In New York, she experienced the thrill of being called by a major fashion house that praised her brilliant work; however, at the same time, she felt the disappointment of being rejected for that very creativity, making her understand that her French style was not very viable. This harsh blow did not knock her down; instead, it led her to rework her portfolio in just one week and enter that market with more force, working for Luis del Olio (Anne Klein).

Two decades have passed, and Olga has a full career as a creator and a citizen of the world, so we are honored that our special guest tells us all about her experience, from her years in New York to the most recent Fashion Week Panama.

What does a teenager learn in the two fashion capitals? No one took my aspirations to study design seriously, but I grew up and my answer remained very categorical until it took shape and I moved to Paris. My aptitude for drawing led me to be promoted directly to the second year of university, where more than 400 students started and only 20 ended up graduating. At the end of my training, I already had my first employment contract with a very renowned designer in Paris on the table, but I rejected it to do a master's degree in Fashion Business in New York. There, I interned with Oscar de la Renta and began my professional career.

How have you been able to apply the influence of so many cultures in your designs? We are the result of our experiences. Everything I experienced in New York, Paris, Mexico, South Africa, Barcelona, Argentina, Panama… is undoubtedly reflected in everything I do, especially in my designs.

In Panama, my inspiration is Casco Viejo: a magical place, full of wonderful corners where one can get lost in time.

This mix of cultures and colors has led me to create fashion that combines the clean forms of my European essences with the more elaborate tones and details of the cultures I have lived with.

What is design for Olga Recio? I am a very creative person, and at the same time, very grounded, with my feet firmly on the earth. I believe that design must be accompanied by professionalism and training. I don't believe in designing theatrical pieces that one cannot wear, because I think that—for people with creativity—it is very easy to let the imagination fly, but controlled creativity must be used to create sufficiently interesting pieces that are also feasible to wear. Designing with coherence is more difficult because many technical aspects must be considered, and the bulk of the collection must undergo an exhaustive analysis, piece by piece, to find the correct balance between design, quality, and practicality.

How have you evolved in 25 years of career? I remember my first accessory: shoes for Anne Klein. I refused to design accessories, but after seeing what I had achieved, I started to enjoy it and finally loved it. This has been a journey of growth. Olga Recio designs today for the modern woman, a mother and executive at the same time, dynamic, active, and versatile… That woman who understands and appreciates quality, who recognizes the nobility of materials, and must be comfortable, practical, elegant, and unique at the same time.

Source: AUNO Magazine