Johanna Ortiz
Creative Director, Johanna Ortiz
The Colombian designer’s signature ruffles and off-the-shoulder silhouettes have captured the spirit of Latin America — and the attention of the industry and red carpet watchers.
The Colombia native’s signature ruffles and off-the-shoulder silhouettes perfectly capture the spirit of Latin America and have resonated with industry insiders and consumers alike. Ortiz’s use of vibrant colours and feminine silhouettes have proved commercially successful, earning her worldwide stockists and a loyal clientele base.
The designer has become something of a fashion ambassador for Colombia and has been invited to show her collections at the White House in Washington and the United Nations in New York. She is currently expanding into new categories, having made a bridalwear debut. The brand is now available across more than 30 countries via 67 luxury online & brick-and-mortar retailers across the world. The brand produces 54,000 garments and employs 390 people in Cali, Colombia.
2014 stood out as a milestone year as it ignited the definition of the essence, aesthetic and identity of the brand. It came with the first collection JO presented abroad, the same year Moda Operandi released on its online platform, which opened the doors to the international market.
The namesake label also a Sustainability Committee and focuses on producing locally, creating quality jobs, investing in peoples development and building long-term relationships that allow them to grow in partnership with their artisans and vendors. Ortiz also launched “Escuela Johanna Ortiz”, an onsite training program founded in 2016 to develop professional-level seamstress and high-end embroidery skills, enhance talent and promote the inclusion of vulnerable communities’, to improve their quality of life and create personal empowerment.
Ortiz studied fashion design in Florida, graduating from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale with honours before returning to Colombia to start her namesake couture label in 2001. It wasn’t until 2014 that she started showing at Colombiamoda in Medellin and Circulo de la Moda in Bogota — two of the country’s biggest fashion weeks — and was met with critical acclaim. The following year, she took the label global with an exclusive collection for Moda Operandi, and today is stocked at some of the world’s top retailers including Neiman Marcus, Lane Crawford, Bergdorf Goodman and Net-a-Porter.
Ortiz is proud of her heritage, which has a strong influence on her creative aesthetic. In an effort to give back to the community, her label places high priority on working with indigenous communities and women in Colombia.
VITAL STATISTICS
Find out more
Matchesfashion Doubles Down on Emerging Labels
The retailer, facing growing pains of its own, is launching a new 'Innovators Programme' to bolster the fledgling labels that help set it apart from competitors in a crowded luxury e-commerce market.
Matchesfashion Doubles Down on Emerging Labels
The retailer, facing growing pains of its own, is launching a new 'Innovators Programme' to bolster the fledgling labels that help set it apart from competitors in a crowded luxury e-commerce market.
Selling Fashion to the 1% During a Pandemic
From Zoom styling consultations to digital VIP dinners, here’s how luxury retailers are continuing to woo the wealthy.
Selling Fashion to the 1% During a Pandemic
From Zoom styling consultations to digital VIP dinners, here’s how luxury retailers are continuing to woo the wealthy.
Rebels Get Rehab in Colombia’s Fashion Industry
With 7,000 former FARC rebels trying to find their way back into civil society, Colombia’s $8 billion fashion industry has a unique role to play in the reconciliation of the country after 50-years of conflict. BoF investigates.
Rebels Get Rehab in Colombia’s Fashion Industry
With 7,000 former FARC rebels trying to find their way back into civil society, Colombia’s $8 billion fashion industry has a unique role to play in the reconciliation of the country after 50-years of conflict. BoF investigates.
What the Death of Daywear Means for the Brands That Peddle It
The One Percent no longer wants to dress like ladies who lunch, leaving the brands who make their clothes facing an identity crisis.
What the Death of Daywear Means for the Brands That Peddle It
The One Percent no longer wants to dress like ladies who lunch, leaving the brands who make their clothes facing an identity crisis.
Moda Operandi Launches The Platform, an Incubator for Emerging Brands
The luxury e-tailer will support young labels with marketing and product strategy while developing a design and manufacturing network.
Moda Operandi Launches The Platform, an Incubator for Emerging Brands
The luxury e-tailer will support young labels with marketing and product strategy while developing a design and manufacturing network.
Latin America Lands at NYFW
Latin Curated, which counts Marie Claire’s Nina Garcia as an ambassador, will provide a platform and guidance for luxury brands looking to break into the international market.
Latin America Lands at NYFW
Latin Curated, which counts Marie Claire’s Nina Garcia as an ambassador, will provide a platform and guidance for luxury brands looking to break into the international market.
Latin America's $160 Billion Fashion Opportunity
The fashion market in Latin America is bigger than the Middle East and growing as fast as Asia. But will industry leaders continue to invest as much as the region needs to realise its full potential?
Latin America's $160 Billion Fashion Opportunity
The fashion market in Latin America is bigger than the Middle East and growing as fast as Asia. But will industry leaders continue to invest as much as the region needs to realise its full potential?
Moda Operandi Looks Beyond the Runway
With a foundation in straight-off-the-runway trunk show sales, the retailer is eyeing a global network of luxury showrooms and new categories such as fine jewellery, which has grown 190 percent year-on-year.
Moda Operandi Looks Beyond the Runway
With a foundation in straight-off-the-runway trunk show sales, the retailer is eyeing a global network of luxury showrooms and new categories such as fine jewellery, which has grown 190 percent year-on-year.
Karla Martinez's 2017: Latin American Fashion Will Come Into its Own
Latin American designers and smaller Latin American fashion weeks have the opportunity to grow in 2017, says the editor-in-chief of Vogue Mexico and Vogue Latin America.
Karla Martinez's 2017: Latin American Fashion Will Come Into its Own
Latin American designers and smaller Latin American fashion weeks have the opportunity to grow in 2017, says the editor-in-chief of Vogue Mexico and Vogue Latin America.
Colombia's Creative Boom
What's behind the growing international success of Colombian fashion designers?
Colombia's Creative Boom
What's behind the growing international success of Colombian fashion designers?
What is The BoF 500?
The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
