Working at the intersection of fashion, sustainability, art, and education, Marina Testino has built a practice rooted in accountability and cultural impact. She is known for championing higher social and environmental standards within the fashion industry, collaborating across disciplines—from luxury brands and technology startups to heritage design companies, such as Jaipur Living—to develop campaigns, immersive experiences, and educational initiatives grounded in credibility and conscious consumption.
Mexico City has become a recurring place of inspiration for Testino, offering both creative stimulus and moments of recalibration between projects. While there, she gravitates toward daily rituals—long walks, markets, tea ceremonies, and time spent in parks—that allow her to connect more deeply with its rhythm and community. During Art Week, Testino presents “re:FRAME,” an Earth-focused exhibition at Leica Gallery Mexico City, created in collaboration with Enrique Badulescu to advocate for more responsible practices in fashion.
Enrique Badulescu, “re:FRAME” series featuring Marina Testino, 2025. Courtesy of artist.
Courtesy of TRAUM.
WHITEWALL: Where to find inspiration?
MARINA TESTINO: Everywhere Mexico is a theater by it self, but the flower market and the bioclimate space at the parque bicentenario is exceptional, how nature can live inside a metropolis.
WW: Favorite place to see art?
MT: Lago algo, love the public space meets art nature and architecture
WW: Best neighborhood vibe?
MT: Condesa and San Miguel Chapultepec.
WW: Best-kept secret?
MT: Bomboti store, a hidden gem and I love Donde Clara art & crafts studio and Traum tea ceremonies.
WW: Best meals?
MT: Oly, Er erre, and Issi.
24 hours in CDMX with Marina Testino
MORNING: I would start my morning at Safe Space, meditating in front of the James Turrell. After, I’d have breakfast at Odette in Roma Norte, then I’d walk around Parque México. From there, I’d wander over to Traum, a magical tea shop about 15 minutes from the park, It’s like stepping into another world. Let’s assume it’s Saturday and you don’t have to consider traffic, I’d visit Casa Gilardi or Casa Pedregal.
NOON: For lunch, I’d book a table at Máximo Bistrot. In the afternoon, I’d stop by my exhibition at the Leica Gallery in Polanco, then treat myself to a frozen yogurt at Myka—or, if I’m nearby, buy a fresh coconut from a street vendor, drink the water and ask for the meat with lime and chile. It’s the best snack in the city.
NIGHT: For dinner, I’d head to Issi.
The Best of CDMX According to Marina Testino
1. Leica Gallery Mexico City
Enrique Badulescu, “re:FRAME” series featuring Marina Testino, 2025. Courtesy of artist.
“The Leica Gallery Mexico City is the first gallery in Latin America for the brand. This space located in the heart of Polanco, was created to promote community and to act as a platform for local and international photographers. It aims to capture and celebrate the cultural values of the Leica brand, while promoting stories of all photography types. The Leica Gallery Mexico City is a meeting point for photo enthusiasts to meet, talk, exchange ideas, and celebrate the importance of the humanistic approach to photography.” -Leica.
2. Lago Algo
Courtesy of LAGO.
Lago Algo is located in the second section of Chapultepec Forest, housed within a retired Modernist structure overlooking a serene lakeside setting. Originally conceived by Alfonso Ramírez Ponce in 1964, the building reopened in 2022 following an extensive renovation. Today, Lago Algo operates as a multidisciplinary cultural center, pairing rotating contemporary art exhibitions with a restaurant program shaped by a gastronomic residency model.
3. Máximo Bistrot
Courtesy of Máximo Bistrot.
Courtesy of Máximo Bistrot.
“Since our inception, our culinary journey has always focused on the principle of a cuisine that distinguishes the best of the product at hand. Ours is a sustainable cuisine, with seasonal national ingredients of the best quality, based on a close and open relationship with our suppliers. We bring fresh ingredients directly from the countryside and the sea to your table, and we cook with traditional and ancestral techniques to maximize flavor and bring out the best of every ingredient. We look forward to welcoming you in pure Mexican style: our home is your home.” –Máximo Bistrot.
4. TRAUM
Courtesy of TRAUM.
Courtesy of TRAUM.
“TRAUM (DE: Dream) is a gateway to a dream before time, a moment of profound connection to nature and the elements. Reality can be said to be a shared dream, with its possibilities and limitations… this is our invitation to dream a different dream. A dream with a human touch, ancient wisdom traditions, built to empower the individual and nurture our community. At the center of all that we do lie three elements.” -TRAUM.
