Johanna Ortiz Has Designs on the Home

Johanna Ortiz in her new boutique on Madison Avenue in New York.

COURTESY OF JOHANNA ORTIZ

Tayrona Palm Mosaic sisal wallcovering by Johanna Ortiz for Schumacher.

PIETER ESTERSOHN

Twirling around in one of Johanna Ortiz’s coveted dresses, it’s easy to find yourself drifting into a tropical reverie of swaying palm trees and lush jungles rife with orchids and parakeets. Ortiz, a native of Colombia, has spent the past 20 years crafting a juggernaut of a global fashion and lifestyle business that taps into our collective desire for escape—to verdant natural beauty, soft breezes, and perhaps a fruity cocktail—through ready-to-wear collections (she now shows on the Paris runway and recently opened her first store, on Madison Avenue no less), tabletop designs, and a brand-new fabric and wallcovering collection with Schumacher. Along the way, her female-fueled company has employed and empowered hundreds of fellow Colombians and collaborated with and elevated indigenous communities and artisans. In 2016, she started a school, Escuela Johanna Ortiz, to train at-risk women in couture seamstress skills to help break the cycle of poverty.

A Palm Is a Palm sisal wallpaper features a key motif in Ortiz’s collection for Schumacher: the majestic palm tree.

PIETER ESTERSOHN

For her new Schumacher collection, Ortiz drew on her “eternal muse”—the palm tree—as well as her Colombian heritage, melding block prints with meticulously hand-drawn Amazonian flora and fauna, tactile Andean embroidery with abstracted palm motifs, and toile de Jouy trees with African wax prints in a versatile, sophisticated palette. “We’ve woven the essence of the tropics into designs that evoke the magic and mystery of my corner of the world,” says Ortiz. “This collection is not just decor, it’s a portal to Colombia’s soul.”

Ortiz’s new Upper East Side store showcases her love of natural fibers and rich textures.

COURTESY OF JOHANNA ORTIZ

Amazonas Mystique wallpaper by Johanna Ortiz for Schumacher.

PIETER ESTERSOHN

Behind the Scenes with Johanna Ortiz

YOU’VE LONG BEEN A CHAMPION OF WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE. DID YOU HAVE STRONG FEMALE ROLE MODELS YOURSELF?
I’ve been surrounded by incredible women all my life. The social inequalities and lack of opportunities many women face have motivated me from the start to create a company with a purpose. I wanted to make a real impact on improving women’s lives, providing them with tools to succeed and be who they want to be, making a difference in the fashion industry, and giving back to my community.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE BUILDING A RAPIDLY GROWING EMPIRE WITH BEING A MOTHER TO THREE SONS—ALL WHILE STAYING SO GROUNDED?
Family has always been my priority. Being surrounded with their love and support has been my fuel. I also have a dream team at the brand that makes everything possible. Lastly, living in Cali, surrounded by nature, and taking time each day to meditate and be grateful has been invaluable.

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE PRINTS FOR THE NEW SCHUMACHER COLLECTION? HAVE YOU EVER USED YOUR OWN FABRICS AT HOME?
We have a wonderful archive of prints—it was challenging to narrow down the selection! However, we made a very thoughtful decision to center the collection around the palm tree, with the vision of decorating different spaces around the world. I have always used my prints in my homes, adorning rooms with different favorites to give each one a unique vibe.

HOW DO YOU DEVELOP YOUR DISTINCTIVE COLOR PALETTES?
Each one evokes a different mood but is drawn from nature. I gravitate toward earthy colors that are versatile and stylishly timeless, that can last through many seasons. I want them to fit not just in the tropics, but in a house by the sea, or in an apartment in the city, or even a chalet in the mountains.