ACME continues to grow with the incorporation of three author fashion brands: Varela, a benchmark in women’s fashion; Magrit, which becomes the first footwear brand to join the Association, and Mans, a young brand that strongly breaks into the menswear fashion market. With their arrival, the Association reaffirms its commitment to gather designers from different fields under its acronym, in order to fully represent the fashion creation sector in our country. ACME currently has 76 associates, among which are the main Spanish fashion design companies.
FELIPE VARELA is one of the most recognized names in Spanish women’s fashion. The fashion designer trained at the collage ESMOD in Paris and, after passing through the ateliers of relevant firms such as Thierry Mugler, Kenzo, Dior and Lanvin, in 1994 he established his fashion firm in Madrid, where he created his eponymous signature brand. Two years later he debuted in the then called Pasarela Cibeles, confirming himself as one of the essential creators of the national fashion scene. Currently, his firm is going through a new stage away from the runways, very focused on international sales and expansion. It has 46 points of sale in Spain and three corners in El Corte Inglés department stores, as well as presence in multi-brand stores in the US, the Middle East, China and different countries in Europe. Recently Varela has become part of an international sales showroom based in London and Paris.
MAGRIT is a family business in Elda with a unique legacy. Founded in 1929 by José Amat, the brand, then called Margarita, opened the first artisan atelier for luxury footwear in the province of Alicante. In the 50s, the founder’s son began an ambitious process of international expansion through Europe and the US, a plan confirmed by the incorporation into the family business of José and Manolo Amat, the third generation. The decade of the 90’s is key in the internationalization of the already renowned Magrit, which initiates business plans in Asian countries. Currently, under the creative direction of Pepe Amat, great-grandson of the founder, the company has more than 200 employees, 85% of whom are skilled artisans, who create the famous MAGRIT shoes in Elda. Signature brand of the most influential women in the country, Magrit is going through a new stage in which it seeks to adapt to the new paradigms of global fashion markets, highlighting the successful collaboration with Juan Vidal.
MANS is the firm directed by Jaime Álvarez. From an early age, this young Sevillian creator became interested in fashion, beginning his training as a designer at IED in Madrid. His final thesis was the origin of his own menswear fashion brand Mans, which was established in 2017. Dedicated to prêt-à-porter and made-to-measure tailoring for men, his work is infused with influences that blend the classicism of Saville Row tailor ateliers with Japanese clothing techniques. All this with a very avant-garde aesthetic that bets on innovation regarding pattern making and fabrics. Mans fuses youth culture with classic men’s tailoring, a constant set of opposites that result in a balanced and comprehensive proposal that reviews traditional approaches to men’s fashion. The fashion brand is currently preparing its debut on the official Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid schedule, where the new collection will be presented on January 28th.[:]
