PEDRO DEL HIERRO


“I believe in a dialogue between past and present,” explains Carmen March, the creative director of Pedro del Hierro. “It gives an intellectual tension to the collections that feels, somehow, timeless.”

This exchange is evident in the collections helmed by March ever since she joined the Cortefiel Group in 2012, marking a new era for the popular Spanish label.

Legendary Madrileño couturier Pedro del Hierro established his presence in the European fashion scene early in his career. With experience working for designer Manuel Pertegaz in Paris and studying at Madrid’s Ateneo Politécnico, he showed his first collection in 1974. By 1976, he was considered a “master” and joined the prestigious Chamber of Haute Couture. Today, his namesake prêt-à-porter collections are sold all over the world, with March now at the creative reins.

March’s path to fashion was a bit unconventional, initially studying history and geography at university. When she decided to formally study fashion design, she thought the process was too slow and went straight to working with various designers and in different ateliers. Eventually, she launched her own reputable namesake label. When she moved on after twelve years, the Cortefiel Group quickly courted her.

March took a while to accept the position because of her reticence about working not only for someone else’s brand but also for one owned by a large industrial group. However, the transition has been positive, and it wasn’t difficult to incorporate her own æsthetic with the brand’s heritage.

“I must say, I have complete creative liberty, and the muscle of such a big company is very welcome,” March says.

Spanish culture is at the base of every collection. Fall 2014 is particularly inspired by the Existentialist Spanish writer Carmen Laforet, author of the Premio Nadal–winning novel Nada.

Nada is about this woman who decides, very young, to leave home and start a new life in a big city,” March explains. “She is wearing a borrowed oversized coat, since it’s the end of a civil war, and is over- flowing with a strong feeling of hope and excitement. We have that feeling right now in Spain, after almost six years of depression.”

The collection captures this sense of renewal and strength with bold, voluminous silhouettes, striking textures and patterns, and optimistic pops of color. The woman who wears these clothes is courageously in complete control of her new life—a fitting ideal for the revived Spanish label.

For more information, please visit PedrodelHierro.com.

Alexandra Sarabia is a freelance writer and assistant brand coordinator for New York-based innovative knitwear label, KOTOBA.

Styling by Zara Zachrisson at CLM. Makeup by Ozzy Salvatierra at Streeters. Hair by Rita Marmor at Streeters. Model: Josephine Skriver at The Society Management. Manicure by Roseann Singleton. Photography production by Pawel Walicki. Photographer’s assistant: Paul Park. Stylist’s assistant: Xenia Settel. Digital technician: Clare Chong. Production assistant: Miguel Quintero.

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