So, I got pretty interested in Raul Penaranda’s work a while back. You see his designs, and they’ve got this certain something, you know? Elegant, a bit dramatic. I really wanted to understand more, not just what you see on the surface.
I figured, hey, I’m trying to put together some thoughts on new designers, maybe for a small blog I was tinkering with, or even just for my own deeper appreciation. So, I decided to make it a little project. My “practice” was to really try and get a feel for his world, beyond the runway shots.
First off, I did the usual stuff. Scoured the internet, looked at every collection image I could find, read interviews. That part was easy, and honestly, pretty inspiring. You get a sense of the aesthetic, the craftsmanship. But I wanted a tiny bit more. Something a little more direct, maybe a quick insight or even just a confirmation of a detail I was curious about.
So, I thought, okay, let’s try reaching out. This is where my little “investigation” really began. I drafted a polite email, explaining I was a genuine admirer and writing a small piece, hoping for just a tiny bit of input, nothing major. Found the contact form on the official website. Sent it off. Waited a few days. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Alright, I thought, maybe official channels are swamped. It happens. So, I tried a different route. Social media. Figured that’s often more direct these days. Sent a concise, friendly message to the brand’s Instagram page. Saw it was ‘seen’. And then… again, just silence. It wasn’t like I was asking for an hour-long interview or free samples, just a simple question or two, the kind you’d think a brand might appreciate from someone trying to highlight their work positively.
After a couple of weeks of this, I got one of those super canned, almost robotic replies to my initial email. Something along the lines of, “Thank you for your interest, we appreciate your support,” but zero engagement with my actual questions. It felt like talking to a beautifully designed wall.
It kind of made me step back and think. Here’s this beautiful, artistic expression, and then the human connection side, or even just basic communication, felt so… impersonal. It was a bit deflating, to be honest. You start wondering if that’s just the way it is with some fashion houses, big or small. All image, not much interaction unless you’re a big-shot editor or something.
In the end, I just wrote my little piece based on the public information I could find. It was fine, but that whole experience of trying to engage, that was the real takeaway for me. It wasn’t about Raul Penaranda’s talent – that’s clear. It was more about the reality of trying to connect with a brand like that, as just a regular person who’s genuinely interested. It taught me a bit about managing expectations, I guess. You just keep trying, or you move on to the next thing you’re curious about.
