Elisa
In Conversation with...
Palomino A world-renowned-fashion-designer-turnedacademic, Elisa Palomino is an advocate for the future of fashion, training the next generation of ‘the greats’ and pioneering ancestorial craftsmanship of luxury leather alternatives.
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lisa Palomino has the kind of style you just can’t buy that eccentric je ne sais quoi that is eye-catching, without being attention-seeking. Today’s signature soft-pink flower accessory is as evident as when she first debuted on New York Fashion Week in 2010. It was like looking through a timemachine rather than the screen of my laptop. With a rather intimidating fashion career spanning for over 25 years, Elisa radiates warmth, kindness, and genuine care (even through a screen), which is certainly reflected in her most recent project – the Indigenous Arctic Fish Skin. As an abiding sustainability expert, even during her glamorous and worldly fashion weeks, she has used her experiences in the industry to train the next generation of fashion designers. “You bring a legacy,” says Elisa, “it’s very fulfilling.” Currently a lecturer for Fashion Print Pathway at Central Saint Martins, her past is drafted by training from some of the greatest fashion houses, including a personal mentor, John Galliano, along with Christian Dior, and Roberto Cavalli, Elisa decided to leave the boisterous world of fashion design and labels, to pioneer sustainable practices within the Fashion education curriculum. 18
WORDS BY VIKTORIA BIELAWA Obviously, you have such a vast recognition in the fashion industry. What made you take the academic route? My role was always as head of studio - it was very much like being a teacher since the beginning. I started recruiting and being in charge of interns, and that was particularly evident when I worked at John Galliano and Christian Dior. I would travel the world recruiting students to come and work with us, getting the best talent. Every three months I would change the team and have up to 13 young adults working with me, all coming from very different backgrounds – sometimes students and sometimes self-taught. After those 25 years, there was a time where I was a little disappointed with what was going on in fashion, so I decided that I need to start sharing all my knowledge. It's one of the jobs that I've been most happy with, because it's very fulfilling – you bring a legacy. I've learned all the mistakes and the good things as well, which have been really helpful for my students. I do think that teachers need an experience in the industry before they start teaching, otherwise, there's not much they can share. Even now, I'm still working within the industry
and as a PhD student – I can bring a lot back to their plate. I think we need to keep on renovating ourselves because students are extremely smart and extremely demanding. That's very, very true. And do you ever miss the preparation and adrenaline of fashion week? Not really, because with the final year students, I almost get like 20 mini fashion weeks. Every year I'm helping these students have their own fashion show. I prepare them through the final year series to reach that goal. My job doesn't stop with the portfolios, but with the collections - helping them with styling, and how the collection will come out. We had some incredible shows from our students. A couple of years ago, one student actually did a whole performance, where we've had to change up the whole setup of the university catwalk - they all hated me! It was really challenging, but I never say no to anything. The dreams of my students always come first. I always try to make sure that whatever they dream, it becomes true. In a way, its facilitating their ideas, which is then multiplied by 20 or more. You’re like a fashion godmother!
