It’s New York fashion week and we are very excited about all the collections showing this Fall season!!
One such collection which showed earlier today was that of Fashion Designer Cesar Galindo. Some days prior to his show, Galindo made time to discuss Fashion Business with Ladybrille. Enjoy our interview and watch his collection below.
“Cesar Galindo, a self-taught designer and the youngest of eleven children, began his career in fashion designing corsets and period costumes for The Miami City Ballet, and then for The Houston Grand Opera in his hometown.
He moved to New York in the mid 1980’s to continue his work as a designer and started in the fashion industry at TSE Cashmere as a show room manager. After a year, he went on to design for Carmelo Pomodoro, a then rising international sportswear designer. During this time, Cesar began developing his own line, a signature collection specializing in dresses for social and evening events.
Cesar achieved notoriety when his washed silk kimono dress made the cover of Elle magazine, July 1993, on supermodel Karen Mulder. Once America and the rest of the world caught a glimpse of his designs, they wanted more. Galindo’s first trunk show was at the renowned Martha’s International on Park Avenue and was followed at New York City retail institution, Henri Bendel. Over the next decade, the brand CESAR GALINDO developed in distribution domestically and internationally at select retailers.
For the last twenty-two years, Cesar has balanced his time designing his own collection as well as working as a contract designer for private clients and for established labels including Dolce & Gabbana where he designed predominately for celebrities for nine years followed by seven seasons for Calvin Klein Collection under the design direction of Francisco Costa. His most recent assignment was at L.A.M.B., a contemporary women’s collection launched by Gwen Stefani.
In October 2011, Galindo launched CZAR by Cesar Galindo, his secondary women’s collection consisting predominately of dresses and soft separate components and varied edgier statement items. CZAR offers a younger sophisticated version of his signature collection at a contemporary price point. Neiman Marcus’s online store, Cusp, launched CZAR S12, with a successful overall selling performance.
Femininity, social occasion dresses, architecturally draped hems and necklines and a rich color palette are inherent of Galindo and will remain present to both CESAR GALINDO Collection and CZAR. For Spring 2013, Galindo will introduce “day to evening” bags in unique form and in exotic skins to compliment his ready-to-wear collections.”
LADYBRILLEmag.com: Tell us, briefly, how and why you decided to strike out on your own as a fashion entrepreneur?
Cesar Galindo: I decided to work full time on my own brand for my independent passion for fashion.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: How did you come up with your brand name?
Cesar Galindo: It started with my first name Cesar, for short you can say Czar. If you look up Czar and its origin, you will find it means a leader.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: What do you believe sets you apart in the marketplace from the rest?
Cesar Galindo: I feel that being myself sets me apart in the marketplace. I constantly evolve and I have braces.(Smiles)
LADYBRILLEmag.com: What are some of the clearly defined business goals you have for your brand within the next two years?
Cesar Galindo: I can’t get any clearer than this as far as my business goals for the next two years: DISTRIBUTION, DISTRIBUTION, DISTRIBUTION.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: For the benefit of the Ladybrille emerging designer who will read this, what is the distribution system you have in place to make sure your customers get your products when and where they want it?
Cesar Galindo: The distribution system I have in place is forecasting, reaching a global client base for second season, as well as obtaining national representation for my brand.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: How long did it take (or has it taken for you to) achieve your (current) distribution goals?
Cesar Galindo: It took my whole career to achieve my distribution goals and it is continuing.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: What has been your biggest challenge in the business of fashion and how have you been able to overcome it?
Cesar Galindo: The biggest challenge is sustaining cash flow and to overcome it by developing the right relationships in the industry, as well as understanding the business.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: Can you share with our audience some few tips on financial management of a fashion business?
Cesar Galindo: My tips for financial management is to be strategic, create budgets and stick to it.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: How have you been able to integrate new technologies and social media into your business to make it successful?
Cesar Galindo: Social media is very valuable for any business. I utilize social media by keeping it fresh and expanding my brand’s following.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: What do you believe are the key qualities of a brilliant (Ladybrille) entrepreneur?
Cesar Galindo: To be a brilliant entrepreneur, you have to know how to listen, digest, stay informed with your industry as well as current events, evolve constantly, have an open mind and think outside the box.
WATCH CZAR by Cesar Galindo’s Fall/Winter 2013-2014 collection shown earlier today.
“Ladybrille® Fashion Business With . . .” is a feature on Ladybrille® Magazine that is focused on entrepreneurs in the fashion industry, with a heavy emphasis on fashion designers. This feature highlights business principles, business practices, follows the money, discusses the challenges faced by fashion companies as well as offers pragmatic tips that should help stir the Ladybrille fashion entrepreneur towards success, To be considered for a feature, please email ([email protected])
-Photocredit: Getty Images
Founded in 2007, Ladybrille® Magazine is a California based pioneer digital publication demystifying the image of Africans in the west through contemporary African fashion and celebrating the brilliant woman in business and leadership, with an emphasis on the African woman in the diaspora. Our coverage includes stories on capital, access to markets, expertise, hiring and retention, sales, marketing, and promotions.
