Enric Marti, was awarded the prize this year for Best Emerging Designer in the Modafad Fashion Awards hosted at 080 Fashion Week Barcelona. His talent and good taste when it comes to designing, have got him a special prize of Gratacós fabrics to design his new collection.

What seduces you about fashion?
I am attracted to the possibility of constructing identities, atmospheres or sensations. That more creative slope of design that allows us to materialize our imaginary.

Does inspiration come to you unexpectedly or is it down to discipline?
I suppose it is a combination between personal experience and the same leitmotif of any work process.

Where would you like to see your designs exhibited?
I have never thought about it. I’m very young and I still have a lot to learn, this isn’t something applicable right now.

Do you think that all the creative processes come from chaos and disarray?
Not at all! Each person has their own method procedure. I think that deviation is good in the first stage of a task, but perhaps I would not call it chaos.

Who is your biggest inspiration when designing?
Celebrity Worship is a phenomenon which fascinates me. I tend to love icons in the world of music. This industry has huge power and visual influence and I would like to go hand in hand with it at one point in my life.

Which goals have you not yet achieved?
Many. I consider myself a boy who dreams awake and every time I do so, I inject myself positivism. To be scared or have limits is the worst thing that can happen to us nowadays.

Last Tuesday, 28^th July, the Ministry of Industry gave recognition to Gratacós’ work , by awarding them the National Fashion Award, in the category of Leading Textile Industry. It has come as a lovely surprise for all the company’s team.

This award rounds off an unforgettable year for Gratacós. They are not only celebrating their 75^th anniversary but will also inaugurate in Autumn their new space in Riera Sant Miquel, 9, where they moved to in the last few months.

The main newspapers, radio stations and TV broadcasting companies in the country have covered the prize giving ceremony. Digital and printed editions of La Vanguardia, El País, El Periódico, El Mundo or El Economista have published the news. Trade magazines such as Fashion United or ModaEs.es have also mentioned in their headlines the award given to Gratacós.

The very same Tuesday in the afternoon, crew members of Barcelona TV headed to the Gratacós shop to interview Gloria Casacuberta, CEO of the Company. She explained how happy all the team were that they had been given the National Fashion Award.

The Ministry of Industry gave recognition to Gratacós’ work by awarding them the National Fashion Award, in the category of Leading Textile Industry.

The jury, chaired by the designer Adolfo Domínguez, highlighted the impeccable and rigorous work Gratacós has carried out these past 75 years.

Andrès Sardà and Yo Dona (El Mundo) amongst others, are a pillar of support for creation, development and strengthening the whole fashion industry in Spain.

Juan Gratacós Ortiz, Chairman of the Company and Juan Gratacós Casacuberta, CEO, received the prize from the Vicepresident of the government, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría.

From Gratacós we would like to say how happy we are that we have been given this award and it has given us even more motivation to carry on our work every day!

Iris Apfel is undoubtably an icon of eccentricity and style. She was born in New York 93 years ago and she is  still going stronger than many other socialites in the Big Apple.

Iris focussed her career mainly on interior design and her textile company, but she is renowned for her large collection of art and clothes. She is also fanatical about accessories.  We can often see her at an event with four or five necklaces and countless bracelets.

During her visit to 080 Fashion Week Barcelona we had the pleasure of receiving her at our premises in ” target=”_blank”>Juan Gratacós who explained our business model and who showed her our large variety of fabrics.

 Today

Recently, Barcelona host the 080 Fashion BCN week.  The city filled with colour and textures of different styles and many designers there present chose our fabrics to create their collections.

The label Brain & Beast used Mikado to produce their striped garments.

The Colombian designer Edgar Carrascal  decided on a stretch cotton piqué for trousers and bermudas.

Polka dot and flowery prints in silk chiffons and mikado were the fabrics chose by Justicia Ruano for the pieces in his collection presented in the 080 Fashion BCN.

Finally, Menchén Tomàs used flower jacquards with lurex for her charming designs on the catwalk.

We are delighted to have been a part of such an important event and that our fabrics got so much coverage. We will see you at the next 080 Fashion BCN!

This week, as its 080 Barcelona Fashion, we had the pleasure of interviewing Pedro Covelo. A young fashion designer who originates from Galicia, but is now based in Barcelona. Thanks to his talent, effort and meticulous handiwork, he won the last edition of Modafad – the young creators fashion show. Consequentially he also won the scholarship given out by Gratacós in collaboration with this organization.

Do you remember the moment when you decided you were going to focus your career in fashion?

As I always say, I never decided anything at any particular moment. It was all progressive and I gradually got more and more involved. It is something I feel very at ease with.

From Vigo to Barcelona. What brought you to this city?

The truth is I have always liked Barcelona for its European movement and its design. It is a city which has a constant flow of people from all over the world, with projects and very interesting ideas. A city where you can get a learn lots of things if you know how to make the most of it.

Do you miss anything from your home town?

I have never been very nostalgic, I live the present and enjoy life every moment. If I was to mention anything, I would say living with my parents and not having to worry about anything related to my house.

Which icons have helped you develop your own style?

The way I see it, each person’s taste is created from millions of little inputs that you receive from all over. In terms of design, my top three are Prada, Anderson and the new Gucci.

Have you had any experiences that have marked your creative outlook?

I could tell you so many things that in the end it is the summary of the last 5 years in Barcelona, different people I have met and travelling.

Where do get the ideas for your collections? Which is the first step you take when creating them?

In my case, I usually start off from an image I have seen and I associate it to a concept which I have in mind at the time. Following that, I think of a final idea I would like to undertake, a fabric, the cut, the type of beauty, the essence of collection in general.

How important are the fabrics in your design? Do you have a preference for a specific one?

VERY IMPORTANT. And more so in my case, as the patterns are cleaner and without volume. The fabrics are what I experiment most with; printing, embroidering, combining them and using unusual fabrics in masculine fashion. I cannot say I have a preference for any particular one, as each collection breathes a different spirit, and has completely different fabrics and theme.

With which materials would you like to experiment in the future?

Now I am at a phase where I am interested in patchwork, mixing leather with other fabrics such as denim. However, as an idea for the long term future, I would say that my leitmotiv, in each collection is to try printing different fabrics with completely different textures and see how each one works. I find this very interesting.

If you could choose any place, where would you like to see your designs?

Amberes or Asia.

Can you give us anything away about your upcoming collection?

America, end of the sixties, country music sounds, the smell of earth and a bit of women.