This is how Room 717 the Manila shawl into the most desired skirt of the moment

Ana Canalejo es una joven sevillana que tras licenciarse en Derecho y LADE en París terminó trabajando en uno de los grupos editoriales más importantes de España. Ahora se ha convertido en emprendedora con su propia firma de moda. Una marca que ha llamado nuestra atención porque se ha centrado en una prenda realmente especial: faldas inspiradas por los mantones de Manila. Se llama Room 717 y queremos saber más de su falda mantón.

"Fashion has been my passion since I was little, I loved drawing dresses, copying models that I saw in the magazines that I was always at home, I even bought the magazines when it was still a mico," he tells South Boulevard.Remember that when he had to choose a career he thought about the double degree and making the specialty in Paris «to be in contact with all that culture that I love (fashion, art, French literature ...).There I worked in clothing stores, I looked for practices in signatures and finally, through the university, I found practices in the editorial group that was then called Hachette ».

He started in the international commercial department, but he knew that his goal and destiny was works on something more creative.«I took advantage of the first years of practices to train in fashion: I studied styling, fashion marketing, I went to Saint Martins to specialize in a creative fashion direction ... When I thought I was prepared, I asked my transfer to the publisher, and after fighting it for a while, II got.Now I am a fashion and social networks editor in Elle magazine ».

Thus ROOM 717 emerged

Why was you encouraged to create your own fashion firm?«I was maternity leave after having my first child and I spinned something with something Spanish essence, I thought of a platform for the sale of Spanish designers, but then I realized that it was easier to start with something of mine than with agreementsWith third parties ... so Room emerged ».

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Ana says that during her time in the International Department she realized that Spanish fashion "aroused a lot.He tells us that Thought in Camariñas lace, in Ezcaray's blankets, to Toledo's embroidery ... "Outside our crafts are greatly appreciated, but we rarely know how to sell ourselves".

As is already known, our fashion and culture inspire countless international designers.«I think we have to learn to exploit ours. Mira Dolce & Gabbana, no tienen ningún complejo a la hora de tirar de tópicos italianos (la mamma, la pasta…) y han conseguido que resulte moderno y contemporáneo.My wish was that, take that halo from folklore to the shaft and transform it into a contemporary and current garment, without losing its clear essence ».

So it was shaped to his signature and his star garment ... «I had a couple of shawls at home, so I made a skirt stop with one of them (with my mother's permission, of course).I love this type of skirts, I even married a designed by me.So a seamy friend helped me to make her and put it for a couple of events.People liked it, (today is the smooth champagne model).I took her with a back jersey and halls and seemed very wearable, suddenly I had given that shawl a second life, ”he says.

This way of taking another type of looks and occasions we have been able to see in some flamenco fashion brands such as Lina or Rocío Peralta.That possibility of reusing a blade as a skirt or dress has conquered even Queen Letizia.From Ana's skirts, influencers have already fallen in love with such as Paula Ordovás and famous faces such as actress and model Laura Sánchez.

Ana Canalejo thought that with a skirt-part made with an embroidered shawl could conquer women who, like her, had events and weddings to whom they wanted to wear a different garment and, above all, quality.«I was tired of paying € 300 for dresses that in the end did not have good qualities, just for the design.With the aim of making garments with a quality fabric, but that had no excessive price, I started preparing the business plan.There was an entrepreneur contest in Madrid and I introduced myself.I didn't win, but I was a finalist and that encouraged me to take the step with my own fashion firm, Room 717 ».

At the moment Ana takes care "almost everything" in this personal project born during the spring of 2019."The principles are like that, one has to be like an orchestra woman, but clearly mine is the creative part".And his philosophy is clear: "Give the manton a more global audience, a broader and more contemporary use, that such a beautiful piece will not only take special occasions on special occasions".

How to put on the skirt-magnet

Room 717 skirts are made in a lizard workshop (Toledo) of great embroiderers embroidered.«The manufacture of the shaft is a long process, there are very few units of each model so I cannot have a sales model like the rest or a web page with stock, we work on request.With those shawls (always silk and hand embroidery) we make the skirts in Madrid, ”says this Sevillian based in the capital.

His first step as a fashion designer and businesswoman had to have some kind of relationship with her land and her roots.«I am proud of all that and, not only do I keep the traditions (I look like a mantilla, flamenco ...) but I like to mix elements from here and from there.I have gone to the fair with a flamenco skirt and a Danish shirt, or sudden.

We ask this expert about the lives that a skirt can have.What can we put on?«One of the most successful looks have been combining it with a knit sweater and cowboy boots.You can take it with silk and sandals shirt, with top lingerie, with thick sweaters, with flat boots and a denim shirt ... especially those of plain colors, such as black or beige, they have a thousand possibilities, ”he advises us.

The future of Room 717 is in the mind of this young entrepreneur.«I plan to take firm steps little by little.The skirts are just the spearhead, we are working in a shirt capsule collection that will come out next season.They have nothing to do with the shaft, but of course they have Spanish essence.My intention is to continue creating, always with quality materials, jewel garments that you want to put them now and always ».

Photos: Ana Encabo Photo