It’s no secret that our founder and designer, Anjara Garcia, from Seville, is a highly talented designer with an impressive fashion career spanning over the past two decades, making a name for herself in the fashion industry.
Anjara’s career began in design after studying fashion at the School of Art and Design Llotja in Barcelona. She quickly made her mark in the fashion industry, opening various luxury boutiques, owning reputable fashion brands, and participating in Madrid (2010) and New York (2011) Fashion Week. Anjara also presented her debut SS13 collections during the Fashion Night Out - Fashion TV in the Shanghai World Financial Center, one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world located in Pudong.
Today, Anjara offers resort wear for men that goes beyond fast market trends to create its own approach to lifestyle and contemporary luxury. In collections that narrate experiences in the first person, Benibeca captures its creators' nomadic and passionate spirit.
Our interview with Anjara reveals what it's like to be a fashion designer in today's modern world!
How would you define fashion?
Fashion is the expression of yourself, to you, and others.
What does fashion mean to you?
My life is all about fashion, the finest form of self-expression and doing what makes me happy. In all other aspects: designers, trends, fashion shows, and magazines, I'm not concerned; I've never been concerned.
What sparked your interest and inspired you to become a fashion designer?
When I was young (I don't even remember), my mother told me I started learning to make patterns in an older woman’s garage in the small town of Seville, where I grew up. So, it is evident from the start that fashion was my passion.
As well as knitting, I played with flower petals and dressed up my Playmobil toys (dolls weren't my thing). Besides this, I also enjoyed listening to electronic music and playing vinyl when I was 14. I have always been immersed in the world of creation all my life. My lonely childhood forced me to build my dreams to keep myself entertained and pursue what made me happy.
What is your favourite thing about being a fashion designer
Freedom, creativity, and happiness are my favourite things. It is a challenge and an inspiration for me to be a woman in the men's fashion industry. Working in men's fashion is easy and fun. Men are loyal to what they like and don't hesitate to ask for what they want. They appreciate quality and exclusivity.
What is your favourite part of the design process?
Discovering, creating, and travelling. In Vietnam, where I spend most of the year making many products, I rent a scooter, listen to music, travel through the city, industrial zones, villages, and markets, and visit factories. Whenever I drive far away alone, I feel alive and free. It's the best feeling ever.
On my trips to the mountains in Peru, I spend 6-7 hours riding in a car with locals, crossing the mountains, and taking in the breathtaking scenery. When I arrive in the local village where some of our products are handmade, I enjoy following their routines and traditions, eating their food, playing with their animals and children, and being surrounded by nature. The feeling is beyond words.
The freedom to decide what to do and how to do it and create my designs harmoniously with the people who help me are beautiful moments for me. Although stressful, I have the energy and power to continue because there is a soul behind everything I do.
What do you believe are the essential elements needed to be successful as a fashion designer?
It is different from being a fashion designer to owning your own company. Pursuit and common sense in business are the keys—the balance between the design, the product, and the numbers.
What advice would you give to young designers or aspiring menswear designers?
Design what makes you happy and respects your values and lifestyle. Put your heart and soul into what you do. Continually learn and grow. Living life fully without fear is the best way to master it.
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Benibeca is committed to creating an exclusive universe as respectfully as possible. We design unique pieces for the next generation of men looking for luxury and quality experiences while maintaining strong ethical and social convictions.
Stay tuned for our future interview blog posts to learn more about Benibeca’s history, mission, values and style from our founder and designer.