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PROFILE

Custo Dalmau'a interview

The brothers Custodio and David Dalmau began their fashion careers in the early eighties. In just a short space of time they had managed to create a brand image thanks to their original and innovative style. The experience they gained during those early years, both in design and in sales and management, proved invaluable when, in 1996, they faced the tremendous challenge involved in creating their own brand name. Custo Barcelona.

The decision to sell their collections on the American market, which at the time was open to new ideas, produced excellent results and marked the first stage of a highly successful career. Their T-shirts soon attracted the attention of stylists and television and film directors, who chose them for some of the leading actors and actresses of the day. They were also captivated by the colourful Custo style, resulting in a phenomenon that the North American media termed Customania.

News of the revolution caused by these young designers soon came to the attention of the organisers of the New York Fashion Week, who invited them to present their collections for the first time during the Spring-Summer 1997 season. Their first fashion show caused a major impact on an audience accustomed to the minimalist greys and blacks that were the order of the day. The intense colour schemes of their garments, the careful combination of fabrics and their bold designs attracted the attention of the North American journalists, who featured their collections on the pages of the major fashion magazines. This constant presence in the press and on television boosted the firm's sales in the USA, and led to a growing interest in the brand on the European and Asian markets, where the designers once again enjoyed considerable success.

New challenges have featured constantly in the career of these two brothers. A series of other garments have gradually been added to their Custo trademark T-shirts, creating a full range of garments and accessories for men and women. The key to their success lies in the originality of their product line that has positioned Custo Barcelona amongst the leading fashion names. The firm continues to dedicate major efforts to exploring new print techniques in its bid to continue with its ground-breaking trends.

Custo Barcelona garments are sold in multibrand stores all over the world. Since 2000 there has been a change in policy. They now aim to reach the public more directly, offering them their full collection. Their strategy is based on opening their own stores, starting with Barcelona and their flagship store. Today they have 15 stores and plan to open further outlets in the world's major cities, including New York.