Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz debuts a new store on Madison that celebrates her heritage and the buzzy brand.
Johanna Ortiz’s flagship store in Manhattan
Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz has touched down in Manhattan with a flourish with the opening of her flagship store, a four-story marvel housed within a landmarked 1910 prewar building on Madison Avenue. This stunning 3,422-square-foot space offers a testament to Ortiz’s unwavering commitment to creativity, Latin American artistry and the timeless elegance that defines her brand. The store showcases an exclusive range of Ortiz’s creations, including gowns, ready-to-wear pieces, vacation essentials, accessories, home collections, and pieces exclusively designed for and available at the New York location.
The store’s meticulously curated collection of Latin American art celebrates Ortiz’s heritage juxtaposed against a minimal-luxe color palette of creamy clay-covered walls and ceilings inspired by natural stone, contrasting beautifully with the original rich walnut wood floors. An intricately woven 8-foot-tall palm tree sculpture punctuates the space. Created exclusively for Johanna Ortiz by Colombian fiber artist Rosana Escobar, the sculpture, coated with five-strand cabuya, sets the tone for the entire store. An installation of delicate woven silk threads by Ana Gonzalez Rojas pays homage to Colombia’s vibrant landscape and rich Indigenous tapestry, highlighting the importance of biodiversity conservation.
the boutique offers an array of ready-to-wear, gowns and more
The “canasto bar,” or “basket bar,” offers guests beverages while displaying a wide assortment of woven handbags, totes and other accessories, inviting a leisurely and immersive shopping experience. Ascending to the second floor, one discovers a sanctuary dedicated to Ortiz’s gown, vacation and home collections. A raffia-covered wall leads to the evening room, which holds the designer’s gown collection. The room is anchored by a striking wooden, bronze and steel palm sculpture by Colombian artist Eloin Rivera. A “living room” area features vintage pieces by celebrated designer Gabriella Crespi, while the “sunset room,” with its textured terra-cotta walls, houses vacationwear. Here, a re-imagined “Palmar” palm sculpture by Peruvian artists Ana Teresa Barboza, Rafael Freyre and the Goicochea family seamlessly merges design with nature’s splendor.
designer Johanna Ortiz.
Nods to Ortiz’s heritage are woven throughout the space. The window display is adorned with an Ibuju bench by Colombian designer Francisco Jaramillo using local materials, including woven yaré, a natural fiber utilized by Indigenous weavers across the Amazon region of southern Colombia. “The whole space is about the natural beauty and authentic craftsmanship of Johanna’s pieces,” says Jessica Hyland, owner of Hyland Studio and the project’s architect, “so the architecture and finishings were detailed and designed to provide a quiet, calming canvas for that organic and elevated aesthetic.”799 Madison Ave.,johannaortiz.com
Photography by: PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
