Making a name for yourself in the Spanish fashion industry is not an easy task, rather the opposite. And even more so if you are a young talent who has to deal with the obstacles of being small, being sometimes left out and trying to stand out in an already saturated panorama of firms with their own label and on top of this fierce competition from low cost  brands who dominate mass consumption.

That’s why we rejoice news like this: Moisés Nieto (Jaén, 1984) has won the National Award for Fashion 2017 together with Purificación García, in a ceremony chaired by Queen Letizia last week at the Costume Museum Madrid. An award in the category of ‘New Value’ in which the Jaen born designer shared nomination with Ulises Mérida and the tailoring brand created by Paul Gómez Oteyza and Caterina Pañera, and which on other occasions has been received by the designers Maria Ke Fisherman and Juan Vidal. A recognition to the textile universe, as much for its creative process of design as its cultural contribution based on three criteria: the originality and the quality of the work done;  The innovative character and the contribution that this work makes to the Spanish cultural life. This award given to Moisés Nieto seeks to provide the much needed institutional support to national designers to promote the brand ‘made in Spain’ inside and outside the country.

Moisés Nieto’s career has always been upward. He broke into the scene in 2011, the same year he established his own company in Madrid. Before he studied fashion design and he got himself several awards like the My Own Show, for which the Valentino Group took over part of the production of his first collection. A year later he won the award for the best collection of EGO, the Cibeles catwalk Fashion Week dedicated to the new promises of the fashion industry. The final push came in 2016 with the prestigious Who’s On Next Vogue Spain award that came with 100,000 Euros. In parallel, Moisés Nieto has expanded his company also reaching the masculine sector with ‘Two Studio’ and has begun a process of internationalization selling their creations in various countries around the world. For example, his designs are marketed in the great Opening Ceremony in Tokyo and Osaka.

Moisés Nieto confides in Gratacós

It is no secret that Moisés Nieto is one of our customers. In fact, he is a regular buyer. In the last shows we have been able to see some of our fabrics on the Madrid catwalk.

The current summer 2017 collection is inspired by the Olympics and is a tribute to the culture of struggle, effort, constancy and improvement in order to achieve the desired goals. A philosophy that the designer complies with without fail. It mixes references and styles from different disciplines from the Olympic era: mid calf pleated skirts with an air of English tennis player, oversize shirts in Oxford fabric that recreate judo jackets, long sleeved tight bodysuits in wool crepe, striped prints mixed with flowers in bias cut maxi dresses in an elaborate pattern exercise, viscose knitwear, denim and cupro that adapt to athletic bodies.

And in this winter collection, Moisés Nieto has also surprised us with the duality of women as the main thread in female proposals inspired by the work of filmmaker David Lynch and in his film Mullholand Drive (2002). Here we have seen metalized coats, armed raincoats, midi fluid cuts and printed dresses belted at the waist in a boom of fabrics, colors and silhouettes that emulate the two main characters of this renowned work of the filmmaker.

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.