Cajá is parading at Casa de Criadores for the first time

Jul 23, 2018

For

In her first show at the Casa de Criadores, Brazilian Cajá will carry with her in 'Connections' different influences that range from the revival of traditional handmade to streetwear through a blend of textures, colors, resilience, and feminine strength.

The Cajá was born from the desire of Gabriela Cajado, 22, to unite substantially Brazilian references with the context in which she lives. The 'handmade' has always been in her roots. The surname came from her mother, who received it from her grandmother, and brings with it a heritage of strength and female protagonism from the city of Salvador. 'Cajá' also names the fruit from the northeast, born from the cajazeiro. As a fruit of this identity, the technique of weaving, essentially organic, germinates. When inserted into the urban scenario, it blends with streetwear. At Cajá, technology and the practicality of the city unite with a Brazilian and local identity. “For me, it is very important to have Brazilian references. Of course, we consume a lot of material from abroad, because it is our experience, but that is why I always seek to consume local things, noticing a different perspective of Brazil,” Gabriela says.

Since she was little, Gabriela started drawing and familiarizing herself with the fashion universe, where she found a purpose and a means of expression. While studying Fashion, she was able to develop an identity for her project, Cajá, and transform it into a platform of connections and exchanges of experiences, mainly made through the co-creation of different women, who work under different perspectives, together. Gabriela says that “I looked around and there was no identification happening. So this arose as an encouragement to open a space. To open bridges and create opportunities for these women to create.”

Upon receiving the invitation to the Casa de Criadores, Gabriela developed, together with her entire team, 'Connections'. The collection does not originate from a specific theme, nor does it tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end. The show opens a precedent of what is essential to the brand. 'Connecting' is one of Cajá's pillars; it is part of its identity. By uniting the power of different artists, diverse feminine voices horizontalize the creative process. “It’s about not perpetuating the system the way it is and always has been,” says Gabriela.

Cajá tells stories of different women in different contexts, bringing totally plural forms and cuts to the show. But the strength of these women is what they have of substance. The casting also translates the ideal of bringing identity and personality of each one to the show under the pretext of different bodies. “Cajá is in a process of studying these bodies. I don’t want it to be a surprise to see everything that deviates from the norm on the runway. There are other ways to understand the female body.”

The brand also carries a revival of traditionally Latin references from other times, reproducing a broader and less ephemeral meaning. The slow issue is also essential to the creative process. “We live in a totally fast fashion context; everything is very quick. But I believe that it is possible to walk in parallel to more conscious consumption. We forget that we are responsible for this. If we do not question who made our clothes and how much they cost, nothing will change,” says Gabriela.

The Cajá show will take place this Monday (23) at the 43rd edition of the Casa de Criadores, at MAC USP (Av. Pedro Alvares Cabral, 1301) starting at 8:30 PM.

Check out the photos of the campaign ‘Connections’ by Cajá for the Casa de Criadores below: