DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: An Interview with Custo Dalmau of Custo Barcelona …

Custo's Bio
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in LA Runway Shots

Custo Barcelona is present in 5 continents, 30 countries and is worn by Hollywood’s elite. Find out how Custo Dalmau got started in the industry, his most memorable career moment to date and where he shops and so much more …

Factio Magazine: How did you get your start as a fashion designer? Please comment on your school training and/or experience!
Custo Dalmau: We started playing with the prints in t-shirts 24 years ago. I studied Architecture (nothing to do with fashion), but I never finished my studies…

FM: Who were your most influential mentors? What moves you and inspires you each season?
CD: I have been inspired by so many people and things, I can’t think of only a few.. Both my brother and I have learn about fashion and been inspired by the road. We are led by enthusiasm and we are inspired by the challenge of doing something new.

FM: How was your first runway show experience?
CD: It was a presentation by 1984 in the Ritz Hotel in Barcelona. It was a very familiar show, in “petit comité”.

FM: What is your most memorable moment to date in your career?
CD: One of the nicest moments was when Henri Bendel New York devoted to us some amazing windows.

FM: Where did you get your inspiration for your spring 2005 collection?
CD: We have tried to get back to glamour, taking into everyday life a certain dose of a very easy to assimilate luxe.

FM: Describe the personality of the woman who wears your designs.
CD: Our customer is someone for who individuality is an important issue and who has a young spirit.

FM: What is your signature style? And, how does your trademark look translate to your designs?
CD: The Custo collection is known for it’s bright and graphic colors and designs, however I do not feel that we have one signature style.

FM: Where do you see yourself five years from now? How about 10 years from now?
CD: ?????! I hope that I will be enjoying what I will be doing…

FM: Do you plan to project your designs globally?
CD: Custo Barcelona is present in more that 30 countries through a big distribution net. We also have our own stores in the US (New York, Chicago, Las Vegas), in Spain, France, Italy, Japan, Panamá, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. And soon we will be opening in other countries such us Brazil and Colombia.

FM: Which celebs wear your clothes?
CD: The Custo Barcelona has a very strong celebrity fan base from everyone to Charlize Theron to Ashlee Simpson.

FM: Where do you shop in LA? How about the rest of the globe?
CD: I love vintage shops in LA. I also buy lots of “guayaberas” in Mexico and comfortable clothes in Thailand.

FM: What designers do you look up to? Whose clothes and shoes can you not stop buying? Any wardrobe tips? CD: We really don’t follow the work of any special designer. I normally buy the clothes and shoes that catch my eye without worrying about who designed them.
The only wardrobe tip I can give is, be comfortable with what you are wearing.

FM: If you could change one thing about how people dress what would it be?
CD: The artificial impositions.

http://www.custo-barcelona.com