Maria Agostini
Staff Writer
Name:
Profession: Fashion designer
Nationality: Spanish
Location: Murcia, Spain
Contacts: http://pauladelvas.wordpress.com/, http://www.facebook.com/#!/emembypauladelvas
Age: 44
You will read her interview, but this is what her story has always sounded like to me: a small group of chatty Spanish ladies sitting in a studio and tailoring cinderella dresses, with a genius young designer who has been able to be the conductor of their concert of voices with modern ideas. Before being their employer, she had always been their friend and their student. And this is how a lawyer managed to become a succesful fashion designer.
1. Tell us about what you do…
For the past 12 years I have had a studio where we design and produce tailored made dresses, bags, shoes & fascinators and, recently, we have been working on a project for a new franchise, dedicated to a high end pret-a-porter line, always for women.
At our studio, I also design wedding dresses: they are designed in unique pieces and then, hand made, one by one, by all the staff I work with (10 to 15 people). Over the past couple of years, we have been showing our collections at Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week – http://pauladelvas.wordpress.com/.
2. How did you end up doing it?
Well, I studied and graduated in law and then I worked in the Spanish judicial administration for several years. It came the day when my sister, who was a fashion designer, asked me if I wanted to start collaborating with her. I thought – why not? – and in 12 years, I am now about to open my own franchised brand, on a completely self taught basis. However, during the course of the years, I realised how important techniques were, and I have tried to fill a few of the gaps through training courses and workshops.
3. Where are you from originally & what has taken you where you live now?
I am originally from Argentina. In 1977, my family moved to Spain for political reasons, and so I grew up in Murcia, hometown of one of my grandfathers. It was during the Spanish civil that he fled Spain, while, the other way around, we had to go back to it. Since 1977, I’ve always lived in this small city in the south east of Spain, and that’s where I am still based.
4. Where else would you ever live? Why?
Over the last 3 years, I have lived between Berlin and Murcia for many different reasons. I have a particular affection towards Berlin, due to its huge cultural movement: it allowed me to significantly widen the perspectives and the horizons regarding art more in general. Among other things, the chance to fly there and select new and different materials, new and different machines was just a great contribution that always allowed me to go back to Murcia, not only with many innovative ideas, but with many interesting techniques and materials to try out for my project.
However, I’d love to have some spare time to live in London for a while!
5. What has contributed the most towards what you have achieved?
Without any doubts, I can say that the friends I found through my job (some of them worked with me ) is what helped the most towards my achievements. One of them, probably one of the most influencing, is my really good friend Catalina: she is 87 now, she used to a nun and I met her while queuing on the way to buy fabrics at a shop. She needed them too as she used to make hats while in the monastery. It was her who taught me basically everything on hat tailoring techniques.
6. At the age of 20, what did you think you were going to do “in life” – where did you see yourself in the future? Has your dream come true already?
At the age of 20, I had just started studying law, and I just saw myself being a good lawyer in a future career. However, you learn that life hides surprises and can take many different paths and it offered me the chance to devote myself to fashion. The only thing I can say now is only that I really, really love my job!
7. What projects are you currently working on?
The franchise we have just opened, called EMEM by Paula del Vas, is taking up most of my time. It offers, among other things, wedding dresses, cocktail dresses and every type of accessory for women clothing. The first shop opened in Murcia last week (http://vmagazinespain.com/2011/12/paula-del-vas/), and, over the next few years, we are planning to expand all over Spain. All the clothes I have designed are divided in two collections – one is a lot more formal – called “Fiesta” – and a more casual one – “Sastreria”.
We have also been paying a lot of attention to the design of the shop – I have picked my very good friend Vicente Martinez Gadea to do it. He is a very renowned architect and what I wanted to make sure was that the shop became an art space and a beautiful place to enter.
8. If you could meet any artist – living or dead – who would it be?
It would certainly be Alberto Giacometti. I have read many books on his creative process, and it seems extremely interesting to me.
9. And finally, what are you hoping will get you your “15 minutes of fame”?
I had never thought about it – but that’s probably because I never really worried to have my “15 minutes of fame”!!
The traveller corner – Paula’s tips if you were to go to Murcia
Art Gallery: T20 (http://www.galeriat20.com/)
Theatre: Romea (http://www.teatreromea.com/c/start.aspx)
Band: Second (http://www.second.es/)
Gig venue: La Mar de Musicas (http://www.lamardemusicas.com/)
Area of the city: el paseo de “el Malecon” (http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=c,522,m,168&r=CeAP-2322-C_670_DETALLE_CENTRO )
Shop: Coco Factory
Cafe: Cafe El Arco (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150315211847032&set=a.10150315210797032.338188.318681882031&type=3&theater#!/media/set/?set=a.10150315210797032.338188.318681882031&type=3)
Hostel/B&B: Hostal La Catedral
