Txell Miras and the Fine Art of fashion

The Barcelona based fashion designer Txell Miras speaks about her inspirations, her artistic background and the competitive fashion world

The fashion designer Txell Miras was born in Barcelona thirty three years ago. Because she wanted to be an artist she initially studied Fine Arts. Eventually she ended up working in the fashion industry. To many, fashion is not art. To many others, however, it is. Txell�s sense of discretion means she prefers not to address such a dilemma. She has her own label and collaborates with Devon-born designer Neil Barrett. And for the time being that is enough work.

Her minimalist, gloomy and ethical garments and her wise utilization of apparently mismatched materials have more to do with the Belgian based Antwerp School than with Barcelona, were her studio is located at the moment. �In Spain catwalks are more public and are more affordable, you can have a low-cost show�, she explains. The beginning is never easy. �To get on in fashion industry is really complicated. Everything in this world is very brand orientated and without a name it is very difficult to start, to get people to know you, to find the right shops to sell your garments��declares the designer, whose working days normally start at 10am and end at 9pm with only a break for lunch. Like her compatriot Pablo Picasso used to say, she thinks that �inspiration exists, but it has to find me working, I prefer looking for it than just waiting for it�.

The artistic background is clearly evident in her garments. �My method of work is from a creative perspective, I come up with a concept and after I develop that idea by working with shapes, I am very influenced by Fine Arts�.

Nervousness and satisfaction are the two words she uses more when it comes to catwalks. She thinks that the best aspect of working in fashion �is enjoying it so much� and the worst is �the show and cynicism around it�.

In 2003 Txell won the Most Promising Young Designer award from Camera della Moda Italiana while she was studying her MA at the Domus Academy, in Milan. She then started to design Neil Barrett�s womenswear collection, (Barrett had achieved great acclaim for launching Prada�s menswear in 1995, and also worked for Gucci). Txell empathises with Barrett�s innovative and independent approach to fashion.

As her favourite designer is Haider Ackermann, it is not surprising that she focuses on, �the total silhouette more than the garments�. She does not believe in the hegemony of catwalks and claims that, �the street and the catwalks boost each other�. Txell admits that London has a great and diverse street-style, and it's there where she is going to show her new collection the next 19th.







*Picture: neo2 magazine

La dise�adora catalana Txell Miras habla de sus inspiraciones, sus or�genes art�sticos y la competitividad en el mundo de la moda

La dise�adora Txell Miras naci� en Barcelona hace treinta y tres a�os. Quer�a ser una artista, as� que estudi� Bellas Artes y ahora trabaja en la industria de la moda. Para muchos, la moda es un arte. Para muchos otros, no lo es. Txell tiene su propia marca y adem�s colabora con el dise�ador ingl�s Neil Barret. Y de momento eso es suficiente trabajo.

Sus �ticas prendas minimalistas y su sabia utilizaci�n de materiales que a primera vista no encajan tiene m�s que ver con la escuela belga de Antwerp que con Barcelona, donde Txell tiene su estudio en la actualidad. �En Espa�a las pasarelas son p�blicas y es asequible desfilar a bajo coste� explic�. Ning�n inicio es f�cil. �Abrirse camino es lo m�s dif�cil. El mundo de la moda es muy marquista y sin un nombre es muy dif�cil arrancar. Darse a conocer, acceder a los puntos de venta�� declare la dise�adora. Sus jornadas laborales comienzan a las 10 y finalizan a las 9 con un descanso para comer. Como Picasso sol�a decir, �la creatividad se encuentra trabajando. No me es especialmente dif�cil pero se debe buscar m�s que esperar a que llegue�. Su origen art�stico es m�s que evidente en sus prendas. �Mi m�todo creativo es muy parecido al que utilizaba para mis trabajos en Bellas Artes. Parto de un concepto y lo desarrollo trabajando con las formas�.

Nerviosismo y satisfacci�n son las dos palabras que m�s utiliza cuando se trata de desfiles. Txell cree que lo mejor de trabajar en la moda es que le permite trabajar �en algo que disfruto� y a su juicio, lo peor es �el mundillo que lo rodea�.

En 2003 Txell gan� el premio a Joven Dise�ador M�s Prometedor de la Camera della Moda Italiana mientras estudiaba su M�ster en la Academia Domus en Mil�n. Entonces comenz� a dise�ar la colecci�n de mujer de Neil Barrett (Barrett hab�a conseguido muy buenas cr�ticas con las colecciones de Prada de hombre, que el mismo inici� en 1995, y tambi�n en su trabajo en Gucci). Txell simpatiza con la visi�n innovadora e independiente de Barret.

Siendo su dise�ador favorito Haider Ackermann, no sorprende que ella se centre �en la silueta total�. Txell no cree en la hegemon�a de los desfiles y afirma que �la calle y los desfiles se retroalimentan�. La dise�adora reconoce que una de las ciudades con estilo m�s diverso para ella es Londres, en donde tendr� lugar la presentaci�n de su nueva colecci�n, el pr�ximo d�a 19.