Fabrizio Celleri: “The most important thing in fashion is to find a style”

By: Ma. Fernanda Soria @mafersoria

We interviewed Fabrizio Celleri, one of the featured designers in this week’s Designer Book event.

Ecuadorian fashion designer Fabrizio Celleri began his career in April 1997, he decided to do what he always liked for a living, he studied marketing and advertising, as well as interior design but neither of those met his expectations.

Celleri set up his first workshop in his apartment and started working on his first collection Fotosintesis, which was considered the largest one in Ecuador, “240 outfits, one designer, one single event,” added the famous designer.

Later in that same year, Celleri opened his first store, where customers not only bought his designs but also had the opportunity to access image consulting, hair and makeup; such characteristics differentiated the store (located in Mall del Sol) from other clothing stores.
“The most important thing in fashion is to find a style,” said Fabrizio, who brings different collections every year.
In 2000, Celleri traveled to the United States and presented his first collection at the Miami Fashion Week, where he was able to make many contacts and connections, including New York Runway, Colombia Moda, several stylists, magazines, television channels and models.

“Unfortunately, Ecuador is not a country for fashion, you have to join your ideas with the ones your customer has,” said Fabrizio, who has focused on women’s clothing over his career as a designer.
“I like the idea of a strong woman, subtly sexy without being outrageous. I like a discrete sensuality, there are many ways to be sexy without showing off a big scot,” said Fabrizio, who sees himself as an individualistic and authentic person.

Among celebrities this designer—who likes to work with lace, chiffon, silk and fabrics with movement— has dressed, Britney Spears, one of the icons of modern pop culture, tops the list. “During my stay in U.S., I dressed Paulina Rubio, she appeared in some New York TV shows and magazines and after my runway show, someone from a New York showroom asked for my information, she wanted to put my clothes in New York and Miami department stores. The lady who contacted me was very popular with stylists, celebrities, including Britney Spears’ stylist often visited her. Brit’s stylist wanted to buy my clothes but I decided to gift my designs to her, considering she’s such a famous performer,” said Celleri.

“There is no culture in our country, this is a hard career, it takes persistence and perseverance,” said the designer, who has been flirting with the idea of settling in other Latin American country due to the production and import process.
“The most important thing in fashion is to stay current,” said Fabrizio, who also had the opportunity to dress Amelia Vega, Olga Tanon, Charytin (Telemundo) and other foreign models.

Fabricio is planning to open a retail store next year, he also wants to open a men clothing line, which will focus in shirts, t-shirts and trousers. There will be more runway shows outside the country (he presents 2 or 3 fashion shows every year).
Fabrizio will participate in this year’s designer book, which will take place in la cárcel municipal (country jail) on Thursday at 19h30.

“Each designer brands a style, future designers in this country should have confidence in themselves and become fighters. It’s not only about jumping into the spotlight it’s about keeping that spotlight on you, and although it is hard, if you are perseverant and you want to meet your goals badly, anything is possible,” concluded Celleri.