It is no secret that First Lady Michelle Obama is a huge fan of fashion designers with Cuban roots. Perhaps her decision in 2008 to wear a dress designed by Cuban-American designer Narcisco Rodriquez on election night, followed by her inauguration dress designed by Cuban-born designer Isabel Toledo, was a signaling of what was to later come between the United States and Cuba, and their steps toward improving trade relations.
As the U.S. and Cuba progress toward economic normalization, many U.S. and multinational companies are contemplating whether it makes sense to do business in Cuba. The fashion world is no exception, as more and more designers are channeling the nostalgia of Cuba in their collections. American designer Tracey Reese is said to have been inspired by the streets of Havana and Afro-Cuban culture when designing her spring 2014 collection, while Versace’s spring/summer 2015 men’s collection was similarly inspired by Cuban architecture.
