Sleeves Magazine July 2016 | Page 78

Interview with Josep Abril by Joel de Veyra WHERE AND WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE FASHION WORLD PREVIOUSLY? I have always worked on my own collections, right from the beginning. I have worked for big companies and for small ones, in both creative and commercial capacities. I began completely ignorant of the world of fashion, yet every day I feel more ignorant. HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR FEELING NOW AS A DESIGNER? WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THIS BUSINESS? I have learned that business kills creativity in fashion. WHAT STRATEGIES DO YOU IMPLEMENT IN ORDER TO SUCCEED COMMERCIALLY? Being commercial is not my primary objective. I have alternative businesses in order pay my bills. WHICH DESIGNERS DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR SOURCE OF INSPIRATION? The Japanese and Belgian designers, like Yohji Yamamoto or Martin Margiela. DO YOU DESIGN WITH A CERTAIN PERSON IN MIND? Yes, I design for myself and for the people around me. josepabril.com KINDLY TELL US ABOUT YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS? Sometimes the inspiration comes from traveling, from a faraway culture but mainly it comes from the work process itself. I start working and it grows in front of me. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE SPANISH DESIGNERS? Txell Miras and Miriam Ponsa. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE IN THE FUTURE TO HOLD FOR YOUR BRAND? What is important is to find a good balance between creativity and business and between privacy and public exposure. HAVE YOU ANY PLANS OF MOVING OUTSIDE BARCELONA? No! I like Barcelona. I think Barcelona is an emerging city in the fashion world, Sleeves Magazine