NICOLAS MARTIN GARCIA TALKS BRINGING COLOMBIAN CULTURE TO THE MILAN FASHION SCENE
GARCIAS is a fashion brand that stems from the roots of it’s founder Nicolas Martin Garcia’s love for his home country Colombia. Influenced by black & brown culture, GARCIAS is a love letter to the little brown boys all over the world, paired with the freshest designs and quality fabric that can only be made in Italy. We sat down with the designer to learn more about his passion and how he plans on disrupting the fashion scene in Milan and very soon America.
FEATURE INTERVIEW:
TELL US WHERE DID THE NAME OF THE BRAND ORIGINATE FROM.
GARCIAS, comes from the union of my two surnames GARCIA and SALAS, when I
created the brand I was looking for something that immediately sounded LATIN and
was immediate.
HOW ARE YOU DISRUPTING FASHION AS A COLOMBIAN DESIGNER LIVING
IN ITALY?
Today in Milan, unlike New York and Paris, there are no large companies or brands
that have Latino power at their base. This is why my need with this brand was
born. The way I use to be in this system is my story telling and
aesthetics.
I have a strong aesthetic, very visual, but above all very consistent with me. I love black culture, tattoos, Latin beauty, gold, jewels, 2pac, reggaetón, the list goes on. It’s through This is what I hope to break the mold.
WHO ARE YOUR FASHION HEREOS?
Jean Paul Gautier, he did everything before everybody. 2pac, it’s my reference in terms of style. Riccardo Tisci, during his time at Givenchy he managed to create a similar aesthetic in a historically elegant city like Paris, which is something I hope to succeed in Milan.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INTO FASHION WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST
JOBS IN THE INDUSTRY?
I was never one of those children who dreamed of being a stylist. I got there after a
moment of deep analysis. In truth, I dreamed of being a profiler (one who studies
serial killers) then I started to understand that my mind when creates, it’s exactly
like those maps we see in movies that connect images and information.
Then life always puts you in the place where you are destined, and at the age of 23
it gave me the opportunity to start as a menswear designer in Dolce & Gabbana,
learning from a master like Mr. Domenico Dolce.
WHAT IS THE BRAND ETHOS?
Garcias is where sexy means inclusive and open–minded. Where looking good and feeling good is for oneself – not for others. Where clothes are about freedom and radical self-acceptance.
Garcias wants to be a lifestyle aesthetic & more than just a brand. Garcias is the maximalist expression of the beauty of Latin culture, through a futurist vision, with typical elements of Italian art mixed with American musical and cinematographic references.
TELL US ABOUT THE ANGEL COLLECTION.
The image of the black angel was born while in Paris. I took a photo of the celebrity hair stylist Ricky Mota, who had braids and was blond. And I started to think about the fact that in our culture, angels are always blond and white… so I thought what if finally, a young boy, could see that it is also possible that angels are of a different race.
Finally, those black families whose children were killed due to racism saw a symbol… the rest came by itself.
ALOT OF BRANDS ARE TAKING ON THIS AESTHETIC OF CHOLO GANGSTA VIBE THAT WE SOMETIMES ASSOCIATE WITH THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY. HOW ARE YOU DISPLAYING THIS IN A WAY TO EMBRACE THE COMMUNITY?
I feel part of this movement, with the difference that I also put my Italian side into it, also Roman aesthetics and Hellenic culture, and above all the quality of “Made in Italy”. GARCIAS is for everyone, but definitely for my community. To celebrate it, and above all make it known in many countries.
YOU HAVE HAD EVERYONE FROM MALUMA TO KAROL G WEAR YOUR CLOTHING. HOW HAS THAT HELPED YOUR BRAND GROW WITH OTHER CELEBS AND INCREASE CLIENT RETURN?
It was a blessing from heaven, together with hard work. I believe that today
characters like Karol, Maluma and Manuel are a very clear message to those
people who until some time ago thought that only drug trafficking came from
Colombia.
Today they are money drivers and makers. Today they are chosen by big
brands because they allow a name to be known to a very large audience. For
GARCIAS, they allowed to create interest and above all credibility, and bring many
customers who were looking for the looks worn by them. To them but above all to
their stylists, I owe this sort of baptism into the Latin world.
HOW CAN GENERAL CUSTOMER GET THE PRODUCT HOW DOES CUSTOM WORK?
Today we are only online. We have decided to launch the first drop of the intro collection, but we are working to position ourselves in some key stores for the market in America.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF THE BRAND?
I can’t choose, they are all my kids. I need to love them in the same way.
AS A LATIN X DESIGNER HOW DOES YOUR CULTURE SHOW UP IN EACH DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION FOR BRAND?
It’s simple, I try to insert references in different ways. In the design for example, I used Daiky Gamboa who’s a Colombian DJ photographed by Gato Rivero, a Colombian photographer inside a shirt.
In communication and marketing, I always try to use models who have a mix of cultures, including Latin or Black. But I think it shows a lot because my aesthetic is passionate and decorative. I am obsessed with printed silk shirts, jewelry, bulls and they are all elements of the Latin world.
HOW ARE YOU GIVING BACK TO COLOMBIA AND SOUTH AMERICA WITH EACH COLLECTION?
Quoting, celebrating, talking about it and trying to work with artists from my country to give them the opportunity to make themselves known.
WHAT YOUR DREAM SHOW LOCATION?
The “comuna13” in Medellin, my goal is bringing big press and buyers to Colombia.
WHO IS YOUR CURRENT MUSE?
I am not going to lie, my boyfriend, he’s black, he’s Latino, he loves Italy, he embraces
my American storytelling and he has a good style. People say he’s the real reference behind the brand.
LEAVE US WITH SOME ADVICE.
Trust in the process, in the universe, in God if you believe in it but above all in yourself. Share, because we live better in a world where everyone learns something from each other. And be loyal to yourself, to the people who supported you and above all to those who love you.
TEAM CREDITS:
Editor In Chief: Prince Chenoa (@princechenoastudio)
Feature Editor: Taylor Winter Wilson (@taylorwinter)
Photographer: Raffaele Grosso (@raffgrosso)
Styling: #NICOLASMARTINGARCIA
Model: Fadel Ndiaye (@cest_le_fad)
Model: Ricky Mota (@rickymotahair)
