Thanks to an e-mail we recently received here at So Catchy! Where Fashion Begins, sent by the Spanish photographer Ana Pancorbo, we’ve discovered the inspiring work of Ana Collado. Born in Seville and residing Granada, Spain, her first collection is inspired by the Japanese ideal of Kyudo and “seish seichu”, which roughly translates to “correct shooting is correct hitting”, for personal development and the search for identity. We got in touch with Ana and talked with her about her collection.


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So Catchy!: Ana, can you tell us about your transition from music to fashion design?

Ana Collado: I’m a naturally restless person and music and fashion are disciplines that allow me to release my creativity and use it as a form of expression. I’ve worked for some time now in music and now I’m exploring the world of fashion. Since I was a child I’ve worked with my mother’s sewing machine so I’ve always had the latent interest in it; I loved to experiment.

 

SC!: How about the creative process behind your collection, what is Kyudo?

AC: The project was originally for a class. I started designing some accessories and then the collection grew from there. The core concepts were balance, fulfillment, solitude, nature and mysticism, all key parts Kyudo. It’s a contemplative art that can be used for spiritual development. The elegant movements, and its relationship to archery, calmness, controlled breathing and selfawareness, symbolize, and summarize, the four years I spent studying and the experiences that brought me to the point I am at today. It’s an intimate collection, very personal, so the colors and materials are minimalist, the lines are straight, stong and contrast with the delicate nature of the face and skin. Ana Pancorbo brought this to life in a series of extraordinarily well-shot photos. She captured the essence of the collection to perfection.

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SC!: What influences your choices for materials?

AC: Choosing the correct materials is the most important part of the process for me, and I enjoy it quite a bit on a creative level. I’m a perfectionist at heart so I pay a lot of attention to small details and the over all finish of clothes. I like to touch and manipulate the fabrics and other materials and to experiment with them. Oftentimes the material itself helps you discover new possibilities and can change the direction of the final piece.

In this collection, the main material is leather, treated in different ways and with different techniques for the accessories and the clothes. I also used technical textiles and cords to provide texture and a contemporary feeling to the collection.

 

SC!: Are there any designers, artists, photographers or creative people you admire?

AC: There are so many! But if I had to choose, I’d say Balenciaga. His work marked a clear before and after in the world of fashion design, pushing it forward to the future. And his designs are timeless, with their masterful way he provided volume.

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SC!: Which Instagram accounts, websites, blogs or magazines do you turn to for inspiration?

AC: I follow the work of students from the main schools of fashion, Saint Martins 1Granary, Showtime (UAL), Parson, LCF, Bunka and Shenkar. As for magazines, there’s i-d, Pigeons&Peacocks Magazine, it fashion, metal_magazine, Dazed, w mag, vogue, etc. And Instagram accounts like @awake_uk, loewe, milk, Pan & The dreams… There are so many, sometimes too many, however, despite the information overload, I always try to keep my mind open.

 

SC!: What will you be working on next?

AC: My interest in leather and accessories is taking my to Ubrique (Andalusia) in southern Spain for the next few months to do an internship for my degree. I’m also working on my final project which I’ve been dedicating most of my energy to.

After that, it’s anyone’s guess.

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SC!: With no limits, where would you like to see yourself in 10 years?

AC: Developing a personal project, my own brand, or working on a multidisciplinary creative team. I want to be in a place where I’m happy and can express my creativity and my ideas about fashion.


 

Photos by Ana Pancorbo

Designs by Ana Collado

Translation and layout by Michael Padilla