BARBARA SANCHEZ KANE Designing Mexican Feminism

Barbara Sanchez Kane is not your typical menswear designer. Born in Mexico, trained at Polimoda, and unapologetically political, she creates garments that challenge gender norms and disrupt cultural clichés. As a result, her work stands out in a traditionally rigid industry. Following her recent show at LA Fashion Week, Barbara Sanchez Kane continues to gain international momentum. Consequently, she is reshaping not just what fashion can say, but also who it can speak for.

In this context, Sophie Joy Wright of POLIMODA and POLIMODAMAG in Florence sat down with Sanchez Kane for an eye-opening interview. It now appears on Fashion on Air, IRK’s filmed series that lifts the curtain on unconventional voices in fashion.

Barbara Sanchez Kane Breaking the Binary in Menswear

Sanchez Kane’s collections blend performance, activism, and tailoring. Her work pushes boundaries, both stylistically and ideologically. Her breakout appearance at the FashionClash Festival in Maastricht in 2016 featured bold political statements—including a now-iconic cap embroidered with “Make America Gay Again.”

That collection marked her arrival as a fearless commentator on masculinity, identity, and national pride. Since then, Barbara Sanchez Kane has remained consistent in her rebellion. Her garments become theatrical narratives where Mexican heritage and queer politics intertwine.

From Florence to Los Angeles: A Global Trajectory

After graduating from Polimoda in Florence, Sanchez Kane took her vision abroad. Los Angeles welcomed her latest runway collection with open arms. Yet even on international stages, she refuses to dilute her message. Her aesthetic merges military references with intimate vulnerability—emotional armor worn proudly.

What’s more, Barbara Sanchez Kane’s design language is rooted in performance art. Models cry, scream, or wear face-obscuring masks. These aren’t gimmicks. Instead, they act as mirrors for social realities—both painful and poetic.

FASHION ON AIR: A Platform for Rebels

The filmed interview series FASHION ON AIR avoids the usual fashion clichés. Instead, it captures the thoughts and practices of creatives doing things differently. Barbara Sanchez Kane fits perfectly into this context. Her honesty, intellect, and subversive humor position her as one of the most important new voices in global fashion.

Watch the full interview and discover why Barbara Sanchez Kane is more than a designer—she is a movement.