Manuel Bolano SS' 11

Showing off his amazing pattern cutting skills, Bolano launched an almost Haute Couture-looking collection on Wednesday evening. Voluminous silhouettes, helped by multiple over sized cocoons on tops and bottoms, took over the catwalk. A gold embroidered fabric was paired up with plainer blue and white cotton. Also golden plates adorned the foreheads of many models. Cuffs with either beads or miniature crosses added to a semi religious atmosphere, while other models sported feather details. Mixed in with the theatrical fashion were – quite surprisingly - elements of latex. A few knitwear pieces broke off the period fashion parade. All in all, Bolano has come a long way since his days working for high street chain Mango…

Dazed Digital: What was your main inspiration?
Manuel Bolano: The summer times I spent with my grandma, and the landscape of Vilavella where I grew up

DD: It was quite wide divide in the fabrics you used; traditional ones with gold embroideries and modern latex…
Manuel Bolano: Yes, but I just went with what was inside of me, and my soul. It’s almost more about art and craftsmanship than fashion.

DD: There was also an almost a feeling of mysticism in there with all the crosses and so on.
Manuel Bolano: My grandma had loads of Virgin Mary statues and other religious icons around her house. She wasn’t very religious or mystical but she had those symbols and every Sunday I had to go to church and prey.

DD: Favourite piece in the collection?
Manuel Bolano: The knitted white body!