São Paulo – Delfrance Ribeiro is Brazilian, born in Minas Gerais, but it was in Europe that he built his career as a stylist and it was there that he made his fashion win the world, including the Arab market. He develops women’s clothing for the brand that bears his name, launched in 2006 on European soil. From Italy, where he lives and currently runs his business, Delfrance exports to Russia, Arab countries, South Korea, China and Brazil. For Europeans, he creates clothes for shows.
"We sell mainly to multi-brand boutiques," said Delfrance, in an email interview to ANBA, regarding exports. The designer works on two fronts, with the release of couture collections and with bespoke articles. This year, the designer will start developing prêt-à-porter sports items. "But always with high quality," points out Delfrance Ribeiro. In his creations, he uses top-end fabrics – colourful and luxurious.
Delfrance became a designer in Europe. Born in the city of Coronel Fabriciano to a family in the meat business, since childhood he felt a taste for fashion. In his childhood, Delfrance enjoyed helping aunts get dressed, choose clothes for events. "But in the countryside, being different and liking fashion, for a man, is not normal," said the designer. Delfrance even started law school, following the desires of his family, but ended up dropping out and heading to Europe. "That was the only way I could follow my own path," said the designer.
Having a friend in Milan resulted in his travelling to Italy. In his early days in the country, he even worked as a bartender and personal trainer. Assisted by people in the fashion world, though, he started investing in the career as a stylist. He took the fashion course at Istituto Marangoni and on completion started working for British stylist Vivienne Westwood, in London. But he returned to his studies in Italy, at the Istituto Carlos Secoli, this time in modelling.
The maiden flight of Delfrance’s solo career was with a menswear collection. "It was a great adventure," said the stylist, who insisted on the idea of clothes for men for two collections. This was, however, not really the stylist’s calling, and he decided to move to Paris, where he studied couture at the Chambre Syndical de Haute Couture. "That was when I understood draping (shaping and trimming fabric) and how to put everything I have in mind out there," explained Delfrance.
Working with women’s fashion was the stylist’s true calling. "I believe that fashion is not an option, it is a job in which you have to be available 24 hours a day. You must have great passion. Sometimes I think I’m going insane, as every day, every hour and wherever I may be, there is something inspiring," he explained. Some two years ago, after already having his name known in Europe and in the countries to which he exports, he decided to return to Brazil, not to live, but to sell his collections.
Contact
Delfrance Ribeiro
Site: www.delfranceribeiro.com
Telephone: (+39 02) 39680158
*Translated by Mark Ament
