Brief. Design a licensable pattern collection around Venezuela's Diablos Danzantes de Yare, a UNESCO recognized Corpus Christi tradition from San Francisco de Yare, Miranda state, that translates the mask craft and the meaning behind it into a surface pattern that could work across apparel, home, and accessories.
Process. Research started with the tradition itself, the cofradía dancers, the mix of African, Indigenous, and Spanish Catholic influence that earned the celebration its 2012 UNESCO recognition, and the visual language of the masks. Two design constraints shaped the final patterns. The mask horns and carved detail read too close to dragon imagery in early sketches, which required deliberate redirection back toward the cofradía figure and its traditional costume. The palette moved through several stages, starting from the Venezuelan flag's yellow, blue, and red, before narrowing to three final colorways, one of which replaces the traditional red entirely and relies on the mask's carved detail to carry the design's identity.
Outcome. A three colorway pattern collection, two fully applied hero images, and mockups across clothing, silk scarves, and shirts, ready for licensing or a self-launch. A portion of proceeds from the collection is earmarked for Venezuela's earthquake reconstruction, giving any licensing partner a built in cause component alongside the design itself.
Availability. Open to licensing inquiries. Contact via info@malicollection.com
See the full collection: Los Diablos de Yare Full Collection
Watch the YouTube video: How a Childhood Obsession Became a Full Pattern Collection: Los Diablos de Yare
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