An international fashion show in La Paz on April 16 will send 30% of ticket proceeds to Onco Reto BCS, a local nonprofit that supplied prostheses and medical garments to 100 breast cancer patients over the past year. The La Paz fashion fest, called Azul Profundo Fashion Fest SS26, has 250 tickets priced at 1,200 pesos (about $66 USD) each, and organizers say the nonprofit’s need for community fundraising has never been more urgent.
Onco Reto Has Served La Paz Cancer Patients Since 2008
Onco Reto BCS was founded in 2008 in La Paz to focus on breast cancer prevention and early detection. The organization distributes silicone prostheses, specialized cancer bras, and lymphedema sleeves to patients who cannot afford them. Patricia de Ruffo, president of Onco Reto, said the group delivered supplies to 100 patients between March 2025 and March 2026.
De Ruffo stressed that breast cancer treatment costs remain out of reach for most patients in Baja California Sur. She also noted that institutional support from government health programs has been shrinking. Mexico’s public health system, IMSS (the national social security health system), covers some cancer treatments, but access in smaller cities like La Paz often involves long wait times and travel to larger hospitals in Guadalajara or Mexico City. That gap leaves nonprofits like Onco Reto as a primary source of direct patient support in the region.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Mexican women, according to Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Baja California Sur, with a population of roughly 800,000, has limited oncology infrastructure compared to mainland states. The state capital of La Paz has one general hospital and a handful of private clinics offering cancer care, but specialized treatment often requires patients to leave the peninsula entirely.
Community fundraising events have become a critical revenue source for Onco Reto. The fashion fest represents the organization’s highest-profile fundraising partnership this year. Beyond the 30% ticket share, the event includes an art auction where 100% of proceeds go directly to the nonprofit.
Runway Features Five Designers and a Curated Art Auction
The event is organized by Wendy Gómez, the Mexican director of Revista Quantum’s, a fashion and lifestyle digital magazine founded in Argentina in 2018 and now based in Spain. Gómez described this year’s edition as a blend of fashion, gastronomy, and local artisan culture. Juan Borges, CEO of Luxestyle Consulting and director of Quantum’s Spain, is co-producing the event with strategic and logistical support.
Five fashion acts will take the runway. Alfredo Villaseñor will present his Spring/Summer 2026 collection in collaboration with visual artist Mikel Archilla. Roberto Victorio, a well-known Mexican designer, is also on the lineup. Emerging brand Street is The Office, the label Tirza Mx by Sara García, and students from Universidad Mundial round out the runway segment. IVN Producciones is building custom sets for each designer’s collection.
The Arte Zone will feature donated works from artists including Carlos César Díaz, Andrea Gaume, Francisco Barrón, and Orso Angulo. Photographers Miguel Ángel de la Cueva, Alfredo Martínez Fernández, Gabriel Larios Heredia, Alfredo Zayas, and Paola Ruffo have also donated pieces for the auction. Every peso from those sales goes to Onco Reto.
Live entertainment includes electric violinist Andrea Johanna, performances by Clique Studio, Balance Ballet, and Amorali Academia de Arte Flamenco. DJ Ivan and Pöl Gaynor close the evening. Signature cocktails are being prepared by event planner Suky Treviño.
Tickets Cost 1,200 Pesos and Include Food, Drinks, and Access
Each 1,200 peso (roughly $66 USD) ticket comes with a digital smart bracelet that grants access to the full evening: the fashion show, food and drinks from participating La Paz restaurants, artistic performances, and the artisanal market. Only 250 bracelets are available.
Tickets can be purchased in person at three La Paz locations: Chili Snacks, Atelier Art Coffee, and Hotel Plaza Real, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. They are also available through the event’s Instagram account, @azulprofundo_fashion_fest. The event has received institutional backing from the Baja California Sur Institute of Culture and the state Secretariat of Tourism and Economy.
Casting and runway coordination are led by Karelly Romo, the current Miss La Paz. Gómez said she wanted the event to showcase La Paz’s creative talent alongside international designers, not just as a fashion show but as a platform for the city’s artisans and chefs.
The Azul Profundo Fashion Fest SS26 takes place on the evening of April 16, 2026, in La Paz. The original reporting on this event was published by Gringo Gazette.