Who is Ana Luisa? Tell us a bit about yourself.
Horses and fashion. I’m sure if you ask my friends and family to find two words that define me, those would be it. And they’re not far off… Those are definitely the things that make me want to wake up every morning (except for my husband…he would be mad if I didn’t add him to the list). I started riding horses when I was 3 years old; fashion came a bit later. But these two passions have made me who I am today because they both require particular skills and abilities, which I believe have come to define me over the years. While horseback riding and polo, my two preferred equine sports, require unrelenting dedication, discipline, and resilience; fashion requires creativity, vision, and innovation. Furthermore, to me, these two passions are intertwined, they feed off each other and make me a better designer and polo player. For example, the times when I’m riding horses, or even just in the stables, are when I get most inspired and get the best ideas. On the other hand, I have used my fashion skills to design my team’s uniform, my horses’ saddle blankets, and my polo mallets, which make me feel confident every time I ride into the field.
Tell us a little bit about your career path.
I studied Design at Los Andes University here in Bogota, and have been doing fashion internships and Summer Courses around the world ever since I can remember. I worked with Kika Vargas for almost five years as her Brand Director and it was the most spectacular experience I’ve ever had. Afterwards, I wanted a more commercial experience, so I started working at Falabella as Head Designer for Basement, their most successful brand. For the past year, I have been Creative Director at Encantadore. Additionally, throughout all the years in which I’ve been advising emerging Latin American brands, I have also developed my own raw leather accessories-focused brand, called ThePacayal.
Could you tell us about what you’ve been doing at Encantadore.
With Malagon Group we have been giving Encantadore a whole new identity and it has been the most exciting ride. As a Creative Director, I’ve had the opportunity of not only creating the collections but also renovating “Casa Encantadore”, the brand’s store, and helping the marketing team with new strategies to communicate the new Encantadore.
How does your creative signature blend with Encantadore’s aesthetic, and what has been the most challenging aspect of this integration?
I have always been inspired by vintage pieces and history; I can say I’m a culture junkie. Which is Encantadore as well: a “vintage” yet contemporary brand inspired by Italian nostalgia. so, since the beginning I knew our creative paths would align. The most challenging aspect for me was designing swimwear; this was my first time designing these types of pieces and it was a huge challenge but I loved it. My motto has always been making my client feel great with what I design and designing swimwear was the next step I had to take.
Tell me about the projects you’re most proud of and why.
When I think about projects that made me proud I instantly think about Kika Vargas and the LVMH Prize, it was the most fulfilling adventure I’ve been a part of. Having the opportunity to design a dress that was exhibited at the LVMH Foundation was the most intense and inspirational feeling I’ve had. It made me really proud to be part of Kika’s team at that moment.
Where do you find inspiration? Do you have any particular artistic movements, designers, architecture, or other sources of inspiration that you seek out?
I think the world is an open classroom; I love getting inspiration from history, architecture, music, and different cultures. I’m an eternal romantic dreamer, super obsessed with poetry as cheesy as it may sound. I’m in love with Pablo Neruda, Andres Calamaro and Gio Ponti. I’m also a very nostalgic person. In particular, I’m obsessed with all things 20s or 60s, which is why I’m always looking at past movements to inspire me.
What’s your creative process?
Everything starts with a solid concept. I am super fan of having a cohesive creative line, so I start with a concept followed by key words and a narrative about what the collection is. Then my moodboards. I’m a moodboard addict; love making them, living them. After the intro to the collection is done, then comes the drawing. I still prefer to draw with pencil and paper; as I said before, I’m a romantic. Then comes the part when you bring everything you dreamed to life; pattern making, samples, print strike offs, and “ta dahhh”: the final pieces.
What are your favorite trends in fashion, both past and present?
The Co-ords. Or sets, they have always been present.
What skills have you developed that have been pivotal during your career?
Visualization, I think, is my biggest skill. I can visualize a whole collection in my head; shapes, colors, how it will fit, and that is a blessing as a designer.
What is the worst advice you have ever received regarding your career?
The Spanish phrase “ni se te ocurra” translates to “don’t even think about trying it”. I mean, what??. Please, I beg everyone who’s reading this, ignore that and follow your dreams. If you can imagine it, you can achieve it, and you can definitely become it! Not too long ago, I was reading a book where the author said a phrase that stuck with me, “success comes in cans; failure comes in can’ts”. I’m confident that this is true, and my experience has proven me that every time someone has said “ni se te ocurra”, I work harder to prove them wrong.
What’s the biggest lesson life has taught you so far?
I think that one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of being kind to everyone you encounter. I learned this lesson the hard way. I had to leave my country when I was 18 years old to move to a place I had never been to before, Bogotá. I came from a city where everyone knew each other, and where I believed I had an established identity. But, moving alone to a new city allowed me the opportunity to reinvent myself, and I would say that even though it was hard at first and I felt isolated, treating everyone with respect and kindness allowed me to eventually make new friends, which I can basically call family now, and make of this new country my new home.