When Camille was about 15 she started designing collages, just for fun, and gradually defined her style making these compositions. At that time she did not know how far she could get with her designs but soon she became aware of the drawings, colours and textures she liked most and was often seeking.
"I have always considered myself a very curious person, so I started experimenting and applying my designs to everything I could think of: shoes, art, deco, clothing," says the young Limeña,
Camille, now 20, always used to think her arts would lead her to create paintings or decorations, never believing she could be involved in fashion. "It was kind of a big surprise for me when I saw my designs printed in cloth, because I really loved the way it looked but it was a risk I had to take since my prints are very saturated, colourful and edgy, and I did not know how people were going to react to this type of apparel."
Yet, many changes later and following the strong response from those to whom she showed her designs she was able to create her fashion brand, Camille Defago, which is defined by its unique style.
The brand vision is to incentivise individual creativity, with colours found throughout the whole world. Camille likes to encourage confidence and attitude through her unusual and extrovert designs:
"I believe inspiration can be born anywhere. I am a very visual person, so I try to get inspiration from anywhere I can. From the beach, to palm trees, to a painting, even a vacation trip. Almost all of my prints include at least one photo I have taken in a place I have visited. Every time I see a texture, an object, a landscape that inspires me, I take a picture and include them inside my collages. This has made me feel a lot more close to my art since these places are great memories that I have from my country, other places I have visited, time I have spent with my friends and loved ones. For me, every collage I make has a story and great memories behind it."
Her mission is to create distinctive pieces with a style that stands out from the everyday. At the heart of Camille's label, her vision is to create original clothing.
Camille's signature prints define her label's unique style, not only for the symbols she chooses, from parrots to bolts of lightening, and the compositions in which they are arranged but also for the quality of the printing itself, ensured by her chosen approach and the equipment involved.
"I work under the process of sublimation, which is basically using cloth as you would use paper on a printer. All of my prints and production are made here in Lima, Peru. The textile industry in Peru is very big and you can find great quality if you know where to look. There are many types of printers that you can use to print on clothing but I only work with Epson printers as they have an amazing quality, colour, and resolution and the most important thing is that their new printers have perfected their technique and tweaked the process so they work in a more eco-friendly way.
How? By using less water, chemicals and energy during the printing process. I know there is still a lot of work to do so that process becomes 100% eco friendly, but I believe it is a start and I really value the importance of taking care of our planet and contributing to the growth of the sustainable fashion industry."
Following the label's popularity in Lima and Mexico City Camille is now making her London debut.
"The moment I bought my ticket to go visit London for the first time I knew I was going to fall in love with the city right away. Visiting London was life-changing for me because it opened my mind in so many ways and I was inspired by everything I saw. I was mind-blown with how big the fashion industry was in the city. I have always been a big dreamer, one of my big goals was to get to launch my brand in the European market but I never thought I would accomplish it in this early stage of my life. I feel super excited and lucky to get the chance to make my way in the London market and this is huge step for me that I feel proud of. I am passionate and looking forward to this milestone and making my name stand out in one of my favourite cities in the world."
On 1st May, Camille Defago will be featured at Unwrapped, a luxury pop-up event in the salons of 30 Pavilion Road in Knightsbridge.
