The Birth of Fashion as Art at Rondooz

Fashion as art begins long before a garment takes shape. At Rondooz, each piece starts with a visual and artistic idea rather than a commercial brief or the intention to create a conventional garment.

Nature, painting, architecture, history, different cultures and antique textiles can all become points of departure. Sometimes the first spark comes from a colour combination, a natural form, a historical image or a particular texture. At other times, the story and character of an antique textile provide the initial creative impulse.

From that first idea, R.G. and the creative team develop the piece through research, artistic direction, design, craftsmanship and detailed handwork. Step by step, they transform the original concept into something that can be worn. The result is not simply a garment, but a work of wearable art.

Where Does a Rondooz Piece Begin?

The starting point can take many forms. A colour palette, a natural form, a historical image or even a small detail within an antique textile can provide the first creative impulse.

The process begins by exploring what the source can communicate. R.G., the Creator and Artistic Director, then develops the idea. She considers how an image, texture, emotion or visual narrative can move from a two-dimensional reference into a three-dimensional, wearable form.

This approach is particularly visible in the Metamorphosis in Bloom Capsule. The concept of transformation and natural growth became the starting point for its visual language. Botanical forms, the movement of flowers and gradual changes in colour moved from the natural world into painting and, ultimately, into the structure of the garments.

For some One of One pieces, the textile itself becomes the starting point. An antique Gobelin tapestry carries its own history, colours, textures and visual narrative. Rather than treating it simply as a decorative addition, Rondooz examines these qualities before the garment is designed around them.

The intention is not to erase the fabric's past. Instead, the textile's original character remains part of the creative process. It keeps its historical identity while gaining a new life within the garment. As a result, it also takes on a new artistic identity.

R.G. and the Artistic Direction

At Rondooz, R.G. is the central creative force and Artistic Director throughout the creation of each piece. From the first artistic idea to the final execution, the development of a garment takes place under direct artistic guidance.

Colour selection, visual composition, the placement of painted elements, the relationship between different materials and the way artistic details interact with the silhouette all require careful consideration and final approval.

In many cases, R.G. personally creates the initial painting or reference artwork. This establishes the artistic direction before specialist artists begin their work.

These artists have developed their skills under R.G.'s guidance over time. They work within the visual language, techniques and artistic standards of Rondooz while retaining a degree of individual expression in their brushwork and handwork.

This distinction is important. The aim is not to reproduce a fixed image mechanically. Variations in brush movement, paint application, texture and individual touch allow the presence of the artist to remain visible.

As a result, even pieces within a Limited Edition are not necessarily perfectly identical. Each carries subtle differences created by the human hand while remaining within the artistic direction established by R.G.

This philosophy also explains Rondooz's rejection of printed substitutes where hand painting is intended. For R.G., the physical presence of the artist is part of the work itself. The brushstroke, movement of the hand and individual artistic interpretation contribute to the character of the finished piece.

No work enters the Rondooz collection without artistic review, final approval and R.G.'s artistic sign-off.

From Artistic Idea to Garment

Once the concept takes shape, R.G. and the creative team begin translating it into the physical form of the garment. At Rondooz, Fashion as Art means that they develop the silhouette, pattern, proportions, painted elements and materials as one connected design rather than as separate stages.

First, the team develops the pattern and creates the initial sample. They then refine the construction until it meets the required standard. Throughout this stage, R.G. reviews how the artistic concept works with the garment's form and movement.

The team also integrates painting, embroidery, embellishment, hand-applied stones and antique textiles into the overall composition. They carefully consider the placement, scale and colour of each element. As a result, these details become part of the design itself rather than simply serving as decoration.

How Long Does Fashion as Art Take?

There is no fixed production schedule for a Rondooz piece. The timeline depends on its design, materials, artistic techniques and level of handwork, so a One of One piece may take longer than a Limited Edition.

The process generally includes:

• Research and concept development — 1 to 3 weeks: Exploring the inspiration, developing the narrative, and defining the colours, materials and artistic direction.

• Design development — 1 to 2 weeks: Refining the silhouette and integrating painted elements and other artistic details.

• Pattern cutting and sampling — 1 to 3 weeks: Developing the pattern, creating the initial sample and refining the construction until it meets R.G.'s approval.

