Agatha Ruiz de la Prada: Happy Fashion

By Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

Fundación Agatha Ruiz de la Prada

Agatha (1999) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada

She is the most original fashion designer in recent years. Her bold and colorful designs have made her one of the most-widely recognized designers, nationally and internationally. She was born in Madrid in 1960. She is the daughter of a famous art collector from Madrid and an aristocrat from Catalonia. Agatha studied at the School of Fashion Arts and Techniques in Barcelona.

Agatha's first collection fashion show - backstage (1981) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

Early years

At age 20, she began working as an assistant in the studio of the designer Pepe Rubio in Madrid and only one year later, she presented her first collection at LOCAL, a design center in Madrid. Shortly after, she presented one of her collections at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Madrid.

Agatha + Gloria García Lorca (1984) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

In 1982, Agatha presented a collection of costumes painted by artist Enrique Vega in Fernando Vijande's art gallery in Madrid, and two years later, she once again exhibited another collection of costumes painted this time by the artist Gloria García Lorca ( image) at Juana de Aizpuru's gallery of Madrid.

Agatha & Bidasoa (1991) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

It is precisely in the Juana de Aizpuru´s gallery that Agatha presented her first licenses: a collection of bed sheets for Burés in 1987 and collection of crokery for Bidasoa (image) in 1991.

Agatha for President's Fashion Show (1985) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

Her first fashion shows are also presented in equally artistic and original places, such as in the Real Atarazanas or in the Borne Market in Barcelona; ​​in the Madrid Railway Museum (image); or in the San Telmo Museum of San Sebastián, where she presented a collection tribute to her most admired fashion designer, Cristobal Balenciaga.

Paris Backstage (1994) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

Her international projection begins in 1986 at the SYGMA Festival in Bordeaux where she presented a collection with other Spanish designers from La Movida. Later she will present fashion shows in solitary in Berlin (1989), Osaka (1990) and Kyoto (1992). At her first fashion show in Paris fashion week (image) Agatha presents a collection of 150 original dresses at the Museum of Modern Art.

Three Sisters - Santander (1985) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

"La Movida"

During the 80s, Spain was immersed in an authentic artistic and cultural revolution, "La Movida", which saw the birth of some of the most relevant artists and personalities of the Spanish landscape today. The young Agatha became one of the most important promoters of the movement and since then she has remained very active in the cultural and artistic scene of the countr

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Interview La Movida Madrileña (1985) by PBSAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

Rothko Collection (2013) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

Influences

Agatha has manifested the great impact that American Abstract Expressionism has had on her, especially Rothko's painting with which she discovered the qualities and nuances of color. "I love American abstraction. My logo is a bit Rothkian and I did it that way because I was a Rothko fan since I was 17 years old".

Tribute to Surrealism (2009) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

"Surrealism? I have a son who, among other reasons, is called Tristan after Tristan Tzara. I love Elsa Schiaparelli, but I prefer things with less meaning... It is true that I like fuchsia like Schiaparelli, and the surrealist's lip and heart, yes. And I would like to have the connections that Coco Chanel had with Diaghilev, Jean Cocteau, the Serts..."

Tribute to Andy Warhol dress (2003) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

"When I was in Paris and saw the exhibition 'Les années Pop' at the Pompidou, I said to myself: 'I am a daughter of Pop art... I am an absolute Warholian'."

Journée Internationale des Femmes. Hôtel de Ville, Paris. (2003) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

Collaborations

Agatha has collaborated with different private companies and public organizations realizing the designs of uniforms, costumes and scenographies for theater, opera and dance shows, as well as city Christmas lighting, playgrounds, theme parks, murals, gardens, event posters...

"Absolut Ruiz de la Prada" fashion show (1996) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

Agatha was the first European designer to become part of the international fashion collection of The Absolut Company. The Absolut Ruiz de la Prada collection was presented in Madrid, Stockholm, Miami and Punta del Este.

Backstage with Christopher Makos (1994) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

She has worked with artists from different fields. In 1994 she edited a book with the photographer Christopher Makos (image), collaborator of Andy Warhol, on the photographs that Makos made of Agatha's fashion show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Paris.

Chillida dress I (1996) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

It is worth noting the collection of dresses made in 1996, a Tribute to Eduardo Chillida with the close collaboration of the famous Spanish sculptor.

Agatha + Pep Guerrero (1999) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

She worked with the Majorcan painter Pep Guerrero (image) fusing fashion and painting in recycled everyday objects, as well as with other artists such as designers Luis Galliussi & Philippe Andrieux, photographer Ciuco Gutierrez...

Agatha + ORLAN Self-Hybridation (2009) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

She has collaborated in the artistic project Self-Hybridations of the French artist ORLAN (image), and with other artists such as Nicole Herzog, Karim Rashid, Enrico Bertelli...

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada + Chicote Exhibition (2013) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

She has even collaborated with famous Spanish Chef Alberto Chicote designing his chef jackets.

Agatha + Greenpeace dress (2006) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

Socially Engaged Artist

Agatha is an artist committed to various social and environmental campaigns around the world. Each year, she participates in projects aimed at environmental conservation and education, prevention and fundraising campaigns in the health field, and initiatives to directly help individuals and groups at risk of exclusion.

Poster of Al Gore's Climate Project in Spain, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, 2007, From the collection of: Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation
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Corazón - Frimousses UNICEF, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, 2009, From the collection of: Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation
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Agatha #ÉCHALEFLORES Campaign, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, 2016, From the collection of: Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation
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Products (2017) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

Present

Since 1986 and with the help of the best manufacturers, the brand that bears her name has been progressively developing and expanding its production branches with fashion accessories, ceramic coverings, household items, books, pet accessories, perfumes items and stationery, and many other products.

Agatha vs. Agatha Exhibition in Brazil (2013) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

Her designs transcend the world of catwalks exhibiting her masterpieces in important art galleries and museums of different cities of the world.

Stores (2017) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

Agatha opened her first studio-store in Madrid in 1982. Her products can be found at her store in Madrid and online, as well as in multi-brand stores in more than 150 countries.

Dress selection at the Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation (2017) by Agatha Ruiz de la PradaAgatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

In 2011, the Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation was created, where an important representation of her work Agatha is preserved through its more than thirty years of history in the world of fashion and creativity, in order to catalog, conserve and spread her impressive documentary legacy.

Credits: Story

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada: Happy Fashion

Photos:
Pablo Hojas
J.Peraita
Christopher Makos
Ugo Camera
ORLAN
Luis Hevia
Santiago Esteban
Estudio Agatha Ruiz de la Prada

Vídeos:
De la cuenta de Youtube de My Old VHS TapesVinylCassettes (Fragmento del documental «Spain: 10 Years After» de PBS, 1985).

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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