Voice notes interview: RAÚL PEÑARANDA

INTRO: Una mini entrevista a través de voice notes mostrando una convo intima entre personalidades de la industria de la moda y una gran fan con complejo de periodista

INTRO: a mini-interview through voice notes showing an intimate convo between personalities from the fashion industry and a big fan with a journalist complex.

En el post de hoy el increíble diseñador Raúl Peñaranda nos da un poco de insight sobre su proceso creativo, sus inicios y hasta cual chairman del CFDA prefiere, si quieres saber esto y unas cositas más sigue leyendo.

In today's post, the incredible designer Raul Peñaranda gives us a little bit of insight on his creative process, his beggings, and even which chairman from the CFDA he prefers, if you wanna know this a few things more, keep reading!

1) ¿Cuál es tu primer recuerdo de la moda?

1) What is the first memory you have of fashion?

the first memory I have of fashion is of watching my beautiful mother, that is a seamstress, doing dresses for my sisters and with the leftover fabric she would do a shirt for me, then for that would be my very first 's memory, and it's one that's really personal

2) ¿Siempre supiste que querías trabajar dentro de la industria de la moda? ¿O en algún momento consideraste otra carrera?

2) Did you always know you wanted to work in the fashion industry? Or did you consider any other career path at some point?

Since I was a kid and inspired by my mom, I always knew that I wanted to be a designer. I didn't know how l going to do it, but from a very early age, I had that desire to do what she did, so... I saw all the time the love that she was putting into every dress and shirt that she made and do I wanted to do that for every woman in the world.

3) En tus inicios, ¿Cuál dirías fue la experiencia que más te marcó?

3) At the start of your career, what would you say was the experience that ou impacted you the most?

The experience that impacted me the most was when first started to work for Donna Karan (DKNY), my very first day they confused me with a delivery guy and they told that I had to go in through the back door, I didn't take it in a bad way, I just told myself "Well that's the way they're perceiving me right now and instead of taking in a negative way I'm going to change it and prove them wrong"

That made me realize that maybe didn't look like you typical aristocratic designer from New York Fashion Week but with my work, I'll prove what I'm worth and change that, and that's what I did.

4) ¿Cuáles son tus mayores inspiraciones a la hora de crear y cómo las transformas en tu arte?

4) What are your biggest inspirations when you are creating and how do you transform them into your art?

The inspirations of Raul Peñaranda for every collection, since I started 10 years ago, is based on a personal feeling that I'm going through during that time in my life. It can be anything from happiness to sadness, my dresses are the best way for me to express these emotions to the world.

5) ¿Al principio de tu Virtual Runway Show podemos verte a ti rodeado por bocetos de tus diseños, como describirías tu proceso creativo?

5) At the start of your Virtual Runway Show, we can see you surrounded by sketches of your designs, how will you describe your creative process?

My creative process starts with the fabrics, which are the ones that inspired me, then I go with the colors and lastly I try to define that woman based on the feeling that I'm inspired by, in a simple and classic way. Always trying to have the perfect balance between two things, seductiveness without being tacky and elegant but not outdated.

6) ¿Qué parte de tu trabajo te trae mas alegría?

6) What part of your job brings you more joy?

That is basically EVERYTHING, from start to finish and then all over again. And it's not only about presenting a collection worthy of NYFW and creating trends, but it also is about having the power to inspire, educate and create a conversation, so all the dreamers can make their dreams come true just like I did.

7) Estudiaste tanto en FIT como en Parsons, ¿En cuál de estas dos instituciones tuviste mejor experiencia y por qué?

7) You studied on both FIT and Parsons, In which school did you have better experience in and why?

Actually I could totally tell you that I got exactly what I needed from each school to prepare me for when I had my company. In FIT I took design classes, even thou I never graduated because I didn't have either the money or the time, and on Parsons, I took some classes of fabrics and prints and it was basically that, to get what I needed and put myself at the same level of the other designers here in Manhattan.

8) Durante tu carrera has trabajado con grandes marcas como Oscar de la Renta, DKNY, Zac Posen (uno de mis diseñadores favoritos) y Tommy Hilfiger.

En la actualidad, ¿Cual de estas casas de moda sientes que te representa mas?

8) During your career, you have work with big brands like Oscar de la Renta, DKNY, Zac Posen (one of my favorite designers), and Tommy Hilfiger.

Right now, Which one of the fashion houses will you say represents you the most?

I had the joy of working for Oscar de la Renta, Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, Zac Posen and let me tell you that I'm really grateful to all of them because I learn the good and the bad, but I don't find myself represented with any of them because I think i have my own identity.

