i interviewed a designer: Roberto Piqueras

Ooh would you look at that I'm about to apologise for yet another unannounced hiatus. I have a real excuse this time - I'm back in the classroom 9 - 6 doing my journo training, four days a week and Fridays are set aside for Notion business. You do the maths - my free time is limited and preferably spent socialising.


But, I shall share this with you..

Roberto Piqueras Model Line-up

Less street style snippet, more street style show. Roberto Piqueras invited to us a Bethnal Green estate, Friday afternoon to scout some serious street, street wear, styled by our very own Queen of fabulousness, Alexis Knox. In true Planet Notion style, we stuck around afterwards to speak to the man himself about loving the east as much as us. And the show ofc.

Planet Notion: There’s a good crowd here, props for a first show. How d’you feel it went?Robert Piqueras: Thank you! Yeah, really excited. I’m feeling really well, yeah it was a good show.


PN: You should be! What initially attracted you to London?
RP: Well, I was attracted to London a long time ago when I was seventeen, I think. I was obsessed with London but I had also been here at different times as I was travelling around. Not the world because I was living in Mexico, Madrid and Barcelona. So I was thinking ‘OK before I go to London, I need to see the rest of the world’.


PN: And here you are today. What, in particular, is it about East London that you like?RP: I think the most important is the people. People’s style but not just the styling. When you are walking through Bethnal Green Road, you know, you can feel everyone’s particularity with himself and they are not looking at you or they don’t really gossip about what you are doing. Its very personal and independent. So that’s what I was doing with the street show – to show that kindof East London freedom.


PN: What elements of London do you incorporate into your designs?RP: For example, in the last collection I used the Barcelona Olympics, that you probably wont remember, from 1992. So for example, talking about London I was using the face of the queen with diamonds in the eyes and Big Ben but because I know London is something different for me than the rest of the world – its more about the queen and Big Ben. So its like OK, I want to use that but do it in my own way.


PN: On the subject of Barcelona, how do your designs identify with the city?
RP: Its more not in the actual prints but you can see it in the shapes. I’m feeling more comfy because usually I’m talking about clothes to go to the beach, just walking or sportswear so that’s kind of my identity with Barcelona.


PN: What made you make the transition from menswear to unisex to womenswear?
RP: Well, for example, in this show I think I separated the womenswear and menswear more so but usually I’m talking in unisex because when I’m designing I’ve got those kind of patterns – its very similar but it depends. If you’re putting a woman in it works in a way and if you’re putting a man in it, it works in a different way. So that’s what I’m talking about when I say unisex – it depends who’s wearing the clothes, not like, I’m not working with the silhouette of women or men.


PN: With that in mind, when designing do you not envisage a particular type of person?
RP: Well, yeah and no. Usually, I’m thinking about what kind of clothes am I wearing, my friends or what’s around me.


PN: And who would you most like to see wearing your clothes?
RP: Do you know the blogspot, studioboyo? Its a blogspot about menswear – very East London style. So, because in wonderland magazine they asked me the same and I said the guys in this blogspot. That would be amazing.


PN: Fingers crossed for you, one day!
RP: Laughs. Yeah that would be amazing.


Props to Gabriel Love for the photos.

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LFW: backstage bits & show snippets of KTZ.

Originally published on: Planet Notion

The premise for the show lay somewhere between the definitions of fierce and fiesty; models strutted down the catwalk with vampy lips, adorned in tribal embellishments, bondage harnesses and more buckles and leather straps than well.. a buckle factory. A promising, affirmative nod to the continuation of AW11′s fetish trend. House signature graphic prints and silhouettes provided the common theme.

Stylist: Alexis and assistant: Rachel.

The soundtrack was to hardcore party-goers’ tastes – an eclectic assortment of hardhouse classics. The attitude of the music was mirrored in every model’s attitude: strong walks and poignant pouts.

The journey from pre-show to finale can only be described as an emotional rollercoaster. Last minute decisions, misplaced shoes (Mario ended up offering his own to a male model) and kit-bag dashes cause uncountable levels of stress but the atmosphere backstage more than makes up for the literal sleepless hours, twenty hour days and survival diet of coffee that you inadvertently sign yourself up for on offering your services at a show.

PRs, photogs and everyone in between stand united in passion providing the driving force. The adrenalin backstage is unrivalled, it is honestly one of my favourite places to be. Make-up artists and models alike lap up the hype. It is worlds apart from the sublime aesthetic of the finished product; the actual show. An exclusive insight into the making of, it cements your appreciation and recognition as to how hard these people work for a twenty minute show. I only have the utmost praise.

A massive hats off to Alexis and her glamorous assistants – Joanna and Rachel. The girls sure know how to put on quite the show. And of course to the designer brains – Mario et al.

Models applaud Mario's catwalk appearance.

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LONDON CALLING

I have just returned from the best week in the Capital city. I only went for pure crack and the chance to maybe catch Wimbledon.

In between drooling along Carnaby street at all the vintage prettiness my funds couldn't stretch to, courtesy of my best mate who works for the people behind CLOTHES SHOW LONDON, I was a (very privelaged) dresser back stage for stylist Alexis Knox.

I ended up drinking white wine spritzers with Dave Berry, rubbing shoulders with Paloma Faith and getting up close and personal with MY Brazillian male model; Roderigo Dentist to be precise. You may recognise him from that infamous nekkid Walker's advert.

Lovely, lovely man. Not to mention hot hot hot. As was his mate Raphael or "you can call me Raph". Infact this went for everyone I met, not even one exception. It was very 'babe' this and 'darling' that. Not going to lie, I loved it. The emphasis was on having the best time and we did exactly that.

A few sneaky peeks behind the scenes..

Make up by Benefit

So many shoes

Inspired by Emma Bell

Inspired by Emma Bell

 Whistle for a hottie.  

Milano

I did not want to leave the fashion frivolities behind. I can't wait to set-up camp there.

London will call again. I'm sure of it.

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