Mathilde Castello Branco, creative director of red carpet darling Azzaro took time to chat with us this week about her first collection for the fashion house, which was unveiled at couture this week.
Mathilde cut her teeth working for Martin Margiela at Hermes, and most recently as Alber Elbaz's second in command at Lanvin. Her debut collection for Azzaro pays homage to both her teachers. "Martin Margiela taught me to see the importance of fabric. Once you start working with the finest cashmere or the most buttery soft leathers you never forget. It's like excellent food, once you taste it, you never forget - and it's hard to go back."
Photo: Azzaro
From Alber Elbaz, Castello Branco says that she learned the importance of "taking an emotional approach to work; creativity should come from your heart, your feeling, your instinct and you should respond emotionally to piece of clothing as you would to a piece of art." It's also clear that she has acquired her old boss' fondness for poetic language when it comes to her job. "It's like a dream coming to work every day, I 100VIRTUAL-Gallery-145640%