Alejandro Palomo

I have visited him over the years and every time I come back his home feels more like a home. ‘I finally have a bathroom in my room’, says Alejandro, with a beaming grim. Not too long ago he had to shower and brush his teeth downstairs next to his team of 20 people. Some of them are born and bred in Posadas, others have moved all the way here just to work with him. Since early on, Palomo Spain has created an extended family, not only in Posadas, but on runways around the world. The label’s collections exist outside of any preconceived associations with gender identity and have become a safe haven for anyone challenging binary constraints in their conceived notion of men’s fashion. Alejandro’s designs reside in his inherent contradictions, tradition and craft are met with unrestrained thirst for discovery and freedom.

Alejandro’s actual family has accompanied the designer every step of the way. Right before lunch, his mother, Manoli, pays us a visit with an aperitivo and a couple of frozen beers. They are all nervous about the imminent debut of Palomo’s designs for the New York City Ballet (which will be a smashing success in the coming weeks). Over lunch we talk about his decorating gene, wild flowers, sleeping naked, and what makes a perfect host. As impeccable hosts themselves, they invite us to an uncle’s birthday party with more beer, more family, and more flamenco. Everything else seems a bit foggy after that.