Tenerife Fashion

We asked TF Moda Director, Guisepe Sánchez for his views on Tenerife Fashion

Tenerife has been called many things in the past, but Island of Fashion? We talk to the man responsible for putting Tenerife fashion on the world map.

So what is TF Moda?
(TF Moda Director, Guisepe Sánchez) Tenerife, Isla de Moda is a brand that identifies and groups together Tenerife’s different clothing companies and designers at a regional, national and international level.

There are three sectors that make up the collective group, namely Prêt-a-porter, Swimwear and Childrenswear.

Tenerife, Island of Fashion is an initiative being carried out by the Cabildo of Tenerife (island council). It brings together a number of textile companies and designers already established in the market who want to be identified through a brand that acts as a guarantee of high quality Canarian design.

The Cabildo’s main priority is that production is carried out in Tenerife, therefore generating employment.

In the world of Fashion, what level is Tenerife at and what level could reach?
(GS) Firstly I have to point out that the Canaries has never had a textile culture like other Spanish regions have. This means that starting out was difficult, though not impossible.

Secondly, I also have to address the agreement made between several businesspeople and fashion designers. This was an agreement to develop an industrial programme and the goal was to consolidate the textile industry in Tenerife. This has been a big challenge for all the businesspeople working in the sector, along with Tenerife Moda’s textile department.

In following this path we are growing in terms of jobs, sales outlets, on a regional, national and international scale.

We have seen a growth in the number of markets that sell the Tenerife Moda product, that include New York, Mexico, Spain, France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Ten years ago this was unthinkable, these days we are seeing positive results but we have to keep on working and companies need to carry on uniting.

We are present for every season in different international and national fashion fairs, including FIMI a childrenswear fair in Valencia and Prêt-A-Porter in Paris. Attending these fairs give us a global vision, which is where we are headed, and credibility.

You are the director of the Textile Plan. What are your responsibilities? What buzz does the job give you?
(GS) It’s a tough job but it gives me a lot of satisfaction. In Fashion, variation is minimal while evolution is enormous.

You work a whole year in advance where you see the collections, the trends, ideas and so on. Then there are season catalogues; showrooms, press conferences, the collections are presented to clients, press and buyers. So, there is a constant cycle marked by two seasons: Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter.

You must lead a glamorous life, travelling around the world to shows, surrounded by beautiful people. Is it really that glamorous?
(GS) No. Catwalk shows, presentations, photos, they are all links within the chain of business that starts from deciding what texture to use and ends in creating a collection and selling it. There is a whole communication process, which is very tedious. At the end of the day the Fashion industry is a business that generates a lot of jobs and a lot of money.

Before taking on this challenge, you worked as a model. Would you recommend modelling as a career?
(GS) My professional career started 25 years ago. I’ve always worked in the fashion industry. I started out at a model in Milan. That gave me the opportunity to travel around the world.

You have to sacrifice a lot but you benefit greatly too, not just in a financial sense but it’s very enriching on a personal level too. Not all that glitters is gold but I’d obviously recommend it as a profession for anyone who has the right aptitude, character and personality.

Have you met any supermodels?
(GS) Yes and I’ve worked with many of them in different advertising campaigns, fashion shows etc.

Will there be any fairs in Tenerife with Supermodels?
(GS) The international circuit is clearly marked out: New York, London, Milan, Paris and Tokyo. I don’t think it is possible for such an idea to be entertained in Tenerife.

What is the most stylish country in the world?
(GS) You can’t talk about specific countries. Today, fashion is global; it is a sociological phenomenon that affects the entire world.

We can talk about fashion in the sense of big cities that set the standards, such as Paris and Milan, using them as a point of reference but, as I commented before, there are other cities that are also raising their profile.

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