Mango can translate major trends into its own language

Justicia Ruano is the Womenswear Design Director of globally renowned clothing brand Mango—a Mediterranean label known for its cool prints and colours. In an interview with Fibre2Fashion, the designer talks about the aesthetic of its collection and takes through the designing process of its elegant pieces.

Fibre2Fashion: What attracted you towards the fashion industry and how would you narrate your journey?

Justicia Ruano:

Since I was a little girl, my passion has been to make clothes. When I was 11 years old, I was already training in sewing and pattern making. From then on, fashion has been my passion and devotion. Since then, I have known that this is what I want to dedicate myself to.

F2F: How long have you been serving the brand Mango and how would you illustrate the experience so far?

JR:

I have seen the brand change. When I joined Mango in the 1990s and 2000s, Mango was undergoing a process of internationalisation that has led it to be present in 110 markets, but many of its current competitors had not yet expanded into Spain.

F2F: How would you define the aesthetics of Mango’s collection?

JR:

Mango is a Mediterranean brand, which leads us to feel attracted to a specific type of garments with lots of colour, where prints are the protagonists. Working in a much more contemporary and current vision, which is what the 21st century demands, along with influences of the Nordic woman—cooler—and American—more practical.

F2F: What is the design process at Mango before launching a collection?

JR:

The design process at Mango begins with an analysis of what the last collection was like. Where it worked best, in which channels, when, who the garments were aimed at, whether we got it right or not. After that we make a summary and include the pieces that we see that the consumer is asking for in the different markets where we work.

F2F: Where do you find your inspiration for such an elegant and chic style collection? Do you follow any trend reports for designing Mango’s collections?

JR:

The first question we always ask ourselves is whether we personally like it. That is the most important thing for us. To be sure of what we do and that we like it. We must question ourselves. Because we are all potential customers of Mango. We have to question ourselves if we would buy it.

F2F: Given the abundance of fashion brands on the market, what makes Mango brand and its collections stand out?

JR:

Mango bases its business model on a unique fashion proposal, focused on translating major trends into its own language, giving rise to two major collections a year that are expanded with capsules every two weeks to constantly renew the offer. Mango creates a global and coherent collection based on moments and occasions.

F2F: What sustainable practices have been adopted by the brand?

JR:

Mango understands sustainability as a path that the fashion industry must follow in search of a fairer society and the reduction of its impact on the environment, whether environmental or social.

F2F: Would you like to give any style tips or wardrobe essentials advice for our readers?

JR:

After the pandemic and the global crisis, we are currently experiencing, I would say: colour and illusion. It is important that the clothes breathe that. I think that’s what we need. It’s what comes from inside us after these hard years we are going through.