When I arrived to the LAB: Laboratorio de Artes Binarias doors on Ponce de Leon Ave, Ana María Mariana greeted me with a huge smile, a small pregnant belly and lots of enthusiasm. Her 2 stories workshop and, soon-to-be, boutique are right in the heart of Santurce’s Art district in a shared space called LAB: . As soon as we walked in, she gave me a rundown of how the boutique is gonna look like and invited me up to her workspace on the second floor were we got to talking.
Fashion Is Bananas: So Ana, tell us, when did your love for fashion start?
Ana María Mariana: Well, my grandma used to sew curtains and lots of other things and she would let me sew so I wouldn’t get bored. So that’s how I got into sewing. After that, I wanted to be an architect for a while but after taking some fashion sketching classes at the UPR, I knew Fashion was the right path for me. Soon after, I went to the Miami International University of Art and Design where I got my degree in Fashion Design
FIB: Cool! And did you start your Ana María Mariana & AM by Ana María labels right after college? Tell us about them.
AMM: No, I wanted to work for at least 2 years so that I could gain some experience and knowledge and then start my own business. Which is exactly what I did. My 2 brands are closely related but very different. AM by Ana María is more of a ready-to-wear, more affordable line; while Ana María Mariana is my runway collection. It’s a bit more expensive but each piece is a work of art and unique.
FIB: Who’s your client? Like how would you describe her?
AMM: She’s a young woman who likes to have fun and is not afraid to take risks. She’s beautiful and edgy but still sophisticated and she knows how to work every outfit.
FIB: Does your personal style influence your designs?
AMM: No, my style is very simple, I love to wear black and my collections are usually lots of fun, with patterns that work well together and prints. It’s art to wear, which I consider my motto.
FIB: Who are you inspired by?
AMM: Nicole Ritchie! I love her! I would love it if she was my client. I really want to be like her! She’s so edgy and sophisticated. She looks classy.
FIB: What are you inspired by?
AMM: Fabrics! I could spend hours at a fabric store coming up with concepts, ideas and designs.
FIB: How would you define your brand’s style? How would you describe it in 5 words?
AMM: I’d say it’s a mix between Oscar de la Renta and Betsey Johson.
It’s EDGY, COLORFUL, FLIRTY, ARTSY and FRESH.
FIB: Best and worst?
AMM: I’m very hard on myself, I over think everything. Sometimes the designs I like the least, get sold first. My best? definitely the Palazzo pants from my F/W 2013 collection.
FIB: Can you tell us a bit about your next collection?
AMM: Yes! We were just discussing this earlier today. So, the collection will be called Fiori which means flower in italian. Like the name sugests, it will be inspired by flowers and gardens and will feature cool grays, silver, mango yellow, pomegranate in a variety of separate pieces.
FIB: Can’t wait! Will you go into menswear? I would love a shirt in that delftware floral pattern!
AMM: I am actually thinking about making some patterned short sleeve shirts. I’ll have to see how my experiments work out. I would like them to be fun, mixing patterns, yet cool with subtle details like a different fabric for the pocket or a small collar.
FIB: Congrats on being a mommy-to-be!! Will this influence your designs? Will we have an AM Kids line soon?
AMM: Thanks!! I am actually very open to everything, I’ve had little customers before and it’s really fun. So who knows?! My baby will be a little fashion baby!
FIB: What do you think about the fashion scene in PR?
AMM: I feel like fashion in PR is stuck. People are afraid of being different. Everyone’s a follower. There’s an abundant lack of style.
No matter what, BE DIFFERENT! Please don’t go with the masses, avoid being mainstream and keep it young & fresh! – Ana María Mariana’s advice to the bananas
BANANA BUZZ!
In a previous life you were… A vet.
Fashion pet peeve? Tevas! I hate those!
Cravings? Freshly made Pico de gallo and chips
Fashion must have? Little white dress
If you were a cartoon, you’d be… Maggie Simpson! I’m obsessed with her
Want to know more about Ana María Mariana? Visit her Facebook page & Instagram Profile!
You can also check out our coverage of her lookbook for her Monarquía F/W 2013 Collection!
Photos by: Arnaldo Javier J.
