If you weren’t on the W Hotel rooftop in Hollywood last night, you missed the moment The Chicano Galliano—Rio Uribe—dropped RIO his newly named eponymous line Spring/Summer 2025 collection that had the crowd roaring. And trust us, this wasn’t your typical fashion week affair.
The vibe? High-energy, fun, unapologetically Latina, and boldly queer. As an LA native and first-generation Latina, Uribe brought something deeply personal to the table. With LA’s majority Latino population, it was moving to see Rio modernize the 1940s Chicano aesthetic in a way that felt seamless. The classic Chicano uniform—clean, crisp, and effortlessly cool—once transformed humble workwear into a symbol of identity and resistance. Cholos wore it as a badge of cultural pride, and now, Uribe has elevated it to a dazzling new level.
Forget what you think you know about fashion shows—Rio’s productions are a world of their own. This wasn’t just a runway; it was puro teatro, puro drama, and pure, unfiltered fire. Models didn’t walk; they commanded, transforming the rooftop into their personal ballroom .The energy? Wild. The vibe? Fresh, youthful, and proudly Latino.
Uribe took abuelita’s quilts and turbocharged them with modernity—traditional patterns were reimagined in ways that felt electric. Vibrant taffetas lit up the dopamine centers while 1940s Chicano silhouettes seamlessly bridged homage and reinvention. The result? A vision that felt authentically nuevo-Chicano.
And the accessories? Let’s talk about those, because wow. Catholic iconography was reimagined for 2025, with crosses draped around necks like bold statements of identity. Then there were the popper bottles hanging from belts and bags—an irreverent touch that reminded everyone Uribe isn’t just designing fashion; he’s shaping culture in real-time.
Chrome Industries got it right, naming him Creative Director at Large, with their collaboration delivering three bag styles and belts that strike the perfect balance between street-ready and futuristic. It’s the kind of partnership that feels less like a business move and more like kismet.
Uribe took Chicano heritage and shot it into the stratosphere, proving that true authenticity doesn’t need to be claimed—it speaks for itself. The only thing missing? Someone passing around a popper bottle. Maybe next time.
Written by Kimberly Mortensen