LIVING

This decision was propelled by the desire to place Barcelona on equal terms with other important fashion cities such as Paris, Milan, and London and a realisation that only by making a significant investment in up-and-coming designers would make it happen. Months later, ‘Showroom Barcelona: Space of Catalan Fashion’ was born. A simple idea: highlight a select group of 14 designers, the best of the best of what Barcelona has to offer and promote them internationally with a Paris show. Financed by El Consorci de Promoció Comercial de Catalunya (COPCA), part of the Generalitat de Catalunya, it hopes to put Barcelona on the fashion map.

The third edition is set to take place from October 3rd-9th [2007]. Three of the designers who will be taking part spoke to Metropolitan about what the event means to them. A Galician, a Catalan and a Venezuelan with three things in common: Barcelona as their home, their age (early 30s), and their determination to succeed.

The Galician is José Castro, who employs a team of 15 designers at his busy studio in Poblenou. Following his graduation from the London Royal College of Art in 2000, Castro quickly started his own firm, but after two collections began working for Miró Jeans. In 2004, he started working for Desigual and is now their Creative Director. He said he focuses 10-20 percent of his time on his own haute couture collection: El Cuervo. That’s where Showroom Barcelona comes in.

Like many designers, Castro chose to work for others in order to learn the ins and outs of production and marketing so he could better sell his own collections. He shrugged off criticism about working for others. “It’s harder working for others; you can’t make mistakes because every step of the way you must prove yourself.”

He said he was thrilled that things have changed from years past, when time, money, and opportunities were only given to those designers who didn’t need the exposure, and he feels that Showroom Barcelona is a great step in the right direction. He appreciates its focus on team dynamics. “Even a problem isn’t seen as a problem but as an opportunity to grow and learn. We learn from each other, we’re a team and help each other. Evolution for one person is a step for the rest. It’s a very different dynamic than what Passarel·la Gaudí was like… ‘a me against them’ attitude. Spain hasn’t had a team spirit culture until now.”