RIO SS27: ‘Horizons’ Builds from Mexican Architecture

Natural processes and forms translate into avant-garde garments.

Photography by Latin America Mode

Inspired by protest poetry, past two seasons’ creative director Rio Uribe leaned into spring’s regenerative power for his brand RIO’s SS27 showing. This season, Horizons tapped Luis Barragán’s Mexican architecture: sacred geometry, vibrant colors, light, and a profound relationship with nature.

Elsewhere, the show’s strength lay in the repeated use of a laser-cut flower motif—particularly coy when used on the hemline of a mini dress. Or in a structured trench coat that subtly falls away into streams of pink fabric trailing the model’s leather-clad legs.

These colors represent Mexico’s landscapes, from sunset hues to the succulents throughout the desert. Beyond the figurative use of nature, Uribe also explored life’s cycles: shirts were hand-dyed with beets and berries; cyanotypes were printed one by one onto billowing capes; in one case, a piece of driftwood became a necktie. This collection repurposes wood from previous projects into intricate pieces.

Photography by Latin America Mode

Natural processes and forms translate into avant-garde garments like balloon skirts and tops, patterned denim and latex, graphic blazers, cutout designs on button-ups, multi-piece sets, draping dresses, and more. Barragán’s emotional architecture shines through each piece, reflecting his reclamation of nature in creations like El Museo Rufino Tamayo and the Chapultepec Castle.

“At its core, Horizons reflects on the cyclical nature of fashion—and of life itself,” Uribe says. “Like nature, fashion moves through periods of abundance and drought, growth and dormancy. Now, for the first time in a long time, there is a sense of rejuvenation. Inspiration returns. Growth feels possible. A new horizon comes into view, and RIO moves toward the light.”