Well, August came and left us in one fabulous whirlwind. Within the madness was a shoot that left us all thoroughly inspired. May I introduce you to Josefina V, a Chilean chica who designs and makes clothing for the notorious Zoo Project. This season Josefina has started her own label, a collection that will look great with your favourite pair of dancing shoes. Josefina V debuts with her colourful body-con collection ‘Love is all, a mix of vintage, animal print and futuristic lycra and lace one pieces to set your summer parties on fire. We set up camp in a beautiful villa built into the mountains to shoot this hot new designer. We had the Smack girls on makeup and hair and Maria Simon had the camera and I got chatting to Josefina about her collection…
How did you come to reside on the White Isle?
I came three years ago to do my first season, and it was love at first sight. Then, after living in London for seven months, I decided to come back for the summer and stay in the winter, this was when I started again to get involved with design, working for The Minx Fx event stylist, making costumes and was then when I realize that fashion design is my passion. If you work hard and believe in yourself, you really can make things happen here. The island really does get into your heart, making it quite difficult to leave the White Isle!
Your pieces are very disco, what is your inspiration when you are designing?
I love to mix different types of fabrics, and a combination of colors and shapes. I think that my main inspiration is contrasts. I want my clothes to make an impact. I am always thinking about the sensuality of the woman’s body. In the different themes in my collection you can see a variety of designs and inspirations, from vintage to futuristic. Sometimes I just improvise, cut, put things together and start sewing and wait for the result. Everything that I do, I bring my feline side along with different experiences of my life, for example, places I have visited and interesting people that I have met along the way.
What kind of woman do you see wearing your clothes?
The main idea of my brand is sharing my way of life, experiences and what I believe. I try to express feelings and a message in my clothes. My clothes are for women that feel free and secure to express themselves. I want to bring out their sexy side; I would like for my clothes to make each woman feel comfortable when all eyes are on them. My designs are made to shine, for a woman that is proud to be different and stand out from the crowd, laugh and have fun, with no worries, just happiness.
I think your pieces would be great for the dancers in Ibiza, do you see your collections being worn in the clubs?
Definitely. The main idea of this first collection is bodysuits for dancers, but mixed with fashion, something different and not the same old school costumes that we still see sometimes in the clubs. I want to get the fashion involved, making the dancers look sexy and on trend. I want to take the dance costumes to the next level. However, I also feel my clothes are accessible to a wide range of girls, not just those who dance attend the parties.
Talk me through your fabric choices and different stories/ looks in your collection?
For this first collection of bodysuits, I named the collection ‘Love is all’, I have three different themes and different designs. The first one is vintage inspired, it’s a girly and soft look, going for a pin up style – a mix of red, black lace and floral print, with lots of frills. I have another theme in this collection that is Fluor leopard, with different types of colourful lycras, mixed with fluor lace and leopard, lots of V cuts, strapless and bright colours, more a summer look that gives light to the tan skin, really unique, sexy and original pieces. And last but not least is the futuristic theme; it’s an edgy, strong and futuristic look. For these designs I used black Lycra combined with details in gold, silver and many metallic colours. Also using lots of geometric shapes, with character, a perfect fit for the body and specifically for the dancers.
Where do you see your brand in ten years?
In this moment I am living my dream, developing my talents and starting my career in Ibiza as a Fashion Designer with my brand Josefina V, I could not be more happy, excited and I am very thankful for my friends that have supported and helped me. I am in the thinking that we have to live life now, make our hopes and dreams in the present, everything is there, we just have to open our eyes and listen to ourselves because we are well equipped to do anything, we just have to believe in ourselves. In ten years I hope to see my brand Josefina V grow outside of Ibiza and be worn by everyone that shares my vision of life; have a life of love and live your life for love.