Hear Our VSN: Katerina Valdes on her Love of Orchids & Rihanna
Katerina photographed by Official VSN (2021)
Katerina Valdes is an upcoming fashion designer with a VSN unlike any other. In this interview, Official VSN got to catch up with the young artist and hear more about her story.
Introduction:
My name is Katerina Valdes and I am a fashion designer with a niche in resort wear. I am a Miami native born to a Puerto Rican mother and Cuban father. My background stems from the arts of theater and poetry, which heavily inspires the way I design today.
Katerina shot by Official VSN (2021)
As a New & Upcoming Designer, Who/What Inspires You and Your Work:
I would say that vintage clothing and Caribbean culture heavily influence my work, specifically Caribbean and latina women. The aesthetics of my mother, aunties and grandmother all really inspire me. I also like to look to nature as a great inspiration for my colors, textures and prints. I come from a place that’s very colorful and full of light all year long and it really inspires the way I look at designing.
What Makes Your VSN Unique?
I think I have a very unique VSN as I like things that feel antiquated and elegant but I also like to inject new life into them via saturated hues and motifs that we don’t really get to see in a lot of feminine and demure silhouettes.
What has your Design Experience been like so far?:
I am just starting out in design school but my grandmother taught me how to sew when I was 8 years old. I think I made an apron or a skirt and although I can’t take credit for most of the sewing it really got me excited about designing and creating my own clothes. I still have a lot to learn technically but I am very much inspired everyday to create fashion. I have also worked on various projects on my own with editorial and fashion photography as well as selling vintage clothes. I think immersing my self in collaboration and creation has pushed me to be a better designer.
Two models completely shot & styled by Katerina
Who are some of your Favorite Designers, New & Old:
Some of my favorite designers I think have to be Gianni Versace, Marcelo Gaia and Antoine Guerin. Versace of course for his use of color and I love Gaia and Guerin’s work for their dreamy and feminine designs.
What does your dream collection look like:
My dream collection would be a capsule of colorful hand dyed silk gowns with lots of floral embroidery and beading. I would love to do something with orchids as they are my favorite flower and a great inspiration for me à la Halston.
Who would you want to see in your designs if you could dress anyone, dead or alive?:
I would love to see Rihanna in one of my pieces. I just think she’s so stunning and I could definitely see her rocking one of my gowns with a bikini underneath. I would also love to design for Stevie Nicks, her music is a huge inspiration to me. Jhene Aiko as well, I feel like she would really love my designs and she’s so gorgeous.
Where do you see yourself in 5, 10 years from now in the fashion scene?:
Honestly I have no idea where I’ll be. I think that’s kind of the fun of it. As much as it can be scary to admit that… you really never know what the future holds. In 10 years I hope I’ll have my own line by then. I’m still very young but I want to be able to push myself enough to go after what I want.
More styling/photography work by Katerina