On March 27, models walked down a runway in doll-like attire in representation of a variety of dolls. The show told the story of people who grew up and once lived in the historical Magoffin Home. The Muñekita fashion show held at the Magoffin Home was produced by Ximena Mata, 20, an El Paso Community College (EPCC) fashion student who came up with the idea in her fashion promotion class taught by Vanessa Ramirez, the EPCC Fashion Tech Program coordinator since 2018.
The show began with outfits that depicted brand new dolls dressed in pink costumes and bright makeup. By the finale, they stumbled down the runway and transformed into cracked porcelain dolls with gothic attire and dark, eerie makeup.
The Muñekita show was not Mata’s first-time modeling but was her first time producing a show as she was nominated by her class as the producer for the show based on her talent.
“Being a producer feels way different than a model, and it feels a bit more fun because I’m in control of how I want my concept to come to life, and I can make it as strange as much as I want to make it strange. I hope I shocked people,” Mata said.
Mata says the doll concept was inspired by fashion designer Mason Margiela’s porcelain doll looks from 2024, while also drawing from the Magoffin Home’s history.
The multicultural Magoffin family occupied the home in the early 1900s and had a large influence on the development of the Southwest. They participated in American expansion and their lineage had affiliation in conflicts such as the Civil War and U.S.-Mexico relations. The home was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
“Part of the show was the idea that people grow old, and they pass on [their items],” Ramirez said. “Their vintage dolls get played with and they get kind of used, but they’re beautiful. The idea of the Magoffin’s spirits living on is something that we wanted to be highlighted during the show. [They’re] living on in fashion and being beautiful.”
Muñekita also received the help of a local El Paso organization, The Sun Country Doll Club, whose purpose is to educate people about doll history and preservation.
Sun Country Doll Club treasurer and retired founder of the EPCC fashion design degree Trish Winstead donated $500 to the EPCC fashion program for the purpose of buying dolls.
“This is the kind of stuff that we like to get involved with — helping young students get involved,” Winstead said.
With that came the Sun City Doll Competition, where people of different age ranges were invited to design clothes for different fashion dolls, or even their own doll of choice. Awards were given at the show right before the doll-like looks made their debut.
Winstead shared her excitement over the show, the EPCC fashion program and its collaboration with Sun Country Doll Club.
“El Paso is such a magical place. People do what they want here. I hardly ever meet people [who] are paying attention to the latest fashion or something,” Winstead said. “People here make fashion. They decide what they want to look like. In the three decades I taught, there were always students coming up with the most amazing clothing. I hope [the community] sees that these young people are serious about their careers.”
Mata and Ramirez said they were overwhelmed by the support of the community and people who helped make Muñekita a success. The EPCC fashion program hopes to keep seeing their students continue to excel in their fashion careers and make a name for themselves in larger realms of fashion.
Jesie Garcia is a staff reporter and may be reached at [email protected] or may be found on Instagram at @empanaditawrites.
