A “barrio” is a neighborhood, and that’s the topic and inspiration of this year’s edition of Traffic Museum in Costa Rica.

Barrio Lujan, Barrio Los Angeles, Barrio Amón, Barrio González Lahmann, Barrio Otoya, Barrio Escalante, Barrio San Bosco and Barrio Aranjuez; are the eight iconic San José neighborhoods chosen, and that with their architecture, tradition, characters, and history inspired ten Costa Rican designers in the creation of unique attires that will be in exhibition from November 17 through December 4th in the Central Bank Museums in downtown San Jose.

These event is organized by Costa Rican model and entrepreneur Leonora Jiménez with the collaboration of the San Jose Municipality. The event brings together urban fashion and art. Jiménez explained that she wanted to promote the work of the Municipality in bringing art back to the capital city, and on the research done through years by the professionals of the Central Bank Museum on these traditional and old-established neighborhoods; these areas have also contributed in many ways to enrich the country’s culture and are an important part of Costa Rica’s history and heritage.

Each designer and the different interdisciplinary work teams including journalists and photographers, had to visit the neighborhood assigned, get familiar with every aspect of it, and document their experience through photography and other means. The images “Foto Urbana” (Urban Photo) are being displayed in large format in different main areas of San Jose, while the chronicles gathered through the process will eventually be published in a book format.

The exhibition of Traffic Museum Barrios is now open to the public and can be enjoyed at a very low cost. The event will close December 3rd, with a fashion show “San José Nuestro Runway” (San Jose Our Runway), which will take place at the recently remodeled Plaza de la Cultura and will be open to the public at no cost.