"Fashion is to affirm today what you denied yesterday. It’s quite stimulating to work for a change without losing your own identity, your original sound. Another challenge is to find the balance between art and business: a designer has to be an artist but cannot forget to work on the customer."

"Fashion is to affirm today what you denied yesterday. It’s quite stimulating to work for a change without losing your own identity, your original sound. Another challenge is to find the balance between art and business: a designer has to be an artist but cannot forget to work on the customer."

Fibre2Fashion: You had your father’s boutique to start your career did it help you in anyway? Do you feel that it’s really difficult to establish yourself without such kind of a support or background?

Adolfo Domínguez:

Fashion was waiting for me just around the corner. I was born surrounded by fashion. The first floor of my childhood house was our shop, where my mother assisted clients. The first floor was the workshop, where my father worked. We lived in the second floor. My grandmother grew linen on the backyard and weaved it by hand. I used to play hide and seek and of course I helped as I could. That’s how I started to understand the business, but other people can find their way. Perseverance is the only key to success.

F2F: What are your principles for designing clothing?

AD:

Fashion should always make us feel good. I design clothes that will make people be loved. I choose evoking rather than showing. Fashion has to be emotional, and natural fabrics have a soul. My choice is linen, alpaca wool, cotton, silk… any of the natural fabric. I usually choose plain colors rather than prints. According to me, Black, Burgundy, Ink blue stand for elegance. Similarly Pearl grey, Vanilla, Nude symbolize Romance and Jungle green, Indigo blue, Mandarin orange suggest a fun mood.

F2F: Tell us something about your latest creation and the thought behind it.

AD:

Our new Fall/Winter collection is a shelter from cold. Traditional tailoring is a source of inspiration in outerwear. The soul stays: simplicity with poetry.

F2F: Which is your favorite piece from your latest collection and why?

AD:

It’s difficult to choose just one item from our Fall/Winter 2013-14 collection… For women, a classic camel-colour coat with lapels, warm and cosy. For men, an alpaca wool sweater a knitted jacket that will last for ever or an eco-leather jacket for those who respect animals. In general I prefer timeless designs and good quality materials that last. It’s easier to build an emotional link with the customer when you keep close to them year after year.

F2F: As a designer what styles and trends are you finding the most exciting for the coming for spring summer 2014?

AD:

The return of traditional tailoring with a twist is just perfect. White will be strong next season: a blank sheet is a great opportunity to play with textures and silhouettes. Monochromatic outfits coexisting with colourful prints. Ethnic styles give strength and personality to clothes.

F2F: Which Fashion Era/Movement or culture has influenced you the most as a designer?

AD:

Ancestral cultures inspire me a lot. We are living in such a globalized world that any sign of traditional culture can be so appealing. This happens to me with traditional art and clothing. When I visited India I fell in love with your silks full of vibrant colours, your sari and the ritual to get dressed in it.

F2F: How can we relate the Spanish fashion to the global fashion?

AD:

Spanish design is functional and aesthetic at the same time. Timeless and beautiful designs seduce everywhere.

F2F: What is your design Philosophy and design signatures?

AD:

Designer garments must provoke emotions. Simplicity with poetry is our leitmotiv. We started the business with Adolfo Dominguez: a line of elegant clothing for men, which was launched in 1976. Years after we included Adolfo Dominguez for women and had a great reception. After almost 40 years of experience we have fulfilled our desire to get closer to a larger variety of consumers. Then in 2000 - we felt it was time go further and reach a younger target and we developed U by Adolfo Dominguez, a streetwear line to satisfy the need to break rules and take risks. We also wanted to attend special volumes: Adolfo Dominguez+ seeks a balance between trends and versatility with a wide range of sizes (44 to 56). Adolfo Dominguez Kids is a funny and fresh line which combines comfort of the chilhood with special attention to detail.

F2F: You have been avoiding distribution through multi-brand shops. What is the reason for this?

AD:

Its all about keeping our own sound without interferences.

F2F: What is the most challenging aspect of this industry?

AD:

Fashion is to affirm today what you denied yesterday. It’s quite stimulating to work for a change without losing your own identity, your original sound. Another challenge is to find the balance between art and business: a designer has to be an artist but cannot forget to work on the customer. In times of crisis clients are harder to seduce, brands need to be more creative and authentic than ever.