The power and quiet dignity of rural Galician women come to life in the exhibition Woman in Black, a showcase of a dozen outfits created by the contemporary fashion studio D-due. The collection highlights dresses and gowns crafted in light black and white fabrics that stand out against a subdued, gray-toned setting. The works are currently on display in one of the exhibition rooms at the Zapopan Art Museum (MAZ) in the western Mexican state of Jalisco, bringing a surprising cross-cultural dialogue to the space.
Alfredo Olmedo, the creative director of D-due, together with Charo Froján, described the pieces as authentic and thoughtfully conceived. The designs draw inspiration from women living in rural towns who, after widows or during aging years, choose black as a permanent symbol of mourning and memory. These garments are more than attire; they carry a personal and communal history, weaving together identity, tradition, and storytelling through fabric and silhouette.
The figures represented in the collection stand as stewards of tradition and living repositories of oral lore from the Galician region. They form a bridge between rural roots and a lineage of knowledge passed down through generations. In the exhibition narrative, Galician society emerges as a central axis of influence, with personal garments becoming powerful embodiments of cultural memory and continuity. The color black, worn as an intimate sign of resilience, takes on new meaning within this contemporary context.
Beyond conveying sobriety and sorrow, the outfits convey a compelling sense of strength. The garments project authority, with wearers who are markedly present and enduring figures within their communities. Olmedo notes that these women are robust, formidable, and clearly visible in Spanish life, especially within Galician culture. They are celebrated as icons who anchor families and communities through difficult times, embodying the quiet power that sustains social bonds.
The samples in the collection are not merely fashion items; they are lasting pieces of craft that reflect traditional Galician dress. Froján explains that the designs carry forward a heritage that is both ceremonial and everyday, blending historical influences with modern tailoring. Each piece is treated as a collector’s item, a tangible link to a way of life that values endurance, dignity, and the artistry of hand-stitched details.
Visitors walk a path inspired by the ashes and embers of rural life, a symbolic sequence that mirrors the embroidery found on garments and carpets woven in Galician towns. These textiles were once used to adorn streets during festive processions, including Corpus Christi celebrations held in June. The juxtaposition of past and present invites viewers to reflect on how memory and material culture shape collective identity across borders.
The Woman in Black exhibition belongs to MAZ’s Contemporary Fashion Design Programme, a program that explores the evolving relationship between contemporary art and fashion. It offers an intimate look at how traditional dress codes can be reinterpreted through modern design practices, inviting audiences to reconsider the boundaries between everyday wear and ceremonial costume.
With the exhibition running through September 11, it invites a broad audience to engage with a narrative that transfers rural Galician heritage into an international setting. The show underscores the enduring relevance of regional dress in shaping contemporary fashion discourse, proving that heritage can inform future aesthetics while remaining deeply personal and culturally specific.