Since I was little Camila Romano He knew that his destiny was to be in fashion. And not because it was a family mandate – his grandparents, Alberto and Cuca Romano, opened the Cravall boutique in Recoleta more than fifty years ago – but because growing up among genres, figurines, coat racks and warehouses, he found a vocation that began as a game, like when she made clothes for her dolls, until it became a way of life by managing to capture her elegant and modern vision in the designs.
While she was in high school, she organized “vintage fairs” with clothes she created, then she began studying Clothing Design at the University of Palermo where she had great teachers and at the same time she continued working at Cravall —“I went through all the positions. I learned absolutely everything, from how to serve a client, how to help her find her style, how to iron, how to earn my place, how to understand the effort of work so that things go forward, and the experience of working with genres,” she says. —.
Next year marks 10 years of independent work in fashion and 2023 was marked by opportunities and recognition. She participated in Haute Couture Week, she was nominated as “Best Innovation Designer” at the Martín Fierro de la Moda Awards and her dresses were chosen by celebrities such as Valeria Mazza, Florencia Peña for events and she inaugurated her atelier on Alvear Avenue.
Camila Romano: I would never have imagined anything other than working and living in fashion. From a very young age I grew up in Cravall, both my grandparents and my father working and I was always surrounded by clothes, garments, ready-to-wear, fabrics, it was my thing. One day I decided I wanted to make party dresses and see what happened. That’s how I launched. One day I went to the Promenade gallery, asked if there was any space for rent and I went. I was super confident about moving forward. At the same time I was working with a professor from the UP, I was quite involved in design and I started making dresses and it grew, I started making two collections a year, then I started making wedding dresses, and today I am here in my atelier that I opened this year. One thing led to another.
News: How did your family make the decision to leave the family business and start your brand?
Roman: Well, my dad misses me, but both he and my mom are happy to accompany me in my decisions and my personal growth. Also my husband, when I started this challenge we were dating, and he always accompanied me in the process. Cravall will always be a Recoleta neighbor I can count on.
News: What are the current fashion trends and how do you adapt to them?
Roman: I developed a line of “ready to wear” dresses, it is a trend that is on the rise.. For example with girlfriends. There are many brides who want to get the dress of their dreams, but decide and get it quickly, they do not want to go through that process of a lot of fittings and not fully understand how it will look on them. It is also very fashionable to change your dress at the wedding, before it was done at sweet 15 parties, but now all brides want to have their second or third look.
News: And regarding sustainable fashion?
Roman: What I always recommend is: “Buy a dress you can wear again.”If you are a girlfriend you can sell it, give it as a gift, lend it, so that it is as sustainable as possible. With respect to genres, it is difficult because all embroidery and textiles have their own thing, but being able to reuse dresses seems fundamental to me.
News: How do you manage to maintain your seal in an economic context where it is difficult to access certain supplies?
Roman: Luckily I have very good suppliers who are always willing to help and accompany. I also have a very large team of dressmakers and embroiderers by trade who do everything by hand, so you look for things and you can always find the best in difficult contexts.
News: The pandemic will have been a difficult time too.
Roman: It was very hard for our industry because there were no parties. In my case, it allowed me to be at home and spend time with my daughter—Franca, four years old—who at that time was very little and I was able to return much stronger. I have it as a very hard memory, but one that she strengthened me. Now people want to celebrate more and more, each in their own way, with their possibilities, the clients come with a lot of happiness, the work has been strengthened and it has helped me rethink my priorities and objectives.
News: You worked with Florencia Peña on the designs she wore at her wedding and you also recently dressed Valeria Mazza at a gala with a lot of exposure. How do famous people arrive?
Roman: A lot through Instagram and also through stylists, wardrobe designers, recommendations.
News: Is it more difficult to work with celebrities than with regular clients? How does it adapt to your demands?
Roman: Every client who comes to meet me is a great challenge, for both celebrities and real clients it is the same level of demand. I love dressing all women. My premise is that it be elegant, fresh, modern, timeless, and within that concept I am movingcombining with trends and what clients ask me when I make custom designs, but always respecting the main values.
News: You were nominated for “Best Innovation Designer” at the Martín Fierro de la Moda Awards. How did you receive the news of the nomination?
Roman: It was very funny because I found out here in the atelier with the guys on the team. One of them was looking at Instagram and told me. I didn’t expect it, I was very surprised, It gave me great joy to see that after the day-to-day work the recognitions are coming.. Every time I finish a dress I feel enormous happiness, but having these great recognitions, such as my participation in Haute Couture Week this year and now the nomination, fill my soul.
News: You belong to a group of new designers who are making waves in the industry. Is there a community among colleagues?
Romano: A community has not yet been created within what would be my generation, but I do feel very accepted by the most recognized designers like Laurencio Adot, Javier Saiach, Fabian Zitta, Adrián Brown, I have the best relationship with all of them, we share many moments and I feel very supported and welcomed in this stage of my life.
News: I was just naming great local designers with international significance and I think there are many men, what place do women have in design?
Romano: There are many very talented women designers, there are few who become recognized, I feel very privileged.
News: How do Argentine women dress?
Roman: There is elegance, there is good taste, there is also some more standardized things, I hope that this will mutate with the new generations and that each one can find their own style and play it a little more. The majority goes sober, safe, and there are few people who want to break the rules. At some point it will arrive, I see that that is changing.
News: You have a four-year-old daughter and you are pregnant. Does your daughter Franca accompany you to the atelier?
Roman: Like many four-year-old girls, she loves to dress up, play with dresses, she comes to the atelier and it’s a party.
News: And when you leave the atelier, what do you like to do?
Roman: I really like being with my family, being at home, I am a fan of horses, I love art, going out to eat, traveling, traveling the world. Every time I can I try to go to textile fairs to live experiences in different places.
News: What are the trends for next year?
Roman: What has to do with parties and brides has more to do with what each woman wants, but there are some more marked trends such as embroidery, glitter, full colors, metallic, all that continues. As a designer, I try to interpret tastes and bring out the best in each design.
News: And what do you expect for your brand?
Roman: We have to finish the season and we are already preparing the 2024 season, more parades, more trips. Now we are in high event season, I make four or five brides per weekend. My dream is to reach Latin America and the United States with my line of evening dresses and my bridal line, it is my great challenge.
