[Un]Discovers: Belinda Visag

After the end of FAT last week, we wanted to get in touch with some of our favourite designers we've seen in the show.  Belinda Visag is one of them and we're glad to have her here to answer some of our questions about herself and her views on fashion, describing to us her collection from FAT, as well as her future plans.

1. I learned from your website that your grandmother and mother are the two main influences for you to devote your career to fashion. How did they influence you in the past?

I'm inspired by photos of their youth, the way they looked, their style, a little bit classic but unique. Feminine and a Spanish influence in every detail.

2. How did Love Cliché start in Paris? 

I went to Paris and got so inspired, the idea of making a line just came into my head and so I started to work on it. I started with hand painting on fabrics and continued making the line a little bit more alternative. The process and experience I had from Love Cliché were very satisfying and a lot of fun.  So when I returned to Mexico, I started to work on Love Cliché.  My first Love Cliché  runway show in the section of new designers (in Mexico) was sponsored by Crystallized by Swarovski Elements.

3. How did you bring it to Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week?

One day a friend sent me the link for FAT and I sent my work and Vanja, who is the creator of FAT, gave me the opportunity to show my work in the show. Now in Toronto I’m introducing my line under the name Belinda Visag.

4. Can you give us more detail about the collection that you presented during Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week this year? How is it inspired and how did you put the inspiration to your design? 

The collection I showed last week is inspired by a song named, 'In the dark you tell me of a flower'. The mood for fall-winter ’10-11 is really romantic, “Waiting for a love in a nostalgic forest, full of cherries and dark flowers, alone…lost in a labyrinth.”

My proposal is a glamorous but cheeky silhouette, inspired by ballerinas; natural and poetic, fabrics full of feelings (tweeds, tulles, silk, cottons, shantung) and using a dark range of colors: black, mauve and red, details of autumnal flowers, with bows and bleeding cherries (simulating a broken heart). Also, I’ve hand painted some details in the clothes like the cherries or roses.

5. You mainly design for women. Will you think about starting a men line, or accessories line?

I would love to have an accessories and men line.  The same question had been asked by men for many times, so I’m going to start to work on it soon.

6. From my understanding, you've been to a lot of cities, showcasing your work, (ie. Paris, Toronto, and Mexico), how did each city influence you on design? 

All of them influenced me. Paris inspired me on the silhouettes: I love Parisienne esthetics. As for Toronto, it was the attitude of people and the art.  I'm very influenced by the mix of colours and textures from Mexico.  As well, I was born in that city, and there was so much that it influenced me, some of the influences I cannot even named, but culture and people are the main influence on me through the years.  I  also have Peruvian influences since my father is from Peru, so I grew up partly from a Peruvian culture.

7. If you are to compare these cities, how are they different and similar in the fashion world? Which city is by far your favourite?

That’s a difficult question, all the cities are so different and so special.

Paris is fashion all around. Mexico is in a time where the designers are making great statements and proposals. As well, the fashion industry is growing in the city, and I think the same goes with Toronto too. But I don't have a favourite city yet, maybe Paris or London: it depends in my mood. I love Toronto too,  as it makes me feel so free and I felt so comfortable when I was there. But Mexico is my Mexico, I love so many things of my home town.

8. What is it that you wish to accomplish in your fashion career? 

I wish to grow, to be part of this world, to internationalize my brand and have people identify with it and love it the way I love it.

9. Where can we purchase your line of clothing? 

For now, you can order either through email at bv@belindavisag.com or through my website www.belindavisag.com, but soon I’m going to sell them in small boutiques. I'll let you know.

Thanks a lot to Belinda for taking her time to answer these questions, and of course for her amazing sketches too!  The photos above are the Spring/Summer Collection 2010 provided by Belinda.  We would love to hear more from her in the future, about your collections in boutiques, or new collections and plans. Let us know when you're coming to Toronto next time!