Beyond Borders: How Three Bolivians Are Staking Their Claim on Fashion’s Global Stage

 

The Santa Cruz Designer Dressing Hollywood

Last week in Los Angeles, Rosita Hurtado unveiled her latest collection, “Ixoye,” at a fundraiser for low-income communities in Santa Cruz’s Chiquitano region. The event drew international celebrities and the Bolivian diaspora, spotlighting her work. Speaking to People en Español, Hurtado emphasized that her designs are infused with the beauty of Bolivian mission art—a mestizo baroque fusion of architecture, visual arts, and music.

 

 

Rosita Hurtado, based in Miami since 2001, is a powerhouse in celebrity fashion. She runs a sought-after studio, manages five clothing lines and a shoe collection, and has even launched her own perfume.

 

Her journey began in Bolivia, inspired by the skilled work of her mother and aunts. She crafted her first garment at just seven years old. Her formal training is international in scope: after graduating from Paris's Dominique Atelier, she earned a master's in Brazil, studied industrial pattern making in London, and completed a degree at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.

 

Today, Hurtado's name is synonymous with red-carpet glamour, dressing stars like Eva Longoria.

 

 

Her designs have been worn by celebrities including Lucía Méndez, Juan Gabriel, Elizabeth Gutiérrez, and Carlos Ponce.

 

Hurtado’s five fashion lines actively promote Hispanic and Bolivian culture alongside commitments to environmental and animal welfare. In June of last year, she further channeled this advocacy by founding the Latin Angels Foundation to assist impoverished and ill communities in rural Bolivia, with more projects underway.

 

Family is her cornerstone. Happily married to Daniel Lewkowicz and a mother of five, she visits Bolivia frequently to nurture these bonds.

 

Designing in the Desert

 

Daniel Orlando Oporto Ortiz, a 37-year-old from Cochabamba, has been a leading designer in Dubai for more than 15 years. Operating under the name Daniel Oporto, his influence in the UAE is significant, and he has expanded his brand to include the perfume line Al Malakiya, meaning “Royalty.”

 

A month and a half ago, he unveiled his latest "Qatari-Inspired Tamim Collection" in Qatar to positive public reception and critical acclaim.

 

With over a decade of dedicated work, Oporto's clientele now includes A-list celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, and Mark Wahlberg, who wear his designs in the US and Europe.

 

The designer describes his path into fashion as almost unconscious. The defining moment came during an ordinary Sunday church service. There, actor Mark Wahlberg admired his suit and asked for his name. "Without hesitation, I replied, 'Daniel Oporto,'" he recalls. That instant became his professional brand—a name inspired by his dressmaker grandmother, Valeriana, and his maternal grandfather's surname, Walter Oporto.

 

From t-shirts and bags to accessories and his signature formal suits, Daniel has built his atelier from the ground up. Before establishing himself in Qatar, he lived in Mexico, providing wardrobe counsel for actors at Televisa. While he is the brother of actress Carla Ortiz, he has forged a distinct and independent career.

 

Today, Daniel says he is experiencing one of his life's best chapters, both professionally and personally. Happily married and a proud father, he prioritizes time between collections for his family.

 

 

 

A FIFA DESIGNER

 

Vanessa Alfaro, a native of Cochabamba, is a multifaceted designer, entrepreneur, model, and actress who has achieved international distinction as FIFA’s official licensed designer. She made history by creating the first and only FIFA-licensed women’s apparel line for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Alfaro also serves as the President and CEO of Sonne Global Inc., a firm specializing in design, brand licensing, marketing, and advertising.

 

Her portfolio spans haute couture, bridal, sportswear, lingerie, jewelry, and handbags, marketed through brands including “Wonders of the World,” “Heavenly Beauty,” “Old School is Cool,” “Love Sports,” “Love my Country—My Roots,” “Lifestyle,” and “Vanessa Alfaro Haute Couture.”

 

Alfaro first entered the industry as a model at 17, appearing in national fashion shows and on magazine covers. She holds a degree in Business Engineering from the Bolivian Catholic University, a master’s in Finance, and certifications in Graphic Design and Fashion Design. At 24, she married Mauricio Lino and relocated to the United States, where she expanded her career as a designer, model, singer, and actress.

 

Her recent collections have been showcased in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, New York, and Las Vegas. “My goal is to continue developing lines and products for my brand and for established partners, with an eye toward expansion into the European market—all while keeping my family, which comes first, at the center,” she states.

 

Together, these three designers underscore the remarkable talent emerging from Bolivia