Dreams of Denim: Meet rising brand DELFOS
Delfina by Joshua Gordon
No matter how many times fashion recycles trends, innovates new concepts or moulds our conception of what is cool, one item that remains forever on point, is that of the immortal pair of jeans. A staple in the wardrobe of most people and something that resonates with a much deeper meaning for Argentinian designer Delfina Pineiro.
For Delfina, denim is not just a piece of material but rather a symbol of heritage and lineage, tracing its roots back through generations of her family members who worked in the denim industry. When faced with starting her own brand Delfos in 2022, there was only one area in which she could specialise, she never really had any other choice.
With their new collection, Delfos introduced to us a delightful mix of glitter-incrusted dresses, and muted colour jeans, alongside playful crochet designs that scream of whimsical creativity. It's a series that never gets bogged down in pretension and is just having fun for the sake of it.
Alongside an exclusive set of images shot by photographer Joshua Gordon, GATA luckily had the chance to sit down and chat with the designer about the genesis of her brand, her creative process and the films that have influenced her over the years.
[EN]
GATA: Hello, Delfina! First of all, could you introduce yourself to the GATA audience?
DELFINA: Hello 🖤 My name is Delfina Pineiro, I'm from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
[ES]
GATA: Hola Delfina! Para empezar, podrías presentarte a la audiencia de GATA?
DELFINA: Hola 🖤 Me llamo Delfina Pineiro soy de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
[EN]
GATA: Could you tell us a little about how and when you started "Delfos"? Did you learn how to make clothes before and how did starting the clothing brand come up?
DELFINA: I always knew I wanted to have my own brand. My family has been in the jeans industry for several generations. From a very young age, I went to sewing, embroidery, and drawing classes, and whenever I went to the factory, I would sit with the seamstresses who taught me how to use the sewing machine. When I was 19, I went to study at Polimoda in Italy. There, I learnt a lot of techniques and got involved in Fashion Design. It was there I understood the ideas behind the collection, the design, the materials to select and the making of all kinds of clothes. When I returned to Argentina in 2022, I decided to start Delfos. I already had the necessary tools to start my own brand.
[ES]
GATA: ¿Nos podrías contar un poco como y cuando comenzaste “Delfos”? ¿Habías aprendido a confeccionar antes y/o como surgió la idea de emprender en una marca de ropa?
DELFINA: Siempre supe que quería tener mi propia marca. Mi familia está en la industria de los jeans desde hace varias generaciones. Desde muy chica iba a clases de costura, bordado, dibujo y siempre que iba a la fábrica, me sentaba con las costureras que me enseñaban a usar la máquina de coser. A los 19 años me fui a estudiar a Polimoda en Italia. Allí aprendí muchas técnicas y me vincule con el Fashion Design. Entendiendo la idea atrás de una colección, el diseño, los materiales a seleccionar y la confección de todo tipo de ropa. Cuando volví a Argentina en 2022, decidí que ya era hora de comenzar Delfos. Ya tenía las herramientas necesarias para emprender mi propia marca.
[EN]
GATA: We see that your brand identity is centred on denim. Tell us more about your background in the denim industry and why you decided to focus on it.
DELFINA: My family has been producing jeans for generations. I've been surrounded by denim all my life. I feel like I can explore it without limitations; it's my family's know-how.
I am learning a lot from what my family has been doing for a long time. This link with the family experience strengthens me and redefines my knowledge and work. This process awakens my curiosity: I want to know what they do, how they do it and how to do it better.
[ES]
GATA: Vemos que tu marca de identidad son tejidos vaqueros. Cuéntanos un poco más sobre tu background en la industria del vaquero, y por qué has decidido centrarte en él.
DELFINA: Mi familia desde hace generaciones produce Jeans. Toda mi vida estuve rodeada de denim. Siento que es algo que puedo explorar sin limitaciones, es el know-how de mi familia.
Estoy aprendiendo mucho de lo que mi familia viene haciendo desde hace tiempo. Este vinculo con la experiencia familiar me fortalece y redefine mi conocimiento y mi trabajo. Este proceso despierta en mi una curiosidad: quiero saber qué es lo que hacen, cómo lo hacen y cómo hacerlo mejor.
[EN]
GATA: What is your creative process when creating new garments and what inspires you?
DELFINA: I usually make collages with different textiles and intertwine them with crayons. I'm always more inspired by playing with the textiles rather than the silhouettes.
Colours and textile experimentation are what inspire me to create a new collection. I want Delfos to be defined by its textile manipulations and colours/textures.
[ES]
GATA: ¿Cuál es tu proceso creativo cuando estás creando nuevas prendas o en que inspiras?
DELFINA: Generalmente suelo hacer collages con distintos textiles y los intervengo con crayones. Siempre me inspiro más jugando con el textil que con la silueta. Los colores y los “textile experimentations” son lo que me inspiran para crear una nueva colección. Quiero que Delfos se defina por sus “textile manipulations”, sus colores/ sus texturas.
