In Remembrance of Death By Denim
By Jacqueline Gonzalez
Photography by Chey Slowblade
“Death by Denim” brought back to El Paso a highly anticipated night of fun and fright. Creative director and designer Janace Walker, also known as Junk Approved, returned with a second repurposed and recycled denim gallery, encapsulating a range of emotions in one display. Walker’s goal for the show was to take the emotions associated with the cemetery—grief, sorrow, and sadness—and transform them into feelings of happiness, excitement, and celebration.“I wanted people to feel relieved, terrified, at peace, uneasy, reflective, and happy all at the same time as I would envision the rebirth would feel like.”
The show took place at Concordia Cemetery on Oct. 10 and began with a live tattoo session by Rose Santana in the center of the runway, symbolizing that even the most painful and permanent things, like death, can be beautiful. From the darkness came wandering spirits who drew our attention toward the models showcasing the featured designers’ denim-forward creations. The audience witnessed monologues by Ghost Tours Paranormal, fire dancers and six different designers representing life in its various stages.
Walker, inspired by Latino heritage, sought to work with authentic and rising artists, including Maria Fernanda Rojas (Feelthesting), Cesar Sotelo (16csr), and Samuel Mares (MaresCouture). Rojas and Mares share that their heritage is a very important reference in their work. “If you’ve ever seen clips from the most popular telenovelas of the 2000s like ‘Rebelde,’ ‘Teresa,’ and ‘Rubi,’ you’d understand a lot of my style came from the fashion icons of Mexican TV,” Rojas states. The strong influence of Hispanic heritage was made clear through references to Día de los Muertos themes and the choice of venue: Concordia Cemetery.
Fans of Walker’s artistic expressions can look forward to the next steps in the Death by Denim concept, which incorporates futuristic themes. Walker hopes to transform the brand’s beautifully morbid essence into an exciting affair that transports the audience to the year 3025 through the use of AI and 3D-printed components to push fashionable boundaries.
Death by Denim not only celebrates the intersection of life and death through creative expression but also paves the way for future fashion explorations that honor heritage while embracing innovation. As Walker and her team prepare to elevate this concept into a futuristic realm, they remind us that even within the shadow of mortality, art can inspire joy and transformation.
