Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s four-day trip to Colombia ended yesterday at the Petronio Music Festival in Cali.
According to the couple’s website, the festival is “a vibrant celebration known for its dedication to Afro-Colombian music and dance” and “the world’s largest celebration of Afro-Colombian heritage, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to a vibrant spectacle of music, food, art and fashion.” At the event, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex received a bottle of Viche, a local spirit from Colombia’s Pacific region, and a wooden marimba as a memento of the music of Colombia.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on stage at the Petronio Music Festival.
For the occasion, Meghan chose a printed maxi dress by Colombian designer Andrés Otalora. Although the dress is now sold out, the brand still has numerous pieces with a similar look in stock:
Varadero twill tunic maxi dress
Testigo Del Alma – Printed cotton poplin midi dress
La Catedral embroidered linen maxi dress
Otalora launched his brand in 2010 and according to Moda Operandi, “the Colombian designer draws his inspiration from the lush, green landscapes of his home country’s tropical paradise. His goal? To reflect the vibrancy of nature through carefully designed pieces made from high-quality fabrics.”
During her travels in Colombia, Meghan wore pieces from numerous Colombian designers, including Johnna Ortiz, Juan de Dios, Marie E. Esquiva and Hannia Char Artwear.
On her final day, Meghan also spoke during a panel discussion titled “Afro-descendant Women and Power: Voices for Equality,” where she spoke about her daughter, Princess Lili, and her mother, Doria.
“I find inspiration in the strong women around me, of course my mum is one of them. So much of my approach is less about the struggle and more about how we present ourselves in a room and flooding things with love, kindness and generosity,” the Duchess said. “Those are the elements that inspire me – I know what it feels like not to use your voice when you need to be heard or have something to say. I encourage that in our daughter – who has absolutely found her voice at 3 years old and we are so proud of that.”
Emily Burack (she/her) is the senior news editor of Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals and a variety of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was deputy editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture website. Follow her at @emburack on Þjórsárden and Instagram.
