We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Constanza Orlowski a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Constanza, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Moving to New York by myself to study fashion was probably my biggest risk. I am originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and I got admitted into Parsons School of Design in their BFA Fashion Program. I was just out of high school, and I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to put up with it but I did it anyways. Unfortunately I had to move back to Argentina after two months because of Covid. After a year of doing online school, I decided to move again at the beginning of 2021, and I think this time it was harder because I already knew what I was getting myself into and the things I would have to give up to get closer to my goals. Now it’s 2023 and I have just graduated from Parsons, and have encountered amazing opportunities along the way such as interning at Oscar de la Renta, and doing freelance work for different houses across the city, but most importantly, having launched my own brand really gave me the push to get myself out there and make that extra effort. I think that more than anything, learning how to get out of my shell and shy tendencies is my biggest accomplishment since living in New York.

Constanza, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Constanza, and I am the founder of my brand Constance O, it was originally named after me but I changed it to Constance because it is easier to pronounce in the US. I like to introduce my work by saying that it is an invitation for people to celebrate themselves and the spontaneous harmony of life. To me, this means to not only make people feel beautiful and good about themselves but also invite them to appreciate the beauty around them. I got into fashion pretty much since I was born. I was always obsessed with it, and even as a two year old, I already had a very strong aesthetic and style, there are baby pictured of me with very flashy outfits and interesting combinations that continue to inspire me even today. I began refining this intuitive interest when I was around 15, learning how to actually make clothes happen, which eventually led me into attending Parsons.
I think that my characteristic is my eye for color, textures, and unusual yet flattering silhouettes. Throughout my time in fashion school I developed my own pattern-making and sewing techniques, which is essentially what sets my pieces apart from what one would normally come across at a boutique. In fact, I’ve had instances in the past when clients did not know how to put them on because of their unusual seaming. It is a different way of thinking about clothes, yet always t considering wearability and comfort factors. I always choose the most pleasant fabrics I can find, to me, they should not only look beautiful but feel beautiful as well. I hope to create investment pieces, as opposed to wear and tear clothes.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Slowly finding your audience and meeting people that vibrate at your same frequency. I think that the community aspect of it is the best, coming across others who share and understand your experiences, expressions, and point of view. Also, since I am focused on clothes, seeing people wear them out, dressing them, and seeing their reactions to how they look really resonates with my soul. I love seeing people be happy, and it is always an honor to encounter people that choose my designs, especially considering how competitive fashion can be sometimes.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

This is a tough subject. I think that when it comes to the fashion industry, it comes down to giving new designers a space to show their point of views, wether it’s an exhibition, magazine, or a special spot on fashion week. Spaces in the industry are very limited, and inaccessible for young people. Also, the truth is that fashion has become more about business, and spectacle than about the actual clothes, so it keeps getting harder for young designers to compete with the mediatic presence of celebrities in the middle. I think that it is time to explore new creative real estate, in a way, fashion capitals are saturated and have their big name brands already established. I think that finding places that are willing to support artists by giving them the channels to communicate about their work is crucial for the survival of true fashion design.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/constance__o/
• Instagram: @constance__o

Image Credits
Models: Jesi Taylor @moontwerk, Elizabeth Fortmeyer @elizabethfortmeyer, Molly Brodowski @itsmollynro, Catalina Irigoyen Sanz @cxtalinaa Photographer: Makayla Camille @brownsugadigitals