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As new as I am to the Dominican Republic’s (“DR”) fashion scene, I’m even newer to the lack of attention to its fashion week from an international perspective. It’s clear that, at present, the fashion community in the DR is pretty scarce, but that leaves space for people like me to improve its trajectory in the future. The Dominican Republic’s Spring 2025 Fashion Week (“RDFW 2025”) is upon us, and I’m looking forward to immersing myself in a new culture.

The most notable fashion personality from the DR is Oscar de la Renta, whose brand thrives in Central American culture. I last noticed Oscar de la Renta at last year’s Met Gala, which honoured Karl Lagerfeld’s contribution to fashion. Grammy-winning rapper Doja Cat wore a look that embodied Karl Lagerfeld’s cat Choupette. Since then, Oscar has been relegated to red carpet style, rarely stirring up a fuss during fashion week.

Fashion in the DR

When comparing the DR to other fashion capitals, such as Paris, the first sign of underdevelopment is the absence of presentations. Presentations showcase an upcoming collection in a closed space, allowing editors, buyers, and journalists to touch the clothes and speak to the designers to understand the context behind the product. They also open up the fashion space for designers who don’t have the financial backing or network connections to host a fashion show. The introduction of presentations can attract more foreign investment into the Dominican Republic and encourage more designers to represent their country.

Nonetheless, RDFW begins on the 9th of October and ends on the 12th of October. On the 12th of October, children’s wear designers will showcase SS25 collections. However, I will not report on that because this magazine doesn’t cater to a kids’ audience. Additionally, the US Embassy will support emerging designers on this day. Here are the current shows in the lineup curated for you to keep an eye on and watch in retrospect.

RDFW BEGINS

9 OCTOBER

1. 22:30 GMT Giannina Azar

RDFW 2025

10 OCTOBER

1. 18:00 GMT Inaguja Collective
   • Mercy Jaquez Collective
   • ITSC Collective
   • Diseño UASD Collective
2. 20:00 GMT Alison Aponte
   • Ivonne Garita
   • Mildred Veras
   • Carlos Cruz
   • Karim Sáenz
3. 22:30 GMT Melkis Díaz
   • Arcadio Díaz
   • Martín Polanco
4. 00:30 +1 GMT Benito Antonio
   • Mabel Damirón
   • Pedro Cruz
   • Carolina Rueda
   • Lorenny Solano

RDFW 2025

11 OCTOBER

1. 18:00 GMT Cinthia Francisco
   • Fashion Freak
   • Jacqueline Severino
   • Barranquilla FW
   • Carolina Almonte
   • Yazmín Rodríguez
2. 20:00 GMT Yahindy Rodríguez
   • Diana Valenzuela
   • Sun Gold
   • Denny Marin
   • Manifesta
3. 22:30 GMT Tiffany Fermín
   • EMEKA
   • Masiel Peláez
   • Sara Pages
   • LTB Jeans
4. 00:30 +1 GMT Erika Olivares
   • Sigrid Arias
   • Diana Gissele Veras
   • Vladimir Jimenez Calpo
   • Leonel Lirio

RDFW 2025

12 OCTOBER

1. 22:30 GMT Emerging designers x US Embassy
   • Silenced Voices
2. 00:30 +1 GMT Rafaél Rivero
   • Andres Pajón

At the moment, I am not familiar enough with the fashion scene in the DR to recommend any designers as a “One to watch”. By the end of RDFW, I will have a clearer view of what it takes to be ranked in comparison to the Big Four fashion cities. After all, the lack of representation and media attention is not a fair comparison for more developed fashion infrastructures.

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Feature image photo credit: FirstView.