• Artistic execution — several days to several weeks: Hand painting, embroidery, embellishment, stones or antique textiles may require additional time depending on the complexity of the piece.

• Final review — several days: Checking the construction, colour, artistic details and finishing before numbering the piece and issuing its certificate of authenticity.

Overall, a Rondooz piece may take several weeks to several months to complete. Limited Editions can move more quickly once R.G. approves the prototype. However, One of One pieces often take longer, especially when they involve antique Gobelin textiles or complex handwork.

Ultimately, R.G. reviews each piece before completion. The piece is ready only when its artistic and technical execution meets the required standard.

What Makes a Rondooz Piece Different?

The difference between a Rondooz piece and a conventional garment lies not only in its appearance, but in how it is created. Fashion as Art at Rondooz preserves the role of the human hand, artistic judgement and individual expression throughout the process.

While industrial production prioritises speed, consistency and repeatability, Rondooz embraces subtle variations in brushwork, colour and handwork. Each painting is created by hand rather than printed, so even Limited Edition pieces may carry individual differences.

Depending on its complexity, a piece may involve four to seven specialists, from R.G. as Artistic Director to designers, pattern cutters, tailors, painters, embellishment specialists and quality-control professionals. A finished piece may therefore pass through the hands of five to eight people.

For One of One pieces, the process requires even greater precision. Antique Gobelin textiles, for example, leave little room for error. If a cut goes wrong, the original section cannot simply be replaced. The team must carefully position every section to preserve the textile's history while giving it a new identity.

At Rondooz, these variations, the visible handwork and the time invested in each piece are not imperfections. They are part of what gives each garment its character and makes it a work of wearable art.

A One of One Story: Barcelona Mosaic Gobelin Blazer

The Barcelona Mosaic Gobelin Blazer reflects Rondooz's approach to fashion as art, where a recovered textile becomes the foundation for a new artistic expression.

The piece began with a single pictorial needlepoint textile sourced from a traditional market in Seville, Spain. Before entering the atelier, the textile underwent careful assessment, gentle washing, controlled drying and structural reinforcement. This conservation-led process prepared the material for its transformation into a tailored garment.

The architectural and floral details of the original needlework guided its placement across the blazer. Rather than treating the textile as a decorative addition, R.G. developed its composition around the garment's silhouette, allowing the historical material to shape the visual relationship between the body, shoulders and cuffs.

The back introduces a different artistic language. Hand-painted fragments inspired by Barcelona's mosaic tradition and the visual language of trencadís extend across the olive ground. Crystals, beads, pearls and other embellishments were then applied to selected areas, creating variations in texture, depth and light.

The creative process brought together recovered handwork, tailoring, painting and jewel embroidery. Each element contributes to a composition that changes with the wearer's movement, while the original textile remains visible throughout.

As a One of One, the Barcelona Mosaic Gobelin Blazer preserves the character of a recovered needlepoint while giving it a new life as wearable art. From Seville to Barcelona, its creation reflects how Rondooz transforms historical materials through artistic direction, skilled craftsmanship and a singular design approach.

When a Garment Becomes a Work of Art

For Rondooz, fashion as art is ultimately about the relationship between idea, craftsmanship and human expression.

As the Creator and Artistic Director explains:

• For me, a garment is not simply something to wear; it can be a moving canvas that takes art from the walls and brings it into everyday human life.

That perspective also shapes the way Rondooz approaches repetition, printing and handwork:

• I do not want Rondooz pieces to look like printed, flawless copies of one another. The difference in the movement of the hand, the brushstroke and the vision of each artist is what gives each piece its spirit.

The value of an artistic garment, therefore, does not rest solely on its materials or the hours spent creating it. It also comes from the thought behind it, the judgement that shapes its creation and the human presence that gives each piece its individual character.

As R.G. puts it:

• A piece cannot be defined by its materials or the hours invested in making it alone. What gives it lasting significance is the creative thought, intention and personal touch woven into its making.

• The artist’s individual perspective becomes part of the finished piece, giving it a character that cannot be fully replicated. This is why every work possesses its own distinct identity.

This is where Fashion as Art begins. It starts with an idea, a material and a human hand. Ultimately, time brings them together.