The night of September 15 was different at the Plaza de la Constitución, where thousands of people gathered to celebrate Mexico’s traditional Grito de Independencia. This year the ceremony took on a special meaning, because for the first time in 215 years of history, the event was led by a female president: Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
The event was already historic in itself, but attention was also focused on the president’s attire, loaded with political, cultural and social symbolism. Her look did not go unnoticed because it not only represented the solemnity of the occasion, but also projected a message of national pride and feminine vindication.
A handcrafted costume with indigenous roots
On the 215th Anniversary of the Grito de Independencia, we make history because we all arrived: Josefa Ortiz Téllez Girón, Leona Vicario, Gertrudis Bocanegra, Manuela Molina, the anonymous heroines and the indigenous women. Long live the heroines and heroes who gave us a homeland!… pic.twitter.com/6mxYXOAu2s
– Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) September 16, 2025
Claudia Sheinbaum chose a two-piece suit created by designers Thelma Islas Lagunas and Crystel Martínez Torres, both from Tlaxcala, a state renowned for its textile wealth.
The confection was in charge of the teacher Rocío Castro Cruz, also from Tlaxcala.
The outfit consisted of a pleated purple satin skirt that reached down to the ankles, a shade that symbolizes the struggle for gender equality and has been emblematic of the feminist movement in Mexico and the world.
The choice of this color at such an emblematic moment reinforced Sheinbaum’s narrative as the country’s first female president.
The upper part of the attire was silver, with Nahua handmade embroidery on the sleeves and front, the work of master craftswoman Virginia Veronica Arce Arce, from San Isidro Buen Suceso, Tlaxcala.
Arce has previously collaborated with international fashion houses such as Carolina Herrera, which demonstrates the quality of his work and the global projection of Mexican textile art.
The presidential sash: a symbol embroidered by women
Making of presidential sash for Mexico’s first woman president https://t.co/6KJRFH476J
– Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) September 15, 2025
In addition to the suit, Sheinbaum wore the presidential sash, specially made by women of the Mexican Army attached to the General Directorate of Costume and Equipment Factories of the Ministry of National Defense (Sedena).
This accessory, indispensable for the presidential investiture, was handmade during 10 days.
The national coat of arms was embroidered with gold and silver threads, in a process that highlights the dedication and precision of the craftsmanship.
The fact that it was military women who made the sash also sends a message about the female presence in historically male-dominated spaces.
A lesson in humility for Angélica Rivera?
Sheinbaum’s attire was more than a costume: it was a political and cultural gesture, intended to highlight the talent of Mexican craftswomen, make visible the importance of gender equality and reinforce national identity in a ceremony seen around the world.
She also sent an implicit message to Mexican politics: with a handmade and accessible outfit, she gave a lesson in humility in the face of the controversy surrounding former First Lady Angelica Rivera, actress and ex-wife of former President Enrique Peña Nieto.
During that six-year term, Angelica Rivera was the target of constant criticism for her use of expensive and designer outfits, considered by many as symbols of ostentation in a country marked by inequality.
In contrast, Sheinbaum chose to highlight the talent of local artisans and cultural identity, projecting a sober image close to the Mexican people.
Pride for Hispanics
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For Hispanics living in the United States, this moment is especially relevant.
The Mexican community abroad maintains close ties to its cultural roots and the national holidays are an opportunity to celebrate the shared identity.
Seeing Mexico’ s first female president wearing a handcrafted costume, with feminist and national symbols, sends a message of pride to millions of Mexicans living outside the country.
The Grito de Independencia of 2025 was not only historic for the voice that proclaimed it, but also for the way in which fashion and tradition came together to convey a message of inclusion, respect for cultural diversity and feminine power.
Claudia Sheinbaum eligió un traje de dos piezas creado por las diseñadoras Thelma Islas Lagunas y Crystel Martínez Torres, ambas originarias de Tlaxcala, estado reconocido por su riqueza textil
QuéOnnda.com
