Zaji Magazine

When most of us think of Costa Rica what comes to mind is a tropical paradise- luscious jungles, exotic wildlife and the beautiful beaches on both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. But now, you can add fashion to Costa Rica’s repertoire.

As women in Latin America’s fashion hotspots – Mexico and Brazil have started to carve out their own fashion identity, Costa Rica’s style is also taking the spotlight.

If you’re heading out to Costa Rica for some beach bumming, Spanish language courses or active adventure, you may want to take a little time to explore Costa Rica’s fashion scene and pick up some unique finds. One designer you’ll want to seek out is Sonia Chang.

Inspired by Costa Rica’s colorful tropical palette and unique history, Venezuelan-born Chang is a fashion minimalist who wants her designs to reflect a simple yet elegant style.

"I love to mix fabrics and to combine prints and colors," she says. "I think the elegance of a woman comes with her. She can learn about fashion, but if she doesn’t have that style, elegance and security from inside nothing will work on her."

Chang’s most recent collection combines her country’s pre-Columbian artistic values with Costa Rica’s natural materials. She incorporates resources such as yute, manta, coffee beans and cabuya into her designs.

"I embroidered them with Indian prints, inspired [by] the Guaitil region in the [northwestern part] of the country," she says.

While Chang’s designs reflect love for her country and appreciation for the beauty and artistry of Costa Rica, she draws inspirations from her worldwide travels. From Europe to Asia to other Latin American countries, Chang picks and chooses pieces of her destinations’ culture and history to add an international flair to her collection.

With an office in both Costa Rica and New York, Chang works intimately with her clients to create individual pieces.

"I see [the clients’] personalities, their bodies and what they want, and I give them my ideas and advice about what is good or bad for them."

For a firsthand look at Chang’s collections, visit her website. Chang is currently working on her first catalogue to be distributed internationally.

Photo Credits: Photo Courtesy of Sonia Chang.