Isabel Sanchís, prize for the best collection at Madrid Fashion Week: "Success lies in dreaming, but also in working hard"

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Dreams are nothing if there is not behind an iron will to work to make them come true.

Isabel Sanchís knows this very well, since in 1990 she glimpsed the possibility that her fantasy of being a designer would materialize, she did not stop striving until she reached it, silencing along the way the voices that discouraged her for being a woman and a mother

"« I was in an office of El Corte Inglés but I realized that I didn't like it and I went to set up a dressmaking academy, "she recounts.

The same tenacity was demonstrated by the Valencian woman when she won the prize for the best collection in the recently concluded edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, a catwalk in which she has been participating since 2016. Escorted by her daughter, Paula Maiques, with whom she shares the work of the creative direction of the firm, shows us that

are the foundations of his work, in which the craftsmanship and the finishes closest to Haute Couture stand out above all else.

From her workshop, located in Benaguasil, where she has

and among whom are some of her relatives -her husband, two of her four children and her daughter-in-law- both share their impressions on the current panorama of Spanish fashion , what inspires their work and where they would like to direct their steps.

How did the inspiration for the fall/winter 2023 collection come about?

Paula Maiques: Although during the six months in which we are preparing the collection the inspiration evolves, what we were very clear about for this one in particular was that we wanted to create strong and empowering pieces.

This year we have opted for sexy and very seductive garments.

We have materialized it through more daring cuts, deep necklines, vibrant colours... Our main aim was to create garments that established a dialogue with the viewer, that conveyed emotion. And of course you have achieved it.

Receiving the award for the best collection of this edition has been a great recognition. Paula: It has been a real honor to receive it.

It highlights the work of an entire team.

Isabel Sanchís autumn-winter 2023/24 show look.

When did the idea of ​​working together as head of the creative direction of the brand come up? Isabel Sanchís: Since she was little, Paula wanted to design clothes and after studying Fine Arts and Fashion Design, she was very clear about it.

It is an honor for me to work with her.

The only thing is that I think we're too equal and we don't fight enough.

Maybe even better things would come out if we discussed more.

Isabel, what have you learned from working with your daughter? Well, no matter what they say, young people are better prepared and very smart.

We will have experience, everything we have learned over the years.

But they have an objective vision.

They are intelligent and on top of that they are prepared.

And what about your mother, Paula?

Every day I learn things from her.

Her willingness to solve problems she has,

its ability to respond to all kinds of obstacles is brutal.

Her years of experience are not comparable to any career. The beginnings were not easy, Isabel, especially having to show people that fulfilling your dreams was as admirable and understandable as continuing in the comfort of a permanent job.

Do we have to learn to be brave and bet on realizing our dreams?

Yes. I believe that success lies in dreaming but also in working hard.

In going for what you want.

I was a secretary, I did what I was allowed in a small town because I was a woman.

My parents thought they had done my education, but I wanted more.

I worked and studied.

Until I asked myself: what do I know how to do and what do I like to do?

I knew how to sew and pattern, so with that I started in my small workshop.

I had to overcome obstacles and when I had children I heard people tell me that if I worked so hard I wouldn't be able to raise them, but it's the opposite, quality always prevails over quantity.

Little by little and with sacrifice you get it and when you love this job I think it's less bad than what people see from the outside. What three words would you use to describe your creative universe?

Isabel: Elegance, feeling and spectacularity.

We try to make each garment fall in love with those who observe it, to provoke a feeling and to make the wearer stand out. Do you think of a specific woman when designing? Isabel: No, quite the opposite.

We think of all women.

Regardless of their size, their culture.

Because it is not the same to sell in the United States, in the Emirates, Singapore or in Europe.

quality always prevails over quantity.

Little by little and with sacrifice you get it and when you love this job I think it's less bad than what people see from the outside. What three words would you use to describe your creative universe?

Isabel: Elegance, feeling and spectacularity.

We try to make each garment fall in love with those who observe it, to provoke a feeling and to make the wearer stand out. Do you think of a specific woman when designing? Isabel: No, quite the opposite.

We think of all women.

Regardless of their size, their culture.

Because it is not the same to sell in the United States, in the Emirates, Singapore or in Europe.

quality always prevails over quantity.

Little by little and with sacrifice you get it and when you love this job I think it's less bad than what people see from the outside. What three words would you use to describe your creative universe?

Isabel: Elegance, feeling and spectacularity.

We try to make each garment fall in love with those who observe it, to provoke a feeling and to make the wearer stand out. Do you think of a specific woman when designing? Isabel: No, quite the opposite.

We think of all women.

Regardless of their size, their culture.

Because it is not the same to sell in the United States, in the Emirates, Singapore or in Europe.

Little by little and with sacrifice you get it and when you love this job I think it's less bad than what people see from the outside. What three words would you use to describe your creative universe?

Isabel: Elegance, feeling and spectacularity.

We try to make each garment fall in love with those who observe it, to provoke a feeling and to make the wearer stand out. Do you think of a specific woman when designing? Isabel: No, quite the opposite.

We think of all women.

Regardless of their size, their culture.

Because it is not the same to sell in the United States, in the Emirates, Singapore or in Europe.

Little by little and with sacrifice you get it and when you love this job I think it's less bad than what people see from the outside. What three words would you use to describe your creative universe?

Isabel: Elegance, feeling and spectacularity.

We try to make each garment fall in love with those who observe it, to provoke a feeling and to make the wearer stand out. Do you think of a specific woman when designing? Isabel: No, quite the opposite.

We think of all women.

Regardless of their size, their culture.

Because it is not the same to sell in the United States, in the Emirates, Singapore or in Europe.

We think of all women.

