PACO VARELA

When you think about your business, what are you most proud of?

I am very proud of the fact that I put it all together myself and everything that is sold there is also designed by me.

What is the history of your commerce?

I opened this shop on 1 August 2011 as a multi-brand shop for young alternative designers. I started designing T-shirts and I had a rack with my designs. In 2014 I made a tailor-made dinner jacket for Hugo Silva for the Goya awards and from then on, tailoring and red carpets have not been separated from the firm. When I was 4 years old the whole shop was Paco Varela and today it ranges from t-shirts and sweatshirts for boys and girls to shirts and tailoring for men.

What is your professional experience?

I studied fine arts and fashion at the School of Arts in Cadiz. I worked for 2 years as head of menswear at Zara (Madrid). I was assistant to the designer Alexandra Moura (Lisbon) and when I returned in 2011 I opened the shop in Malasaña. I have designed costumes for theatre (La Llamada by Los Javis) and also for film. I have dressed Alejandro Sanz, David Bisbal, Manuel Carrasco or Álvaro Morte, among others and I designed the costume that Alfred García wore at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 representing Spain with Amaia.

How has covid 19 affected your business?

I had to close for 2 months and the online shop has been what has kept me going. Its a bit slower now than before COVID but its still going better than I expected.

What services and products does your business provide?

T-shirts and sweatshirts for boys and girls. Unisex shirts. Collection and made-to-measure tailoring with values of sustainability and commitment to labour and production rights.