The House that I have the biggest bond with is Oscar de la Renta because he taught me or rather, he gave me verification of what I had always thought, that you can be powerful and get to the top but you gotta have humble a heart and that with humbleness you can open any door in the world

9) Para mi la ciudad de Nueva York siempre ha sido una gran fuente de inspiración (de ahí salió el nombre de mi blog) y la verdad vivir allá y ejercer en la industria de la moda es un sueño y una meta.

¿Para ti que representa la ciudad al momento de diseñar? ¿Comó fue la primera vez que fuiste a Nueva York? y ¿Cuáles son tus lugares favoritos de NYC?

¡SIGUE ESCUCHANDO ABAJO!

9) For me the city of New York has always been a big source of inspiration (that's why I named my blog like that) and honestly living there and working on the fashion industry is a dream and a goal of mine.

For you what does the city represents when you're designing? How was the first time you went to New York? and What are your favorite spots in NYC?

New York has always been and will always be the place that gave me the opportunity to make my dreams come true, it's a vibrant and really fast-paced city, with a lot of energy and illusions and you can find inspiration anytime, anywhere, so for me, NYC was crucial for establishing my brand and that's why I call it Raul peñaranda New York, at the same time like I have always said, with a Latin heart.

The city of New York is a symbol that with dedication and a lot of discipline, and in my case humbleness, you can make anything happen.

The first time I came I stayed at the Plaza and for me, that was living one of my biggest dreams, and also it was reaffirming me that this was where Raul was going to grow, learn and where he was going to change the narrative of the fashion world.

SPEED ROUND

• ¿Primavera/Verano o Otoño/Invierno?

• Spring/Summer or Fall/Winter?

Spring/Summer

• ¿Perlas o lentejuelas?

• Pearls or sequins?

Sequins, of course

• ¿Arepa colombiana o venezolana?

• Colombian o venezuelan arepa?

I love both arepas, I honestly tell you because when I get tired of one I jump to the other, I love them both

• ¿Dorado o plateado?

• Gold or silver?

I love, love, LOVE the color gold, it's one of the colors that is never missing from my runway shows

• ¿A quién prefieres como chairman/chairwoman del CFDA: Tom Ford o Diane Von Fürstenberg?

• Who do you prefer as a chairman/chairwoman of the CFDA; Tom Ford or Diane Von Fürstenberg?

Definitely Diane Von Fürstenberg, because I know her and I know the CEO of DVF, Sandra Campos, who was my boss at Oscar de la Renta. For me, Diane Von Fürstenberg is a divine woman that represents fashion and discipline, and she truly is someone that I highly admire.

10) Y por ultimó ¿Comó te mantienes con tanta humildad a pesar de todo el éxito que has logrado tener?

¡SIGUE ESCUCHANDO ABAJO!

10) And to finish it off, how do you remain so humble despite all the success that you have accomplished?

I stay humble just for the fact that I don't come form o house of silver spoons, and that I know what it's like to start from the bottom.

For me, every time they asked me why I haven't change it's simply because I focused on my family roots, my mom, my dad, my brothers and sisters, and every morning no matter how big or small the event or the situation is, I think about how grateful I am.

And something that I have done I every single one of my collections from the start 10 years ago, including my 21st collection, it's that the day of the show I get up really early, I take my dog out to Central Park while I listen to " El Grupo Niche" specifically the song "Cali pachanguero", from where I come from, and that song is like the drug I need to take any criticism, whether is it good or bad, so for me that song and listening to my country, my culture my roots, it's something that I always do and that fils me with so much joy and just makes me feel really good.

¡Gracias por leer/escuchar el primer episodio de "Voice Notes"! Espero que te hay encantado tanto como gusto a mi hacerla, de verdad fue un verdadero honor poder hablar con alguien tan especial como persona y profesional.

Si quieres el/la primer@ en enterarse sobre todo lo que tiene que ver con Raúl Peñaranda síguelo en Instagram:

+ @raul_penaranda https://www.instagram.com/raul_penaranda/?hl=es-la

Y para ver sus ultimas colecciones y como comprarlas vayan a: https://raulpenaranda.com/

No olvides seguirme en insta @thefakenewyorker_ y en mi cuenta personal @rosa.isabella_

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Thank you so much for reading/listening to the first episode of "Voice Notes"! I hope you enjoyed as much as I enjoyed doing it, it was a real pleasure being able to talk to such an amazing person and professional.

If you want to be the Know all things Raul Peñaranda follow him on Instagram:

+ @raul_penaranda https://www.instagram.com/raul_penaranda/?hl=es-la

And to watch his latest collections and how to buy them go to: https://raulpenaranda.com/

Don't forget to follow me on insta @thefakenewyorker_ and on my personal account @rosa.isabella_