Our Universe

CACHUA means ‘round dance’ in Quechua, the language of the Inca Civilisation that was set in what is now Peru and other South American countries. The dance dates from the Baroque period 1788-1790.

Saturday 13th November 2021, celebrities, international royalty, members of the diplomatic corps, and British high society celebrated the festive opening of CACHUA produced by the creative and accomplished Colombian dancer. Montaño joined the world of London fashion designers by launching his debut collection with a captivating catwalk performance which saw models display innovative and exclusive men’s and womenswear garments inspired by nature. Guests included former Premier League Footballer John Terry and his wife Toni Terry; legendary former Royal Ballet Prima Ballerina Doreen Wells, Marchioness of Londonderry; Lord James Palumbo; socialite and model Lady Martha Sitwell; artist and activist Daniel Lismore; actress Rebecca Ferdinando; and novelist Tyne O’Connell.

The Colombian-born ballet dancer Fernando Montaño spent more than 13 years performing with the Royal Ballet. During this time he meet and become involved in special projects with the iconic Dame Vivienne Westwood who further kindle Fernando’s interest in fashion design. During the global pandemic, seeking to nurture new creative outlets, he decided to pursue a lifelong ambition to develop his own brand of high fashion and jewellery.

Montaño explains, “ During the pandemic I began to take long walks around Hyde Park. I realised I was always instinctively moving in large circles. In 2020 we all found ourselves walking in different circular scenarios in every city on the planet; the parks, our buildings and our homes were the only spaces where we were allowed to be due to worldwide lockdowns. We were all doing our own Cachua dances around the world.This inspired my first designs based on the concept of the concentric circles of Mother Earth.”

Montaño reached out to Leslie Palacios, a Peruvian sustainable fashion consultant, who he had met while performing in Peru in 2018. Together, they took Montaño’s drawings and many online meetings later, proudly brought CACHUA, a new high fashion and jewellery brand for men, women and others to life. 

Our purpose is to create innovative, exclusive and luxury fashion to the global market for the discerning taste of our clients by bringing high-end refined craftsmanship from the Andes to the world. We want to change perspectives and prove that luxurious fashion can be created in a sustainable way in a mutually beneficial ecosystem. We create fashion for modern requirements by reviving ancient traditions. We want to lead the path to a chic and more respectful future.

We live in a fast-changing world facing difficult challenges such as climate change, divisions between people, and responsible usage of resources. We see ourselves as proactive and optimistic change-agents who are building today the world of tomorrow with a view towards glamour, inspiration, sustainability, and greater respect for people and the environment.

The jewellery collection is co-designed by Montaño and Bogota-based jeweller and designer Mario Reina, featuring stunning gold, silver and pearl designs. Our gold and silver is mined using ancient methods and the jewellery is made by artisans based in Mompox.