Barbarattes
Read the interview we made to Barbara, the mind behind BARBARATTES. She started her brand in Venezuela in 2017 and she’s currently based in Medellin. We sense that we’ll hear talking about her again really soon.
What is your biggest source of inspiration?
I am inspired by my daily life, the facts that I live, the good and bad things that come to me and I transform them into pieces with great meanings, for example, I currently work as a secretary in an automotive workshop, where they also make upholstery, The cuts and the sewing of the seats for cars inspired me to make Causal 2, the name which in fact its name is due to the return of checks from a bank for insufficient funds, because reality the collection had to have been more outfits and I had to reduce it for lack of budget, so I thought it was fun to reflect on the embroidery of the garments subliminally.
Do you see yourself as a designer who dresses men and women or who makes "fluid" pieces that can be worn by everyone if they want?
I admit that at the time of design I assign the gender of the garment, then it happens to me that a girl buys the pants that I made for a man, or the other way around, some guy looks amazing with the dressed. I love how everyone looks, the garment belongs to who feels good with it.
How does it feel to be the only creative and at the same time your only employee? Would you like someone to give you suggestions about the market, about which are the most sellable project or you prefer go your own way?
It is a hard work that I enjoy, I feel as if the credits of a film where I occupy all the positions, protagonist, secondary actor, director, producer etc. My plan with Barbarattes is to be constant, propose the style and define it, so that people will know it, assimilating, but sometimes time doesn't take the pace with me and I really feel pressure, as if it was time to evolve and take it one step further, the brand is demanding me. It would be helpful to receive suggestions about the market, including guidance on how to manage and which way to go, what options to take, above all, what I am doing wrong and what to improve; write me if I need critics, please.
How do you think Barbarattes will expand? In stores, ecommerces etc?
I would like to have an explosion, something that happens from one day to another and have an immediate advancement, while I look for the opportunity to take my clothes to some stores in Colombia, attend bazaars and events. I am organizing to open the Barbarattes website. I want it to be everywhere.
I agree that Instagram nowadays is the best way to promote whatsoever, a brand, a career etc. Why did you choose Instagram as the first platform to promote Barbarattes?
Particularly, I consider that Instagram is a fundamental tool right now, it is incredible the simple way to get known by just using a hashtag or making a mention, or the relationships you can get. The profile layout is very useful to use as a portfolio or catalogue. Beside this, all the options offered by Instagram bussines facilitates the management and communication company-client.
Would you like to go back to Venezuela one day and sell there your pieces or you see this as something unreachable for the moment because of the political and economical situation?
I know I will return but in the long term, the Country's situation limits the objectives, but that made me leave in search of more. While I will grow, I want to return when I have something more solid. I could ship to Venezuela, I have some customers over there, but for the moment the border is closed. Barbarattes will be available in every part of the world, although my arrow always points to Europe.
What is, instead, your dream place (online or offline) in which you'd like to see your creations sold?
In real life, on a large catwalk, impacting thousands of people and highlighting my Country, I want Barbarattes to be the proof that if you want it, you can achieve it, it's my mission.
courtesy BARBARATTES
interview SILVIA MACCHIONI
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