Stalked: Arantxa Morcillo, Emerging Fashion Designer

Recently I connected with the very interesting up and coming fashion designer Arantxa Morcillo. We chatting over email while she explained she sadly couldn't pop by to see me for a little 'street style' shoot because she was currently overlooking the stunning South America landscapes as she travelled around the continent designing her next collection!! Excitement I thought, as I promptly inquired whether she would be happy to share her primary designs with me and my darling readers?! She agreed, so here is a little glimpse into the next collection!!

Let me first tell you more about this interesting designer.... Arantxa Morcillo was born in Madrid, before she moved to London attracted to the creative metropolitan environment and started her studies in fashion in 2011. Since the beginning of her career she has presented a genuine curiosity to experiment with materials, forms and silhouettes.

From the beautiful terrane of South America here is a little insight into this emerging designer and her next collection.

What do you love about being a designer and how did you get into fashion?

I love the feeling of being able to create wearable art, fashion design is a form of communication in which I can truly be my self. Since I got into fashion I am a different person, I feel stronger and happier, I guess it is what happens when you can work on what you enjoy the most. One way or another, I have been into fashion from my childhood, I have had plenty of toys revolved around designing and fashion.
It is contradictory that after this when I finished high-school, I didn't follow my true passion and instead started studying Physics, there were different factors that made me take that decision, but I always believed that when I completed my first degree I would then study Fashion Design. This never happened, well not like that, I moved to London, looking for a new experience, and I found it. London is a city where you can breath fashion in every corner and it was here that my curiosity and my love for fashion started to grow. After two years "mastering" the language and working in fashion retail, I found the courage to follow my dream, thanks to the support of my fiance who was the first person who believed in my talent. I immediately quit physics and started a foundation diploma in fashion, since then the best years of my life have come.

What influences your designs?

London was and still is a major influence in my work, maybe not as straightforward as that but it will always be part of my creative process, as this city embraced my love for fashion. It is also important for me to remember my roots, being Spanish I come from a very rich culture and tradition that I try to include in my work. Sometimes as a main inspiration and sometimes with almost imperceptible hints. In general, I observe and study a large concept until something within it catches my attention, then I keep digging until I get the most of it then I jump to the next one, so at the end I can merge different and contrasting ideas into one unique collection.

What are you most proud of so far in your work?

My graduation collection "splintered", from the beginning of the project I focused on pushing my creative limits and experimented with silhouettes and materials, I had this present during the whole process. Splintered is a solid and interesting collection with an unusual use of the colour white, which I had never used in my previous work. The restriction on the colour palette encourage me to be more creative with the use of texture on the fabric and the relationship that the different fabrics had to one another. This collection was not only a bestseller on Monochrome Collective Pop Up store but also this project was awarded with the university prize from HeriotWatt. I felt as if I become a true designer with this project, I think that is something to be most proud of.

If you could live in another city where would it be and why?

I am not sure, giving my situation, if this is an easy or difficult question. I loved living in London and previously to that I loved living Madrid, and now I love living every week in a different place. I feel that I can not choose a single place to stay for long, every place has something different to offer. This being said, in the back of my mind I have always felt that I would come back to Madrid and settle there, mainly because my family is there and they are one of the most important things in my life. Also Madrid is becoming everyday a more creative and vibrant city, where the truly art of fashion is more appreciated.

What advice would you give to fashion students graduating this year?

One of the most important things is to never stop believing in your potential and what are you capable of. To be a designer, you have to be passionate about your work and be prepared to give all your energy to it. Thats why it is important to have self confidence, especially when starting a new chapter of your life after graduating.

What are you working on now?

Right now I am immersed in a really interesting project. In my opinion, the most important step on the development of a collection is to gather good research to base and inspired your designs. I think the key in this process is to be able to use the most important tool that designers have, their eyes. Study close your CONCEPT, not only using books and internet but putting your self outside and observe. This is why for my next collection I decided to travel in a motor-home through South America discovering the different cultures and natural wonders on this rich and great continent, where I found myself at this moment.

Five items you can't live without?

My Rayban wayfarer, as Kristen McMenamy said “sunglasses are instant makeup” , my singer sewing machine, I am always happy sitting in front of “her”, passport with enough spaces for plenty country stamps, a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, essential to boost my mood and a necklace from Salamanca, Spain that belong to my beloved grandmother.