48Design area Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada: “Luchino Viscontti would make actors wear silk underpants because he said it improved their performance” It is true her dresses can never meet in- difference, and consistent with the style that has earned her success, the designer has sought new horizons, including home- wear and stationery. And of course, uni- forms, our subject today. Tell us what you deem indispensable in workwear or uniforms, please. My uniforms need to be comfortable, ori- ginal, unique, filled with colour, just like all the clothes I design. Agatha is the daughter of a famous archi- tect and art collector, and her mother was a Catalonian aristocrat. As a young girl she studied at the Arts and Fashion Techniques School in Barcelona, and it was then she clearly showed what her style would be as a creator.Two fashion shows in Madrid, at the Museum of Mo- dern Art, preceded the materialization of one of the dreams: exhibiting a collection of suits made of painted fabric, at the Vi- jande Art Gallery. It brought a daring mix- ture of art, fashion, painting and design. Today, her collections are shown at major events in the world, in Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Berlin, Paris, Kyoto and New York. And they are also shown in emerging countries. We would like to hear more about your involvement in the world of workwear and uniforms. I made uniforms for Tour de France, el Mundo, Arco, Citroën, the Choir of the Community of Madrid, the Choir of the Teatro Real, Fitur,Teatre d l’Elisé and Les Bluses Roses, among others. And right now I have registered as one of the pro- ponents of uniforms for RENFE.We are working hard at this and I’m so enthusias- tic about it.Also, my great friend Alberto Chicote commissions me with the design of his uniforms. He is the handsomest Chef in Madrid. What’s the most rewarding time as you see people wearing the uniforms you designed for a company? Whenever I see someone wearing what I have designed, I feel filled with enthu- siasm.The more people I see wearing my uniforms, the more enthusiastic I am. Agatha Ruiz de la Prada summarizes her philosophy in just one phrase:“I love happy clothes”. Are you in contact with the professio- nals who will be wearing the uniforms you make? I am, though in general, they do not know very well what they want. When did you discover that designing uniforms could be interesting? I believe anything you do can be interes- ting, if you do it well. What new experiences did this sector produce in your life? Everything you do in life will produce new experiences. Who was the first one to propose this segment to you as a designer? It was over 25 years ago. I’ll have to say what so many others say of late: I can’t remember who it was. Your concept identifies daring, original women. Is it not a contradiction, then, to think of a collection of uniforms, invol- ving people who must all wear the same? Everything needs to be daring and origi- nal. My uniforms are. When designing uniforms, do you enjoy freedom to the same degree you do when you make fashion apparel? Of course I do.All I do, I do with the same feeling and inspiration. If someone wears uniforms designed by a fashion designer, does this have an in- fluence on their mood? Of course. Luchino Viscontti would make his actors wear silk underwear because he said that the feel of silk would improve their performance. In terms of uniforms, are your designs daring in terms of colours as they are in the world of fashion clothes? Colour is my first and major tool. Are you planning on international ex- pansion with this new line of business? I’m doing it now. I designed uniforms in France, for instance, for Les Bluses Roses and tour de France,Teatre de l’ Elisé... What are the concepts on which you base the style you create for any given company? Do you believe that great designers will continue to think of uniforms as a seg- ment with a positive trend in the future? I don’t know...can’t tell. I love to design uniforms, but I can only speak for myself. I don’t know what other designers think. Can design uniforms become a trend, or do you find that corporate clients do not really value this aspect? My own concepts. I am my own source of inspiration, as are contemporary art and Nature. Uniforms must be functional. In what ways do you apply this concept? People innovate, but only gradually. Com- pany owners see that when employees wear nice uniforms they feel better and happier at work, so they will be more productive. So much of what I do for every sector is extra comfortable and extra practical. I don’t know if you have noticed this, but they say that if a company is run by a woman, the look of employees and staff is highly valued. Of course, the way my team looks is very important to me. Is your footprint evident in the uniforms you design? Yes. Everything I do carries my footprint. We would like to know if there will be more uniforms created by you. Let’s hope I get to design uniforms for RENFE. I feel enthusiastic and look for- ward to it, because I tried it once, but on that occasion, someone else got to do them. JOBWEAR 61 2o TRIMESTRE 2012