Johanna Ortiz is stylish through and through. Whether designing her euphonious fashion line or decorating her Cartagena home, she hits many a fashionable high note.
Her Columbian roots are evident in everything she does. I have always been attracted to her dramatically draped clothing, often with ruffles or balloon sleeves in colors as bright as her Spanish/Mexican heritage.
I now can swoon over the 16th century Spanish colonial villa she owns in Cartagena too! Her love of fashion actually stems from her love of interiors, ironic since she is known for her fashion label. Growing up watching her mother design, influenced Joanna's love of textiles. That's where her process starts.
“She captures the sultry, sophisticated South American spirit,” says Lauren Santo Domingo, a family friend and founder of the fashion site Moda Operandi.
She is admired for her sense of authenticity, which is apparent in whichever medium she works. Ortiz and her husband bought this place as a vacation home years ago within the walled "old town" of Cartagena, a UNESCO site dating to the 1500's.
All the hand painted tile and wooden details were painstakingly restored. The hand painted mural by artist Elon Rivera represents the flora and fauna native to the area. Johanna's love of travel is on full display as she carefully curated everything to incorporate her passion for life.
There is nothing more inspirational than having the ability to travel, experiencing far off lands, then imbuing the flavor of another culture in to your aesthetic.
My friends and I have to up our girls' night out ensembles!
The Otomi textiles pair beautifully with the whimsical Asian hand painted faux headboard for a look completely unique to Ortiz in their guest bedroom. The master features a combination of suzani's ikats and Johanna's prints in her upcoming collection. That's convenient!
“CARTAGENA IS A REAL CITY. IT HAS THIS MAGICAL SENSE OF NOT BEING PERFECT THAT I LOVE.”
I love that too! It feels romantic and mysterious ~ like Johanna's fashions. Style, whether in interiors or fashion inform each other as we have seen time and time again.
