 OSCAR DE LA RENTA |
Without a doubt Oscar de la Renta is one of the most renowned of Dominican citizens. He is one of the world's most important fashion designers, reigning over the great catwalks of Europe and America.
Although his first goal in life was to be a professional artist, Oscar Renta Fiallo, better known to the world as Oscar de la Renta, for the past decades has been a distinguished member of the exclusive world of haute couture.
De la Renta was born at Padre Billini hospital in Santo Domingo, just a few blocks away from the heart of the city's colonial section. Born into middle class, very religious family, de la Renta was an altar boy during his childhood. His family was also culturally keen, with an uncle on his mother's side becoming one of the country's most distinguished poets.
At the age of 15, the young adolescent brimming with enthusiasm and convinced that he would one day be an accomplished painter entered the country's National School of Fine Arts.Some of his professors were well known Spanish artists, who had come to the Dominican Republic as exiles fleeing from the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939.
In 1951, with the support of his parents, he travelled to Madrid to begin studies in abstract painting at the prestigious Academy of San Fernando. The death of his mother, his mentor, was a tremendous blow to the young artist. His father began to pressure him to return to Santo Domingo, but he decided to stay in this brand new world recently discovered and soon began to gain economic independence by drawing fashion designs for various Spanish magazines.
His talent and hard work would eventually situate him on the path of haute couture. Famous Spanish fashion designer Cristobal Balenciaga hired him as an illustrator. It is in this particular job where he eventually discovered his tremendous talent for fashion design. Three years after working for Balenciaga in Spain, he moved to Paris where he hoped to continue to pursue his career as an artist.
Soon after he entered the Lavin-Castillo house of fashion and eventually began his career with Elizabeth Arden. By now it was pretty clear where his future lay. The U. S. and Europe began to accept his designs and soon after that, he entered the world of design at the highest level.
Thirty-five years later, Oscar de la Renta has been one of the U. S. and Europe's most important fashion designers. His designs cover the entire range of dress wear. His fragrances carry with it the seal of quality and world prestige. | His boutique carries a great variety of his classic line, as well as evening and sport wear.
One would think that it has taken Oscar de la Renta many years to return to his country of origin. But nothing could be further from the truth. He has always returned to Santo Domingo as the grateful child. His ties to the Dominican Republic are always with him, and something he always puts forth wherever he goes.
His home, previously situated in the coastal city of La Romana, is now in Punta Cana, on the eastern tip of the island. It is a point of contact for famous international politicians and artists, a setting continuously used by de la Renta to portray a positive image of his country.
In a recent interview, Oscar de la Renta spoke of his early years in Europe: "Many people didn't even know where our country was situated. They would ask me if it was near India, or things like that. That's why I told myself, I'm going to turn the negative into the positive. I'm going to be the first internationally famous designer who comes from Latin America. In reality, because of who I am and where I come from have given me the identity I have with my country and, to a certain point, has given me the possibility of feeling very sure of myself, to be who I am and not try to be something else. And although in my youth age I lived outside my country, when I finally returned it was as if I had never left it".
Soon after he entered the Lavin-Castillo house of fashion and eventually began his career with Elizabeth Arden. By now it was pretty clear where his future lay. The U. S. and Europe began to accept his designs and soon after that, he entered the world of design at the highest level.
Thirty-five years later, Oscar de la Renta has been one of the U. S. and Europe's most important fashion designers. His designs cover the entire range of dress wear. His fragrances carry with it the seal of quality and world prestige.
His boutique carries a great variety of his classic line, as well as evening and sport wear.
One would think that it has taken Oscar de la Renta many years to return to his country of origin. But nothing could be further from the truth. He has always returned to Santo Domingo as the grateful child. His ties to the Dominican Republic are always with him, and something he always puts forth wherever he goes.
His home, previously situated in the coastal city of La Romana, is now in Punta Cana, on the eastern tip of the island. It is a point of contact for famous international politicians and artists, a setting continuously used by de la Renta to portray a positive image of his country.
In a recent interview, Oscar de la Renta spoke of his early years in Europe: "Many people didn't even know where our country was situated. They would ask me if it was near India, or things like that. That's why I told myself, I'm going to turn the negative into the positive. I'm going to be the first internationally famous designer who comes from Latin America. In reality, because of who I am and where I come from have given me the identity I have with my country and, to a certain point, has given me the possibility of feeling very sure of myself, to be who I am and not try to be something else. And although in my youth age I lived outside my country, when I finally returned it was as if I had never left it". |
