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PORTLAND MONTHLY MAGAZINE
http://www.pdxmonthly.com/articles/2015/12/21/german-madrigal-s-modern-style
A strange but potent mix of influences catapulted 27-year-old German Madrigal from serving grande lattes to winning the coveted Emerging Designer prize during this year’s local design showcase, FashioNXT. At the October show, the Salem native impressed both the judges and the crowd with a futuristic, gender-neutral collection full of sleek tailoring and vibrant pops of cobalt blue against stark black and white fabrics.
The win capped two busy years for the Art Institute of Portland student. Madrigal won a local design contest for repurposing an old bedazzled wedding gown into a chic, modern look; he showed at Portland Fashion Week; and last February the Art Institute plucked him from among 40 students nationwide to debut a collection at the school’s New York Fashion Week showcase. (He’ll be back again this February.) Those endeavors come after the full-time job as a barista, part-time retail work, and, of course, his studies—but he’s used to working double-time.
Madrigal was born with just one kidney. He spent his early years in and out of hospitals, until his mother donated one of her own kidneys to him when he was 7. Every day, he still swallows a handful of anti-rejection pills—and a stark reminder of mortality. After finishing high school, he was on a predawn shift in a Starbucks drive-thru when fashion came calling.
“I had an epiphany in the middle of serving coffee,” he recalls. “I realized I didn’t want to just serve people who were on their way to their big jobs. If I only have so much time to live, I’m going to live the life that I want to. That idea is what pushed me to go to design school.”
A month later he was in orientation. Once accepted as a finalist for FashioNXT, he hunkered down to produce his “Equilibrium” collection, watching the Beyoncé documentary Life Is But a Dream on repeat for inspiration—and a reminder to be fierce—while he sewed the bold, minimalist line.
“Not everyone has the same aesthetic,” he says. “There are people lurking in corners you wouldn’t expect, and people with different visions. I wanted to share my voice, and come out with a roar.”
This article appeared in the January 2016 issue of Portland Monthly.
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As a content contributor for FashioNXT, Portland's premiere fashion show, I've had the opportunity to help their social media team document the preparation process since late this summer. With the shows just around the corner (Oct. 7-10, see you there!) I thought it was time to hear what a designer had to say about their experience so far.
German Madrigal is a young Portland designer with quite the resume. Since beginning his design education in the heart of downtown Portland he began a partnership with local designer and friend, Ryan Edmonds on a collaboration of designs that has been very well received. The garments were seen by eyes everywhere, including the runway of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Now German is going it alone; debuting his first solo collection on the runway of FashioNxt. He has been documenting the process through teaser photos on his instagram page (@german.madrigal) and I couldn't wait to have a full view of the designs. I had the opportunity to speak with German about his inspirations and hopes for his first solo collection--Equilibrium.
Q: What was the inspiration behind Equilibrium?
A: The first inspiration came from this wall I drove passed one day while I was downtown; it was a multi-colored mural made up of all of these cooler blues and purples, "feminine" tones. It worked so well against the more "masculine" structure of the wall, and was the basis for this collection: structured asymmetrical pieces that work well for the masculine and feminine.
Q: What has this process been like for you? How does FashioNxt differ from other shows you've done?
A: The process has definitely been different, I'm on my own this time so it's a different experience not having someone there to bounce idea off of, but it's also amazing to see what you're capable of on your own. I'm so happy to be debuting this collection at FashioNxt, it's home.
Q: What are your thoughts going into this and what are your hopes coming out of it?
A: Well, my initial thoughts and hopes is that others will like the designs. Doing a completely unisex line is a little different, but deep down I think it's something that's needed for fashion. I can't tell you how many times I wander over to the women's section when shopping for clothes--This is a women's jumpsuit that I'm wearing right now. My hope longterm is that by seeing more designs that are wearable and can truly work for both sexes, people won't be afraid to branch out and really get what they want out of their clothing.