Sao Paulo's Fashion Week, Latin America's biggest couture event, got underway on Wednesday featuring eye-catching confections and celebrating the theme of ecological awareness.

Nearly 50 designers incorporated environmental themes into their collections for this year's edition of the event, which highlights such issues as water conservation, recycling and alternative energy.

"We've been talking for a long time about a Brazilian identity for the Sao Paulo Fashion week," said event organizer Paulo Borges, adding that weaving an ecological theme into the event allows Brazil to celebrate "the question of biodiversity — natural and cultural."

Organizers will also plant 7800 trees to compensate for carbon dioxide emissions resulting from fashion week activities.

AFP