Regardless of their size, their culture.

Because it is not the same to sell in the United States, in the Emirates, Singapore or in Europe.

We think of all women.

Regardless of their size, their culture.

Because it is not the same to sell in the United States, in the Emirates, Singapore or in Europe.

Paula: In our family we are quite a few women and very different from one another.

That is why with each collection we try to have variety and that each one can choose and see their tastes reflected.

Isabel Sanchís autumn-winter 2023/24 show look.

Diversity is also integrated into your parade but in a very normalized way.

Paula: For several seasons we have been integrating models that are curvy, trans or older than the girls that are usually seen on the catwalk.

And we try to normalize the fact that everyone can wear our clothes.

We are not a brand focused on a very concrete and specific audience. You claim craftsmanship as a very important element of your designs.

Very modest and simple techniques precisely because of their conception of being manual work, but which today represent a true luxury.

What is luxury for you?

Paula: It's the detail.

Those things that used to be normal but that nowadays have become something very special.

In this collection there is a series of dresses with pleated-effect fabrics, very fluid and vaporous,

that are made by hand with special molds and for which four people are needed at the same time to handle them.

It is a technique that was almost lost. Today, the discourse on sustainability is inescapable, in all fields but also in fashion.

Do you think that the consumer is educated to be sustainable in their buying habits?

Elizabeth: No. It's not.

I have tried both with my children and now with my grandchildren to instill in them that they buy what they really like, we are no longer going to say need because few of us really need things.

But they do not buy to buy.

That what they acquire they take care of it.

in all fields but also in fashion.

Do you think that the consumer is educated to be sustainable in their buying habits?

Elizabeth: No. It's not.

I have tried both with my children and now with my grandchildren to instill in them that they buy what they really like, we are no longer going to say need because few of us really need things.

But they do not buy to buy.

That what they acquire they take care of it.

in all fields but also in fashion.

Do you think that the consumer is educated to be sustainable in their buying habits?

Elizabeth: No. It's not.

I have tried both with my children and now with my grandchildren to instill in them that they buy what they really like, we are no longer going to say need because few of us really need things.

But they do not buy to buy.

That what they acquire they take care of it.

Paula: We have always been defenders of 'slow fashion' and promoting having fewer but higher quality clothes.

The firm's motto is to create special top-quality garments that you can use over and over again that can even be inherited from mothers to daughters or between sisters, cousins... Also, for a couple of seasons we have started using recycled liquid satin, which is made from recycled plastic bottles.

How do you see the evolution of the brand since the first collection was launched in 1990?

Isabel: Before, everything was much simpler.

The international client is very demanding and each season requires something new and different from the previous one.

They don't want anything that's close to what we've already shown.

And that is very exciting for us.

Isabel Sanchís autumn-winter 2023/24 show look.

Since then you have navigated between prêt-à-porter and Haute Couture to end up tending more towards the second, why?

Is tailoring more lucrative? Isabel: I particularly like ready-to-wear, but sewing gives you wings to do what you want, and creating these dresses is very gratifying, because they are impressive at first sight.

Paula: It means creating freely and letting yourself be carried away by exaggeration, architectural volumes, using materials you didn't think of for prêt-à-porter.

Do you think that in the same way the trend cycles have also become obsolete?

Has it gone out of fashion to have to consider what is in and what is not?

Paula: We are very faithful to what we like and what we think feels good.

We do not make collections around a specific trend or something that is in fashion at the time.

In fact, our collections are strong and powerful, we don't find them romantic or languid, for example, what you see on the catwalk is what represents us and we like to go our way.

What has been the country that has surprised you the most for its welcome in your expansion?

Isabel:

At first the first to notice us were the Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

I will always thank you for your trust and that our garments are in your stores alongside renowned brands such as Oscar de la Renta or Zuhair Murad.

That is what has caused other countries to buy from us afterwards.

What would Spanish fashion need to be an industry as thriving as it is in France or Italy? Isabel: Although many people talk about subsidies and that is always very good, for me it is not essential.

There must be risk, work and company behind it.

It is very important for you to serve the orders, that you control the making of the garments.

Although they are granted, the aid is not the main requirement.

I will always thank you for your trust and that our garments are in your stores alongside renowned brands such as Oscar de la Renta or Zuhair Murad.

That is what has caused other countries to buy from us afterwards.

What would Spanish fashion need to be an industry as thriving as it is in France or Italy? Isabel: Although many people talk about subsidies and that is always very good, for me it is not essential.

There must be risk, work and company behind it.

It is very important for you to serve the orders, that you control the making of the garments.

Although they are granted, the aid is not the main requirement.

I will always thank you for your trust and that our garments are in your stores alongside renowned brands such as Oscar de la Renta or Zuhair Murad.

That is what has caused other countries to buy from us afterwards.

What would Spanish fashion need to be an industry as thriving as it is in France or Italy? Isabel: Although many people talk about subsidies and that is always very good, for me it is not essential.

There must be risk, work and company behind it.

It is very important for you to serve the orders, that you control the making of the garments.

Although they are granted, the aid is not the main requirement.

What would Spanish fashion need to be an industry as thriving as it is in France or Italy? Isabel: Although many people talk about subsidies and that is always very good, for me it is not essential.

There must be risk, work and company behind it.

It is very important for you to serve the orders, that you control the making of the garments.

Although they are granted, the aid is not the main requirement.

What would Spanish fashion need to be an industry as thriving as it is in France or Italy? Isabel: Although many people talk about subsidies and that is always very good, for me it is not essential.

There must be risk, work and company behind it.

It is very important for you to serve the orders, that you control the making of the garments.

Although they are granted, the aid is not the main requirement.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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