Adolfo Sanchez

Adolfo Sanchez

By Aziza Shaban & Kristina Dmitrieva

Though Adolfo Sanchez originally hails from Orange County, you will not find any traces of a laid-back beach mentality in his designs.

Bunker Hill: What is your educational and professional background and how did it prepare you for a career in fashion? What first drew you to fashion and to making your own line?

Adolfo Sanchez: When I was about 15 or 16 years old, I started to really get into the art of fashion. My primary group of friends were largely interested in several of the fashion houses; through their influence, I got my first taste of the who’s who of fashion. I remember them showing me runway shows from designers like Thierry Mugler and Vivienne Westwood. Later on I began working in retail and soon I worked for some of the larger fashion houses like Gucci, and Versace. In early 2006 I decided that I wanted to design and really explore pursuing a career in the industry. Prior to pursuing my interest in fashion; I was just a rebellious teenager that was intrigued by underground aspects of art/fashion/music and exploring the latest trends. I always experimented with what I wore and enjoyed standing out from the crowd.

Bunker Hill: What is your design philosophy?

Adolfo Sanchez: I’m not someone that believes that there should be a look that you must have. I don’t like the idea that every season those who are in fashion will tend to have the same look because of trends or what’s hot at that time. I love being an individual and don’t like to look like everybody else. I enjoy people who have their own personal take on fashion/style and take their own taste to be able to demonstrate who they are in this world. I have always loved fashion and truly believe that it is wearable art and think one should be free to wear or create anything we love regardless of what’s current.

Bunker Hill: What kind of person/celebrity do you imagine wearing your clothes?

Adolfo Sanchez: I like dressing woman that are in full control of their style; when she actually wears the garment instead of the garment wearing her. If I had to pick a person/celebrity that I would love to work with i would say the always amazing Grace Jones!!

Bunker Hill: What is your proudest achievement?

Adolfo Sanchez: This intricate lace evening gown made up of 67 yards of fabric that I ruffled from the waist down. It’s definitely one of my favorite pieces because of the amount of time I spent to get it done, in addition to how I happy I was with the final result.

Bunker Hill: What advice would you give to a fashion newbie or student wishing to become a designer?

Adolfo Sanchez: That they need patience, dedication, perseverance, thick skin, and creativity with an understanding of wear ability. I also think that in order to be a designer you should have the knowledge of how to construct a garment from scratch. You should know the process that begins with the idea in your mind to the finished product that is ready for a client to wear.

Bunker Hill: What’s the hardest thing about launching your own label?

Adolfo Sanchez: I am a perfectionist so my main discrepancy is that sometimes I feel there is not enough hours in the day to make sure every aspect of the business is running as efficiently as I expect it to.

Bunker Hill: What do you wish you had known before entering the fashion industry?

Adolfo Sanchez: It felt like it was a disadvantage being young in the beginning when I was first trying to get into the industry because it felt like nobody was really taking me serious. It might have been because I was young or new or both. Like any other industry you have to prove to everybody that you really want it and that you really have what it takes. I now like the idea of being a young designer because I feel that now people look to my work and not my age that is how I believe it should be.

Bunker Hill: What inspires you?

Adolfo Sanchez: This season I wanted to create a dark collection that’s aesthetic was wearable for woman from east to west. Initially it began with the idea of lace and then after bringing the concept of a Victorian Goth collection together the lace was only used as a mask. I always love combining soft and hard details together for example we had dresses with a leather bustier inspired bodice and chiffon skirts.

Bunker Hill: Tell me about the signature look of new collection…

Adolfo Sanchez: Wool and fur were some of the other textiles that played a big role in this collection. Overall the collection looks soft and feminine but still incorporates details that very much let people know who I am as a designer.

Bunker Hill: Which fashion designers do you admire the most and what do you love about their work?

Adolfo Sanchez: Always and forever the work of McQueen will always be the ultimate definition of wearable art in my eyes....and so many of the big houses I love. I have followed the work of Gaultier and Galliano since I was 15 or 16. I think one of the most amazing and inspirational is Thierry Mugler. I was and still am fascinated with the way that he would transform a women and a women's silhouette. Another of my favorites is Cristobal Balenciaga.

Bunker Hill: What can we expect to see from you in the future?

Adolfo Sanchez: I’m happy to say that I will be in Paris this upcoming September during fashion week. The trailer to my first film that I styled and custom created for has just come out. For the time being this is all I can really say as the rest is still in the development phases but believe me when I tell you that there is so much more to come

Bunker Hill: Where can shoppers buy your designs, offline and online?

Adolfo Sanchez: You can find them online at
- Sicaria www.sicaria.com
- Not Just a Label www.notjustalabel.com
- Global Fashion Brands www.globalfashionbrands.com
- Vespoe www.vespoe.com

You can also find my designs in locations around California
- Novecento
8002 e coast hwy
Newport coast, CA 92657 USA
949.715.1700
- Style Haus
7950 west sunset blvd 312
Los Angeles, CA 90046 usa
310.359.8663
- La Maison de Fashion
7471 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046 USA
323.658.8008
- Coy Boutique
1000 Bristol Street North 12
Newport Beach, CA 92660 USA
949.200.7329
- On Que Style
2900 east coasr hwy
Corona del mar, CA 92625 USA
949.717.7795
Or visit our SHOWROOM (by appointment only)
Adolfo Sanchez
931 East Pico blvd 410-103
Los Angeles, CA 90021 USA
877.550.5258

 

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