[EN]
GATA: Tell us about your latest collection, full of very modern and kitsch garments, mixing crochet with bright prints and glitter beanies. What kind of references did you use in the creation process?
DELFINA: When I did the research for this collection, I was inspired by clothes stained with mud or dirt. I turned the stains into glitter. That's how I came up with this collection of dyed denim in muted tones with more glitter.
[ES]
GATA: Hablamos sobre tu nueva colección, esta llena de prendas muy modernas y Kitsch, mezclando crochet con estampados brillantes y gorritos con purpurina. Que tipo de referencias utilizaste en el proceso de creación?
DELFINA: Cuando hice el research para esta colección me inspiré en ropa manchada con barro o suciedad. Las manchas las convertí en brillos. Así surgió esta colección con denim teñido en tonos apagados con brillos más saturados.
[EN]
GATA: Are you based in Argentina? Could you tell us a bit about the fashion and creative scene in Buenos Aires?
DELFINA: Buenos Aires is a city full of life with open-minded and very creative people. I have a lot of artist friends. There is a lot of talent, which allows me to assemble an interesting team.
At the same time, the conditions I have in this city are favourable, but the distance from the rest of the world works against us.
[ES]
GATA: ¿Estás basada en Argentina, podrías contarnos un poco qué tal es la escena de la moda y creativa en Buenos Aires?
DELFINA: Buenos Aires es una ciudad llena de vida con gente abierta y muy creativa. Tengo muchos amigos artistas. Hay mucho talento y eso me permite armar un equipo interesante.
En paralelo las condiciones que tengo en esta ciudad son favorables pero nos juega en contra lo lejos que estamos del mundo.
[EN]
GATA: Besides Argentina we can see that you're selling your garments in LA and Sydney, what are the next destinations you'd like to expand to?
DELFINA: We recently sent jeans to a shop in Shanghai. We also started in Big Bang Faena in Miami.
Japan/Asia in general and New York are my most desired destinations to expand to.
[ES]
GATA: ¿Hemos visto que estás vendiendo tus prendas aparte de en Argentina, en LA y Sídney, cuáles son tus próximos destinos a los que te gustaría expandirte?
DELFINA: Hace poco enviamos jeans a un shop en Shanghai. También arrancamos en Big Bang Faena en Miami. Japón, Asia en general y New York son mis destinos más deseados para expandirme.
[EN]
GATA: What are your goals for Delfos, would you like to take it to the catwalk or would you like to keep it underground?
DELFINA: I would like Delfos to be a collector's jeans brand. Collectible. The next collection designed in conjunction with Sam Lewis has a runway show.
[ES]
GATA: ¿Cuáles son tus metas respecto a “Delfos”, te gustaría llevarlo a la pasarela o te gustaría mantenerla Underground?
DELFINA: Me gustaria que Delfos sea una marca de jeans de colección . Que se puedan coleccionar. La próxima colección diseñada en conjunto con Sam Lewis tiene un desfile.
[EN]
GATA: We've seen your clothes on artists, especially musicians. If you could dress one person with your clothes, who would it be?
DELFINA: Mhm, difficult! I would dress the ultimate boss, Kim Kardashian. Why not?!
[ES]
GATA: Hemos visto tus prendas en artistas, sobre todo músicos. Si pudieras vestir a una persona con tus prendas famosa o no, ¿Quién seria?
DELFINA: Mhm, dificil! Vestiría a la ultimate boss, Kim Kardashian. Why not ?!
[EN]
GATA: At GATA, we love cinema; could you recommend some of your favourite films?
DELFINA: I'm a film fanatic. So I have to think hard because I have a lot of favourites!
- 3-Iron (2004)
- Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... And Spring (2003)
- Millennium Mambo (2001)
While not a classic, Fellini Satyricon (1969) by Fellini is a work of art. Tom Ford as well is a great film director. Nocturnal Animals (2016) and A Single Man (2009) are both very chic.
[ES]
GATA: En GATA, amamos el cine; Podrías recomendarnos algunas de tus películas favoritas?
DELFINA: Soy fanática del cine. Asi que tengo que pensar bien porque tengo muchas favoritas!
-3-Iron (2004)
-Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... And Spring (2003)
-Millennium Mambo (2001)
Porque no un gran clásico, Fellini Satyricon (1969) de Fellini. Una obra de arte. Y bueno Tom Ford gran director de cine. Nocturnal Animals (2016) y A Single Man (2009). Muy chic.
[EN]
GATA: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
DELFINA: I can't wait for the new Delfos collection in collaboration with Samuel Lewis. One of my best friends from university. Very talented.
[ES]
GATA: ¿Hay algo más que te gustaría contarnos?
DELFINA: No espero la hora de que salga la nueva colección de Delfos en colaboración con Samuel Lewis. De mis mejores amigos de la universidad. Mucho talento.
All photographies by Joshua Gordon
Stylist: @fionaomnes
Hair & Make up artist: @torivomit
Models: @raiki.yamamoto @tight_period @ito_wolf @fogbound9 @c_c.jjj