Making colours an obsession

VIBRANT MEDLEY

Having associated with colours throughout her career, Spanish artist and fashion designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada’s love for India comes as no surprise.

Agatha presented her first collection of women’s wear in 1981 in Madrid when she was around 20-year-old. She is one of the most prominent promoters of Spain's art and culture now.

“Colours are essential for me and India is the country that has the best control of colours in the world. I really want to make a collection based on Indian fashion," says Agatha, who was in the City to be a part of  ‘Spain, New Urban Cultures’ series of events to promote cultural exchange between Spain and India.

Talking about her penchant for colours, Agatha says, “Colours are an obsession for me. Agatha also the name of my brand is not only a colour. It has a lot to do with shapes, because I have been playing with shapes all my life. I love colours, hearts, simplicity, freedom and like being avant garde and it’s dominant in my creations.”

Ask about any Indian fashions designer whose work she appreciates, Aagath names Manish Arora as he combines traditional Indian crafts like embroidery, applique and beading with Western silhouettes. “I think he combines in a very unconventional way the traditional Indian crafts and contemporary silhouettes,” says the designer, who seeks inspiration from paintings.

After receiving domestic and international recognition from her range of clothings, Agatha started designing furniture, motorcycle helmets, books, pet accessories, cosmetics, crockery, bags, jewellery, wedding dresses, mobile phones, murals and lamps. She was honoured with the Gold medal in arts by Spain’s Ministry of Culture.

Agatha follows Indian movies and music too. One of her favourite films is Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding, which she thinks is a true representation of Indian culture. “One of my favourite Indian movies is Monsoon Wedding. I think the movie represents the real Indian culture. I recently participated in a fashion show in the south of Spain. I personally chose the music for the catwalk and it was Indian music. I really enjoy Indian culture,” she informs Metrolife.

Agatha broke into the fashion industry at an early age and has seen the trends changing the world over, but for her India has has not changed in terms of its fashion trends and sense. “From my point of view, India has not changed as much as the western fashion, which is an asset. You have a very strong sensibility. I adore your fashion style,” Agatha, also a well-known poster artist, expresses.

An exhibition of the designer’s posters, ‘Cartles,’ summarising her works across fashion, theatre and ballets is being presented at Instituto Cervantes till January 22.

Terming India as a poetic nation, Agatha says that the country’s culture gives foreign people a lot of important values that Europeans do not have. About her future plans and brand extention in India, she tells, “I have plans to come here and win everyone’s heart with my work. But first we have to survive the (financial) crisis in Europe.”