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PROFILE

Spanish designer Purificación García was born in a Galician village in North West Spain called Castrelo do Valle, but spent most of her childhood in Uruguay, where her family moved when she was one. Her first contact with the fashion industry was in Montevideo, where she gained an in-depth knowledge of fabric while working for a textiles company. This was to lay the foundations for her future career.

When she was 21, Purificación García became interested in the world of leather, whilst living in Canada for two years. This was followed by another year in New York. In 1978, she went to live in Majorca, creating her first designs which she sold herself on the beaches around the island. Two years later, she went to live in Barcelona, where she presented her first full collection. As of 1983, she regularly brought her elegant discreet designs for every-day wear to the Madrid and Barcelona Catwalks.

The year 1985 marked a turning point in her career when she opened her first boutique in Antwerp (Belgium). This global bid was reaffirmed in subsequent years, and her collection was critically acclaimed at the Milan Catwalk in 1989. In 1990, she entered the Japanese market, opening shops in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. In recent years, Purificación García has also discovered the potential of the Portuguese and Latin American markets and now has two shops both in Porto and Lisbon, and another in Mexico City.

In Spain, Purificación García opened her first studio-shop on the Avenida Pau Casals in Barcelona in 1995. Here she is personally responsible for what she defines as "new couture". The label has more than fifty shops in Spain and corners in El Corte Inglés department store.

In 1997, Purificación García presented her first bridal wear collection at the Novia España catwalk show, and in 1998 signed a deal with STL to design, manufacture and distribute men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and accessories. The brand has since broadened its range to include perfume, eyewear, lingerie, watches and a second more casual line. Since 2003, the designer has maintained close links with the art world, creating the prestigious Purificación García Annual Photography Competition. In 2001, she published a book on style, glamour and the art of dressing entitled Tener estilo.