Daily Front Row

2010 August 24

Catching Up With Cortazar

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Hanne Gaby, Esteban Cortazar
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(NEW YORK) Esteban Cortazar may have decamped to Paris, but don’t call him an ex-pat just yet. He’s getting back to his Colombian roots with a wildly successful collaboration with retail chain Exito. The Daily chatted with the Bogota-born designer about his new ventures, that T article detailing the fall of Ungaro, and how Cortazar carves out a slice of blessed “chilling” time.
EMILY POPP

How’s summer in Paris?
I’ve been in and out of Paris because of this big project with Latin America. I’ve been traveling back and forth from Colombia for the Exito collaboration, so it’s been back and forth, back and forth, back and forth all summer! The launch was at the end of July.

The capsule collection with Exito has been a huge hit. How did this come about?
I always wanted to do something for my country because they have been so supportive of me, and after I left Ungaro, the idea to collaborate with Exito came about. Exito is essentially the equivalent of Target in Colombia. It’s a very important chain store, and funnily enough, they also were thinking of asking me to work with them. So we both had the idea, and then they approached me, and the whole goal was to bring international fashion to a country that doesn’t necessarily have the exposure to fashion in the way that other countries do. This is something that hasn’t been done there. It happens often in the states and Europe, but it doesn’t happen in the same way in Colombia.

What was the inspiration behind the collection?
It was a very personal project, and so it felt very close to my heart from the beginning. It was about bringing new ways of styling basic pieces to women. The great thing about this project, also, is that the whole idea was to do a big fashion show on the 26th of July and then everything would be available the day after. It was all about immediacy. It is fashion for everybody, immediately. Complete instant gratification. Also, mixing working with people here in Paris and people in New York and bringing them over to Columbia to have that exchange makes this project great, as well. Bringing people from abroad really made sense and made it all very exciting.

What’s next?
This is a three collection collaboration, and the plan is to do another show in December. We are continuing to work on the project, with some big surprises on the way. Also, I have a few things planned out for 2011, but at the moment I am focusing on the Exito project, which has been fantastic.

On Cathy Horyn’s T article, “The Fall of the House of Ungaro”:
I think that [Cathy Horyn] took the initiative to write about the whole entire story, and talk about it from beginning to end. There has been so much talk, and so many articles on Ungaro, but none that have told the story from the beginning to end, from that perspective. Personally, for me that is a chapter that has closed. I left that house with nothing but good feelings and it did so much for me, so many great things, and for that I am very appreciative. Everyone has their own opinions and their own take on this. It was quite a back and forth drama, considering everything that has happened in that house. So yes, it is expected that there is going to be interest and articles. It makes you curious to see what is going to happen to the house and what is going to be the next step. I am hoping, for the house’s sake, that the future is a positive one and it can go back to being the fashion house it once was.

Have you had a moment to catch your breath in Paris?
I was in and out of Paris for a bit, and we went to Spain for a quick trip in July. It’s been non-stop! Two days ago I finally got to walk around the streets and do some store browsing. It was one of those afternoons when you just take everything in and clear your mind. I’ve been trying to plan a weekend somewhere and just really hang out. Literally I just want to read and sit. Just chill.

Will we see you during New York Fashion Week?
I haven’t bought my tickets yet, but I am hoping to make it here during Fashion Week. I have some pending things to take care of here in Paris, but it’s my father’s birthday during Fashion Week and he’ll be in New York, so I really hope I can make it!