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PROFILE

Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada's interview

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada (Madrid, 1960) began her career in fashion in Madrid in 1981, with the presentation of her first collection in Local, a Design Centre.

In the early 80s she opened her studio-store in Madrid, located at No.8, Marqués de Riscal Street. During this decade she held her first fashion shows in Barcelona and exhibited painted outfits and drawings in a number of art galleries in the Spanish capital. A leading figure in Madrid's trendy set, Agatha was involved in a vast number of cultural events during these years, including the rock concert-fashion show entitled Agatha for President, held at the Madrid's Railway Museum. In 1986 she participated in her first collective fashion show in France, and also began to design a range of accessories including espadrilles and tights.

In 1988 she participated in Madrid's fashion week Pasarela Cibeles for the first time ever and also presented her collection at Milan's Fashion Show.

Early in 1990, Agatha presented her series entitled Trajes Inacabados (Unfinished Outfits) in Berlin and Madrid, before going on to Osaka to present an original collection of Agatha-style kimonos which she called Lady from Spain.

From 1992, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada began to licence her trademark. Manufacturers were now authorised to produce, distribute, market and sell products bearing the Agatha Ruiz de la Prada trademark in Spain and abroad, not only in the European Union but also in the rest of the world. Sales of these products are made through a network of local representatives, each with their own independent distribution policy.

In 1995, she set up a collaboration agreement with El Corte Inglés department stores with a collection of children's wear. This was to be followed by further collections of women's wear, fashion jewellery, curtains, tablecloths and a wide range of other products.

In 1997 she presented her first men and women's sleepwear collection at the Gaudí fashion show, launched her second perfume and designed a ceramics line for Pamesa and a range of chairs for Amat 3. She also participated in a collective fashion show in Washington.

In 1998 she presented the fashion show entitled Canarias, Paraíso de las Flores (The Canaries, the Flower Paradise) at the Louvre's Carrousel and her wall tile bride's dress at the IVAM (Valencia Institute of Modern Art). She continued with her work in interior decorating and designed her first stationery, leather goods and bag collections.

Since 2000 she has attended all the editions of Pitti Imagine Bimbo, in Florence, where, in addition to presenting her children's collections, she is the only non-Italian designer invited to show her creations on the catwalk. In 2001 Agatha also designed new product lines for the children's market, including babycare and layette items, fancy dress and toys.

In 2002 she presented her first collections of baby clothes and footwear, women's and girl's footwear and aromatic candles.

During this year Agatha has launched her first ever menswear collections, which she presented at the Gaudí Fashion Show (Barcelona), and continues to commercialize new and original product lines, including paddle rackets, sticking plaster, pet accessories, fans and gold and silver articles.

Agatha opened her first store in Oporto in May. Further stores in Milan and Madrid are also scheduled to open in the autumn. Since the beginning of the year Agatha's products are now also available in the USA, Latin America and Korea.

Since 2000 Agatha Ruiz de la Prada's itinerant retrospective exhibition has visited several major cities including Madrid, Bordeaux, Majorca and Las Palmas. It will shortly be travelling to Lisbon and Marseilles.