Young designers
She is one of the rising stars of the international fashion scene. Hailing from southern Spain, Paula Canovas del Vas has carved a unique path in the industry, starting with her time at the prestigious Central Saint Martins. Her journey took a bold turn when she stepped into the role of advisor to Kanye West and further honed her craft at Maison Margiela under John Galliano, as well as at Gucci.
Since launching her eponymous brand in 2018, Paula has been reshaping the very notion of what a garment can be, blending the artisanal craftsmanship of her Andalusian heritage with a daring, colorful, and avant-garde vision. Her work is a celebration of innovation, and fearless creativity. Get to know this boundary-pushing designer. Meet Paula Canovas del Vas.
Hi Paula, can you introduce us to your brand ?
P.L. I am a Spanish designer, I studied at Central Saint Martins and our studio is now based in Paris. The brand really focuses on offering everyday and unique pieces with a glam and unique twist to them.
Tell us about your fashion journey.
P.L. I grew up in an environment where fashion was part of everyday life, my mom was a wedding dress designer, and my grandma was always making clothes. Fashion always felt very natural to me. However, I found it a bit frivolous… so although I was very into it, I wasn’t interested in pursuing it as a career. I was more drawn towards research and reading. I actually was supposed to do medicine or architecture. My journey really solidified during my studies at Central Saint Martins.
Where do you find inspiration?
P.L. I go for walks, try really hard to read as much as possible and talk to my friends and people I admire, starting with my team. I feel very lucky to be surrounded by very inspiring and strong characters.
Can you describe your creative process?
P.L. I want our creative process to allow for improvisation and make room for mistakes. For me, it is very important to be dialectical. I want there to be an ongoing conversation between the work and the concept. We start with something quite vague, and there is always a dialogue between work and the direction we are taking. There are references that remain with us once we have finished the collection they originally belong to. Even when we have the finished product, we can refine things through set design and styling. There is still a dialogue with the research. That’s why I love going to the factory, and seeing, and testing the production process, because many ideas come from there.
Who is your style icon?
P.L. Anyone who puts themselves out there and decides to start their own independent business has my respect!
What is the importance of your culture and style in your creations?
P.L. It is not something I think about too much, but people do say there is something very "Spanish" about what we do. To that, I say great!
How do you imagine your brand in a few years?
P.L. I see my brand continuing to grow as a platform. I envision collaborations with other creatives from different fields, as well as expanding into other areas like accessories or even home goods. But most importantly, I want to keep that balance between creative freedom and thoughtful, responsible production.
If you could describe your brand in three words?
P.L. Diablo, Carmen and color!
Do you have a mantra in life?
P.L. Push and pray.
