Slow fashion designer, Daniela Salazar, stands for modern style with purpose and a conscience. Her colourful, timeless handcrafted pieces boast a feminine touch and a sustainable heart. We sat down with Daniela to speak all things inspiration, design and fashion – and why consumers should care how it’s made…
Globalisation has shown us the living and working conditions of the people who produce our clothes and the damage that production does to our environment. As consumers, we need to be aware of the actual “price” of a garment and how it’s made, and demand fairer production because what we choose to buy has a big impact on the changes we see in the fashion industry.
It's important to take time to decide which pieces you really need and what kind of people and businesses you are going to support. At the same time, we need to value and take care of the garments we already own. Overall, we need to change the way we look at our clothes without contributing to the mountains of waste or exploitation of people.
This can be really varied: architecture, art, photography, sculptures, a good book and fashion from the 50's and 60's, as well as ideas from the places I’ve lived and women I’ve met. My designs always end up having a common minimalist and feminine aesthetic. I also try to find a balance between expressing myself and creating practical clothes for women, which reflect their style, personality and culture. I like to mix these ideas with my love for colour, which comes from my Venezuelan roots, to obtain an easygoing feeling.
My creative process has changed with time. I used to produce two collections a year. Now I do fewer collections and instead add a few new pieces or colour options each season, so it’s become a more natural process. I save inspirations during the year, study which pieces are missing or need to be improved and which colours can be added. In terms of timing, it depends on the piece, but it usually takes me a few weeks to design something completely new.
For me, it’s not only important to find fabric that I like, but also a company that complies with the highest environmental and social standards. I work with local European suppliers, mostly from Germany, but also from Romania, Spain, the Netherlands and France. Since the first collections, a few of my favourites are hemp and cotton. Lately, I’ve decided to add deadstock fabrics — textiles left over after production. They offer exclusive materials with unique colours and textures, while also keeping fabric out of landfills by giving it a second chance.
It is always hard to choose, because I put a lot of work into each piece. I would say that one of my favourites is the „Paloma“ top. It really represents my personal style, it is very simple, but it hides a complex architectural construction. The „Park“ pullovers are the perfect basic that I always wanted in my wardrobe. It's a simple shape with beautiful colours. I also love that it's made of hemp which makes it a vegan fashion option for knitwear.
I strongly recommend to always wash slow fashion items in cold water and line-dry. Not only is this better for the environment, it also improves the lifetime of garments. Repairing is also an important part of an item’s life. The more we love our clothes and care for them, the longer they last. That's why I started adding a sample of the fabric with every piece bought to encourage the new owner to take care and repair them when necessary.
“It isn't enough just looking for quality in the products we buy, we must ensure that there is quality in the lives of the people who make them”.
Image credits:
All images: Courtesy of Daniela Salazar