SorteMaria

Photography: Karina Stefansson

SorteMaria is a collaboration between two designers, Angelo Castro and Yenni Leal. Based in Uruguay, they will be presenting their new collection at the FASHIONCLASH Festival. Their collection, inspired by the duality of the everyday and the religious life which emerges on special occasions, in the form of 'Maria', in the catholic tradition of Venezuela and Uruguay. In the collection, unique textures and shapes merge to create conceptual silhouettes through which people protect, live and transmit their beliefs.

The collection will be presented as part of the Show Programme at the SAM- Decorfabriek on Saturday the 16th of June. You can get your tickets to the show here. 


What made you realize that you wanted to work in (fashion) design?
A: I always had artistic inclinations mainly for dance and theater. When I wanted to do my specialization I found that design was the best way to communicate without being me physically.

Y:I am interested in what people can transmit with the way they are dressed as well as the process behind each project in this profession.


Why did you choose fashion?
A: Because I can express myself and tell my story without having to be physically there. I feel that with my actions, I can get to improve society a little bit.

Y: To communicate my art through different bodies and needs of human beings who choose clothes as a way of expression.

What would you say are your main achievements in your career?
A:My first achievement, was to be able to leave my country with the curiosity to explore the "world of fashion". The second achievement is that great parts of my work have excellent acceptance.

Y: The acceptance of my projects outside of my environment, the recognition of my work at a national and international level, and one of the most important part is when the client believes and supports your work. That gives you the greatest satisfaction.

Photography: Karina Stefansson

What are your sources of inspiration?
A:All my projects at a certain moment have something in common,which is the social changes that have tended several societies, from Venezuela and Uruguay.

Y: The main ones are: the human being at a social level in a macro way and at a psychological level in a micro way. All the way from socio-cultural realities to the microorganisms of the human body.

Why did you decide to participate in FASHIONCLASH 2018? 
A & Y: We follow FASHIONCLASH since last year and we think it is a great platform that breaks all barriers and shows your thinking and work to the world. We hope to learn from all the great designers and artists who will be present during the Festival.

What do you love most about (fashion) design? What are the biggest struggles faced by young designers?
A & Y:  What we like about fashion is posing the term fashion and its real meaning. We like the experience that lives with each garment each process and each statement that you make.

How would you define fashion? 
A & Y: It is something ephemeral.

What do you think are the most important issues in fashion today?
A & Y: It's effect on our reality, the care of the process of the garments and their relationship with the natural environment. From realization to  overproduction. .

How do you think fashion contributes to society, can it contribute to a better world?
A: Fashion is part of the identity of a society. Everything depends on the usefulness and the purposes with which that fashionable identity is worked on. Everything positive helps to build a better world

Y: Yes, it can contribute to improving the world. There are many ways in which fashion contributes nationally and internationally. A clear example of this, are the associations that link our profession to another one for social purposes.

Photography: Karina Stefansson

 
What challenges do you face in the design process? What are your favorite parts of the process?   A: My biggest challenge is to overcome my level of process. All stages are my favorite from the first line on paper to where that item arrives, catwalks, photos, user, museum, exhibitions.

Y: My challenges in the design process are the materialization of what I have researched and conceptualize. The most important expectation is to achieve the concept- garment-user connection. It's difficult to choose any part of the process when all of it is enjoyed, but the conceptual research and the material exploration are my favourites.

Describe your design process in one word.
A & Y: Exploration.

How would you describe the concept behind your project (for FASHIONCLASH)?
A & Y: The concept is syncretism and trying to understand and explain in my own words two great cultural phenomena that I lived, a social duality. SorteMaria is the union of two worlds. The mountain of sorte place in Venezuela where religious meet publicly to make their requests and on the other hand, religious Maria, which only shows up on special occasions under certain codes.

What inspired you?
A & Y: Religious syncretism.

How would you describe your project in three words?
A & Y: Union, versatile, origins.

What projects are you involved in at the moment? What are your next steps?
A: I work in a project called Redesign that consists in working with big design brands and carrying out a transformation and new useful life to disused materials. My future projects are going to be able to generate my entrepreneurship but above all to be able to continue to develop as a designer.

Y: In addition to participating in FC, I am participating in a local contest as well as working on the evolution of my brand betting not only on international recognition but to generate social links with different design brands in different areas.

Photography: Karina Stefansson

What are your thoughts regarding fashion and religion?
A: It is the best parallelism that exists.

Y: The first concept that comes to me as an answer is expression, from a plane of origin of being. Expression, as pure as necessary, in my social and personal choice. Fashion is that in essence and religion shares that concept.

What does your day look like during the design process?
A: My days are intense, full of energy and feelings.

Y: I go through different stages that require different creative needs. To find what will be the next inspiration and capture that process with all senses.


Who is your favorite artist?
A: Carlos cruz Diez-Venezolanano, Kleim

Y: Kandisky

Who is your favorite designer?
A: yamamoto yohji, Alexander McQueen , RICK OWENS Alexander wang, Rei Kawakubo

Y: Alexander McQueen

Instagram: ange.castro1 / yennlema