original designs.

The wooden structure connecting the village to the main ceremonial grounds served as a runway for the presentation of pieces created by local brands. Yawa Store, Tari and Confecção da Ana presented collections inspired by the Kenes, the sacred designs of the Yawanawá Indigenous people.

Each line carries a meaning: from the boa constrictor (Runua mapu) to the tip of the spear (Paspi) and the butterfly, evoking the strength of the forest. The pieces translate sacred designs, memory and belonging into contemporary original design.

The pieces combine tradition and contemporary elements for everyday wear and Uni rituals. They are produced by Yawanawá women and modeled by members of the community themselves. Organized since 2013 by the Yawanawá Sociocultural Association (ASCY), Mariri brings together people from the territory's 17 villages for days of singing, dancing and ceremonies that reconnect the community with its ancestral heritage.

The event also reinforced how fashion can be an instrument of cultural expression, sustainability and Indigenous leadership. A tradition that is worn, lived and affirmed.

Amazon Agency