Global Fashion Collective presented by VFW

Brand

SAINTJESUS By Maria Jesus Ponce

Designer

Maria Jesus Ponce

Category

Women’s / Ready To Wear

Brand information / About the designer

―What inspired you to become a fashion designer? Describe developments leading up to the brand launch.

I grew up in a small city in the desert of Chile where the fashion is not an topic at all. Since my childhood I loved to draw, create and research and I Think thats what lead me to study fashion design. Making a random research I was totally amaze by fashion illustration after I enter to study fashion design in Universidad del Pacifico in the capital of Chile. After I took course in Central St. Martins in London and Graduate on 2015. My first job in the fashion world was as a backstage volunteer on the Vancouver Fashion week. After that thanks to Jamal Abdourahman I launch the first collection of “SAINTJESUS By Maria Jesus Ponce” in march of 2016 on the Vancouver Fashion Week.
 

―What is the brand’s concept? What do you want to communicate through fashion designing? What are the images of men and women you want to project?

SAINTJESUS takes different street styles from different cultures of the world and mix them with the dark-saint aesthetic of the brand creating enjoyable pieces for women. My main message is that you can wear typical outfits without being boring and Rock your look every single day.
 

―What is your source of inspiration in creating fashion? What is your process of developing a design concept?

I have been collecting pictures since I have memory and I have different files full of pictures of everything that had caught my eye. I create a collection starting with a topic maybe something that happened or basically I get inspired by the people that surround me and their experiences. After I found a topic I start mixing different street trends coming up with a full concept always incorporating the main aestethic Dark-Saint of SAINTJESUS.
 

―Who are your current stockists (areas, retail formats, etc.)? Describe the typical followers of your brand.

Mainly in Santiago, Chile. Mostly young fashion enthusiasts that care about local design more than the retail.
 

―Which brands, designers, styles and cultures have had the most impact on your fashion designing, and why?

Definetly a mix of Jeremy Scott and Dries Van Noten such talented designers. The way that Jeremy has change the game about fashion with Moschino was so inspiring to me when I started and in the other hand the power of mixing texture trends of Dries Van Noten he inspired me the most since I was at the university.

About 2018 S/S collection

―Why have you chosen Tokyo(Amazon Fashion Week TOKYO) as the venue for presenting your collection?

I receive an invitation imposible to refuse and I always have been fascinated by Japan and mostly by Tokyos fashion world.
 

―What is the concept / image for your brand’s 2018 S/S season?

TWISTED ROSES is completely dedicated to my father, who always had believe in me and support me knowing that “fashion design” is not a conventional career in my country. This collection was inspired by two of his favourites bands of rock particularly in one song of the rock group “Twisted Sisters – I wanna Rock”. The concept came out as a mix of Twisted Sisters and Guns N’ Roses, the shapes colours and style are inspired by the aesthetic that both bands transmit.
 

―What is your vision for your show / installation?

Simple, Rock aesthetic and looking forward to Roll.

Future

―What are your brand’s future outlook and goal?

Keep growing SAINTJESUS and expand the brand to new horizons looking forward to become an international recognized Brand.

About TOKYO

―What does Tokyo represent for you?

A Big opportunity to showcase my brand, find potencial buyers and an amazing city to discover and learn about it.
 

―Which parts / sites of Tokyo do you like most? Why?

Will be my first time there. So I’m Looking forward to tell you about it after.