Agatha Ruiz de la Prada: 'Miami is the perfect place for my collection!'

The Spanish designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada closed Miami Fashion Week’s 16th Anniversary at the Miami Beach Convention Center, on May 18, 2014.

With a palette of colors including yellow, red, blue, orange and white, along with sailor stripes, Ruiz de la Prada presented her impressive collection highlighting hearts and big ties, as well as some pieces that the designer hand-painted herself. Ruiz de la Prada shined that night, winning the “Victoria Puig de Lange International Style Award.”

Our founder and president, Lissette Rondon got an exclusive backstage interview with her , where the designer talked about her experience at Miami Fashion Week 2014, her foundation of fashion, special anecdotes and more.

Exclusive interview with Agatha Ruiz de la Prada: 'Miami is the perfect place for my collection!' — Lissette Rondon and Agatha Ruiz de la Prada.

LR- How do you feel in Miami?

“I feel like a queen, everybody is treating me so well. I had come to Miami 4 or 5 years ago because I won an award, but this time we have come with a group of Spanish people and we are having a blast,” added Ruiz de la Prada. “Miami is the perfect place to present my collection. I’m here in a hotel with beautiful architecture and decor. The Miami style is very fashionable, it has now been imitated everywhere.”

LR -What do you think about Miami Fashion Week 2014?

“I’m good friends with one of the organizers, who invited me and I think it’s a project that can be very important for the Spanish and Latin American fashion industry, and I wanted to be part of it. The opening party yesterday was exciting, over 1,000 people came,” said Ruiz de la Prada.

LR- Could you give us a sneak peek about your collection?

“I can tell you that some fabrics are hand-painted by myself. Before being a fashion designer I wanted to be a painter. I used to buy fabrics and paint myself. I can tell you the colors of my collection go well with the Miami style too,” added Ruiz de la Prada.

LR- Tell us about your Foundation.

“Three years ago, I made 30 years of my first fashion show, so I started a foundation of fashion, because I had never celebrated anything before. I said, ‘I have to celebrate my 30th anniversary.’ It was a huge job, as you have no idea–4,000 boxes with slips, photos, etc.”

“We had to put everything in order to make the beginning of the foundation. Then, we did a fashion show to commemorate the occasion. It was sensational for my taste. As sensational as last year, we made an exhibition with my 50 favorite designs for two months at the “Correr” Museum in Venice. The same exhibition has been in Lima, Peru and Santiago de Chile,” added Ruiz de la Prada.

LR- Any special story about your experience in the MFW?

“I saw Beth Sobol (Founder & President of MFW) four years ago when I came to Miami, but we did not have time to get together. But this year, talking to her, she surprised me with a photo of herself (25 years ago) in one of my runways called ‘Agatha For President’ where Beth had been my model,” said Ruiz de la Prada. “She was wearing a crazy design of mine (it was a very crazy time in my life) and I remembered her completely at that time, just amazing!”

LR -What called your attention from the expositions here tonight?

“I really liked the old uniforms exhibition by Eastern Air Lines, because they were so elegant,” added Ruiz de la Prada.

LR- How do you define your personality?

“True to myself, and a little misunderstood because when everyone was wearing black – I was colorful, but when you’re consistent, people respect you,” said Ruiz de la Prada.

LR- What is your next destination after Miami Fashion Week?

“I will return to Madrid (these past months have been a little bit frantic) where I am going to receive an award in Valencia,” added Ruiz de la Prada.

LR- What message would you send to emerging designers?

“The most important thing is to have patience, many people are obsessed with success and success is nothing, it’s just a road,” added Ruiz de la Prada. “The important thing is to enjoy your day, because if you have fun working, life is a joy.”

Note from the editor: For her charming personality and unique pop-art style, Ruiz de la Prada was Miami Fashion Spotlight’s favorite designer during Miami Fashion Week 2014.

Tags: fashion, interviews

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada: ‘Miami is the perfect place for my collection!’

MFS Editor