What began as a childhood fascination for Irinés Vázquez is now her reality. After earning her degree in marketing from the University of Puerto Rico, she devoted herself to her passion resulting with international awards and vast recognition. Since her launch of Emigre, Vázquez has traveled the world in search of inspiration to keep her at the forefront of contemporary fashion. While cities like Paris and New York are a constant source of inspiration behind her work, Vázquez remains true to her Latin heritage. Her intricate, one-of-a-kind designs combined with exotic leathers, stones, and various ethnic metalwork have positioned her among the elite within Puerto Rico’s fashion industry. Currently residing in Miami, she creates couture dresses and accessories for award shows, international tours, music videos, and special events.
What is Emigre? Emigre is an accessories line heavily influenced from cultures all around the world. The line is bohemian in style and we embrace, unique, ethnic details combined with new textures and materials. We like to combine history with the modern day. The woman who wears an Emigre piece is a daring, confident woman that loves individuality. Considering each piece is one-of-a-kind, it always brings forth great attention and conversations. For Emigre every woman is unique and one-of-a-kind.
How has your marketing career helped launch and further strategize the branding of the Émigré Collection? My marketing background has served as a foundation that complements my passion for design. It allows me to find and understand the balance between art and commerce. Art to me is the essence of the brand and marketing is what keeps it alive. We also embrace technology to find new ways to promote and market the Emigre brand.
What comes more natural: marketing, business leadership, or designing?
By far, design. It is my passion!
How have your heritage, childhood, adolescence, and adult life shaped you as the woman you are today? How have these seasons shaped your accessories line? I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. It is a Caribbean island that culturally is a blend of Taino Indians, Spaniards, and African. I think the influence of all these cultures artistically speaking; have something to do with the Emigre brand. Personally, coming from a warm and beautiful island in the Caribbean has helped define me. We are full of culture and it directly reflects in our taste of music, the arts, and in enjoying life to the fullest.
As a child I was happy, yet very quiet, bait shy. I did; however love music, dancing, and was always drawing. My parents always supported the arts in general, which was great having the opportunity to take drawing and painting classes from an early age. My mom passed away when I was 11 years of age and that was very hard for me. But my father, my aunt, brother, and family in general were always there for me. That provided me with lots of security and emotional stability. They always supported my development in the arts. From that point on and still today, the arts have been a part of my life. I’ve always enjoyed and appreciated fashion, paintings; design in general, antiques, and a broad range of manual crafts, from all over the world. And above all, I appreciate my family. They still motivate me.
For more of the interview with Irinés Vázquez, order your copy of the April/May issue here.
Mavian Arocha-Rowe
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