By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The fashion, food and arts fair, O Cluster, returns to Rio de Janeiro this weekend with a mini edition on Saturday, June 27th and Sunday, June 28th that will take place in a house located in the forest of the city’s Parque Nacional da Tijuca.
For the two-day event, organizers have downsized the number of vendors and moved the fair from its regular home in Botafogo to the house in the forest in the neighborhood of São Conrado, all in an effort to return to the fair’s roots and to offer a more intimate experience for the participating craftspeople and vendors as well as for the attendees.
“O Cluster has grown a lot and we were losing some of our essence, ” explained O Cluster co-creator, Carolina Herszenhut, in a released statement, adding, “The choice of this location for the event was made so we could go back. We want the public to have more of an experience and more interaction. The house is beautiful, it’s in the woods. In fact, it allows for immersion in this creative universe. ”
‘O Cluster’ was created by Herszenhut, the designer behind Branchée, and independent content producer, Camila Félix, in 2012 as a way to showcase the work of Rio artisans and designers in a laid-back setting with good food and music.
The first edition of the fair was held in November of 2012 and it has since become a popular bi-monthly event where creators connect with buyers and buyers are exposed to new brands and products.
While the previous edition welcomed over fifty vendors, only twenty-six brands will participate in this weekend. Twenty of the brands will offer the best of fashion and design, including Anouk Bags, Benta decorations, Flow accessories, and Insecta Shoes. The remaining brands will focus on gastronomy and include Amélia Gastrô, Baguel Store, Doce Predileto, L’eclair, and Namasté.
Additionally during the fair, artists Chloé Le Prunennec, Sebá Tapajós, Marcelo Eco, and Marcel Serrano will present their works and DJs Ícaro dos Santos, Andrei Yurievitch, Nado Leal and guests Penoni and Bruno Eppinghaus will spin during the event.
What: O Cluster
When: Saturday, June 27th and Sunday, June 28th, 1PM-11PM.
Where: Estrada das Canoas 1580, Parque Nacional da Tijuca, São Conrado
Entrance: FREE
* There is no parking on site for the event but vans will run from Baixo Gávea- Casarão/Casarão- Baixo Gávea to event beginning at 1PM on both days.